Preview: Levante vs. Real Zaragoza - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side are currently fourth in the table, just four points behind leaders Eibar, while Zaragoza occupy 14th position, six points ahead of the relegation zone in the second tier.

Match preview

Levante were relegated from La Liga last season courtesy of their 19th-place finish, so the Frogs are looking to bounce back to the top level at the first time of asking.

Javier Calleja's side are fourth in the table, comfortably inside the playoffs, sitting 12 points ahead of seventh-placed FC Cartagena, while they are only two points behind second-placed Granada.

Levante are just four points off leaders Eibar, meanwhile, so they are in a strong position when it comes to securing promotion from the Segunda Division.

The Frogs will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Racing de Santander, with Joni Montiel scoring the only goal in the 14th minute of the contest on Saturday afternoon.

Levante have only won one of their last four in the league, though, which makes Friday's contest even more important, especially ahead of their next fixture away to Eibar on April 9.

Zaragoza, meanwhile, have been in the second tier for the last 10 years, finishing 15th and 10th in their last two campaigns at this level of football.

Los Manos will bring a five-game unbeaten run into this match, although four of those fixtures have been draws, including a 1-1 with Albacete last weekend.

Zaragoza are now six points clear of the relegation zone and 12 points off the playoffs, so it would not be a surprise to see them finish in the middle of the table this term.

Fran Escriba's side have picked up 17 points from their 17 away matches this term, and they will be taking on a Levante outfit with the fifth-best home record, claiming 32 points from 16 games, suffering just two defeats in the process, which is an indication of the size of their task.

The two teams played out a goalless draw in the reverse match earlier this season, but this will be the first meeting between the two sides at the home of Levante since September 2016.

Levante Segunda Division form:

D

W

L

D

D

W

Real Zaragoza Segunda Division form:

L

D

D

W

D

D

Team News

Levante will be missing Sergio Postigo due to the injury that he picked up in the early stages of the contest with Racing de Santander last time out, so there should be a return to the side for Marcelo Saracchi, who was suspended last time out.

Jorge de Frutos will also return, having been suspended for the team's last match, with the Spaniard set to feature in a wide position for the hosts.

Roberto Soldado, 37, should continue in the final third of the field, with leading goalscorer Mohamed Bouldini also featuring in an attacking area.

As for Zaragoza, Escriba could name the same XI that started against Albacete last time out.

On-loan Atletico Madrid forward Giuliano Simeone has scored seven league goals this season and will again continue in the final third of the field, with Makhtar Gueye also set to start.

Eugeni Valderrama is among the players pushing for a spot in the side, but it could be a case of same again from Escriba, with Miguel Puche also set to start on the bench.

Levante possible starting lineup:

Cardenas; Pubill, Saracchi, Pier, Munoz; Montiel, Iborra, Pepelu, De Frutos; Bouldini, Soldado

Real Zaragoza possible starting lineup:

Alvarez; Gamez, Frances, Lopez, Nieto; Bermejo, Serrano, Alarcon, Vada; Simeone, Gueye

We say: Levante 2-1 Real Zaragoza

Zaragoza certainly have the quality to make this a very difficult match for Levante, but Calleja's side have been strong at home this season, only suffering two defeats from 16 games. We are expecting a tight match on Friday evening but are backing Levante to claim a valuable three points.

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