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

Sevilla play host to Levante on Thursday evening on the back of opening their 2020-21 La Liga campaign with victory over Cadiz.

Meanwhile, Levante make the trip to the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium looking to build on their recent 3-1 success away at Osasuna.

Match preview

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Despite being allowed extra time off after their triumph in the Europa League, it would be naive to think that Sevilla have had enough time to recuperate ahead of this campaign.

Nevertheless, at a time when he is battling to retain the services of his key defenders, Julen Lopetegui knows that prolonging their momentum could be decisive when it comes to making a stronger challenge for the La Liga title.

Facing Cadiz on away territory three days after the UEFA Super Cup final was far from ideal for a team who were back playing friendlies just three weeks after defeating Inter Milan.

However, overturning a deficit to eventually win by a 3-1 scoreline would have reassured Lopetegui that his players are capable of avoiding any hangover from last season's exploits.

The bigger test comes at the weekend when they face Barcelona at Camp Nou, but Los Nervionenses first need to focus on going up against opponents who are showing signs of being unpredictable.

A 4-2 defeat away at Valencia on the opening day of the campaign was followed by a 3-1 comeback win against Osasuna at Estadio El Sadar.

Although Levante are heading into their third away fixture in succession, Paco Lopez will be content with getting some difficult fixtures out of the way at this stage of the campaign.

Veteran Jose Luis Morales has been the star of the show thus far, contributing three goals and one assist from his two starts in attack.

Sevilla La Liga form: W

Levante La Liga form: LW

Team News

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Lopetegui will almost certainly make changes to his starting lineup, with Luuk de Jong among the players to be handed a recall.

Joan Jordan, Munir El Haddadi and Oscar Rodriguez were all introduced as substitutes against Cadiz, leaving them in line to feature in the first XI for this game.

Jules Kounde, who has been linked with a move to a bigger club, should also return in the centre of defence.

Unlike his opposite number, Levante boss Paco will keep changes to a minimum in a bid to build on their latest result.

Long-serving left-back Tono could return to the team in place of Carlos Clerc.

Sevilla possible starting lineup:

Vaclik; Navas, Kounde, Carlos, Escudero; Jordan, Fernando, Rakitic; Rodriguez, De Jong, Ocampos

Levante possible starting lineup:

Fernandez; Miramon, Vezo, Postigo, Tono; Campana, Melero, Radoja, Bardhi; Morales, Marti

We say: Sevilla 3-0 Levante

Despite the tiredness which is inevitably present in the Sevilla ranks, they should be able to make light work of Levante. Even if Lopetegui opts to make a number of changes, we expect a comfortable win and a clean sheet for the home side.

Top betting tip

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