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

Real Valladolid and Levante will lock horns for the second time in the space of four days on Tuesday evening when they meet at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla in the Copa del Rey.

The two teams played out a 2-2 draw in La Liga on Friday but will now face off in the cup, with a spot in the quarter-finals of the competition on offer.

Match preview

© Reuters

Valladolid led 2-1 against Levante entering the final 10 minutes of their La Liga affair on Friday night, but Roger Marti levelled the scores in the 83rd minute to ensure that the points would be shared in Valencia.

The result left Sergio Gonzalez 's side in 15th position in the table, having picked up 20 points from their 20 matches during the 2020-21 campaign.

The White and Violets have been impressive in this season's Copa del Rey, thumping Cantolagua 5-0 in the first round of the competition in December, but they did need extra-time to beat Marbella 3-2 and Pena Deportiva 4-1 to advance to this stage of the competition.

Valladolid have never won the Copa del Rey but made the final in 1950 and 1989, losing to Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid respectively, while they have only lost one of their last seven matches in this competition.

© Reuters

Levante, meanwhile, are currently 10th in Spain's top flight, having picked up 23 points from their 19 matches during a successful 2020-21 campaign to date.

Paco Lopez 's side, who have beaten Racing Murcia, Portugalete and Fuenlabrada to advance to this stage, have also never won the Copa del Rey, with their best performance in the competition coming back in 1935, when they managed to make the semi-finals before losing to CD Sabadell.

Levante have not actually made the quarter-finals of this tournament since 2013-14 but will fancy their chances of overcoming Valladolid to advance to the final eight of what looks to be an open competition.

The Frogs have not actually lost to their opponents here since September 2018 - a run of five games without a defeat, although the last three meetings between the two sides have finished all square, including a 1-1 at Estadio Municipal Jose Zorrilla in the league in November.

Real Valladolid Copa del Rey form: WWLWWW

Real Valladolid form (all competitions): WWLWDD

Levante Copa del Rey form: WWLWWW

Levante form (all competitions): LWWWDD

Team News

© Reuters

Valladolid's absentee list is substantial, with Fede, Sergi Guardiola, Javi Sanchez, Jota, Raul Garcia, Waldo Rubio, Jawad El Yamiq, Maranhao, Saidy Janko and Kiko Olivas all unavailable for selection.

Roque Mesa is back from a suspension, though, and Sergio is still expected to make changes from the league meeting between the two sides on Friday night.

Indeed, Sergio Benito, Kuki, Ignasi Vilarrasa and Roberto Jimenez could all come into the side, while there could be starts for the likes of Pablo Hervias and Fabian Orellana.

As for Levante, Jorge de Frutos, Nikola Vukcevic and Jose Campana are still absent through injury, but the visitors did not pick up any fresh concerns on Friday night.

Head coach Lopez will also make changes to his first-choice XI, with the side expected to have a similar look to the one that took to the field against Fuenlabrada in the last round.

Dani Cardenas, Coke, Ruben Rochina and Sergio Leon are all likely to be handed spots in the team, but Nemanja Radoja and Ruben Vezo could both keep their positions.

Real Valladolid possible starting lineup:

Jimenez; Hervias, Perez, Bruno, Vilarrasa; Perez, Michel ; Orellana, Kuki, Villa; Benito

Levante possible starting lineup:

Cardenas; Coke, Duarte, Vezo, Tono; Rochina, Melero, Radoja, Morales; Gomez, Leon

We say: Real Valladolid 1-2 Levante

Valladolid will again be without a number of first-team players on Tuesday, meaning that Sergio's options for change are limited. Levante are expected to send a stronger XI onto the field, and we are finding it difficult to look past the visitors on this occasion.