Preview: Eibar vs. Levante - prediction, team news, lineups -

Relegation-threatened Eibar will face Levante in a crucial, must-win La Liga clash at the Ipurua on Saturday afternoon.

Eibar boss Jose Luis Mendilibar has avoided defeat in his seven top-flight home games against Levante, but it will certainly take the Basque side a lot to come away with a point or more this weekend.

Match preview

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While their Basque neighbours Alaves appointed their third manager inside one calendar year this week, Mendilibar looks just as comfortable as ever at Eibar, despite the fact that his side are becoming increasingly more entrenched at the foot of the table.

Currently 19th in the standings, separated from last place on goal difference alone, Eibar have not won a top-flight game since early January, picking up just four points in their last 12 games.

Against Real Madrid last weekend, Mendilibar's men were convincingly beaten 2-0 by the champions, registering just four shots on target and finishing the game with 36% of the possession.

At home against Levante, Eibar are unbeaten in five top-flight games, while six of the 11 La Liga games between these two sides have finished level.

Any degree of success for Eibar could depend on Sergi Enrich, who has been involved in four goals in his last four appearances against Levante in La Liga.

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In what has been a fairly unpredictable campaign for Levante, Paco Lopez 's side have secured impressive wins against the likes of Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid, Real Betis and Real Sociedad, yet have also dropped points against teams such as Alaves, Elche and Osasuna.

Against Huesca last time out, Levante were well-beaten 2-0, with Rafa Mir putting Lopez's men to the sword with two deft finishes either side of the break.

Levante, who are currently 11th in the table, have lost their last four top-flight away games against Basque sides, failing to score in the last three.

Fortunately for Lopez, star man Jose Luis Morales has a good track record against Eibar, having been involved in 11 goals in 11 La Liga appearances against the Basque side.

Eibar La Liga form:

L

D

L

L

D

L

Levante La Liga form:

W

D

L

W

L

L

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Team News

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Mendilibar will almost certainly look to reinstate Enrich in the starting 11 after the striker was left out against Real Madrid, with the boss opting for the defensive presence of Sergio Alvarez.

Takashi Inui is also expected to deputise for Bryan Gil, who is unlikely to feature due to a thigh injury.

Other absentees include Rober, Pedro Bigas and Yoshinori Muto.

It is unlikely that Lopez will tinker too much with his Levante side, but a less liberally attacking formation may be adopted after Huesca hit them on the counter so effectively.

Absentees for Levante include Jorge Miramon, Nikola Vukcevic, Gonzalo Melero and Jose Campana.

Eibar possible starting lineup:

Dmitrovic; Pozo, Oliveira, Arbilla, Rafa; Leon, Diop, Garcia, Inui; Kike, Enrich

Levante possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Vezo, Duarte, Rober; Son, Radoja, Rochina, Clerc; De Frutos, Morales, Roger

We say: Eibar 2-3 Levante

An easy game on paper for Levante is never an easy game in real life, and if there is a team in La Liga that know how to make things hard for themselves, it is Lopez's men. We are going for a dramatic 3-2 win for Levante.

Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.