Levante vs Osasuna: High-Stakes La Liga Clash in May 2026
Estadio Ciudad de Valencia stages a high‑stakes La Liga clash in May 2026 as 19th‑placed Levante host mid‑table Osasuna. With four games left in the regular season (Round 35), the stakes could hardly be clearer for the home side: they sit on 33 points, in the relegation zone and running out of road, while the visitors arrive on 42 points, 10th in the table and eyeing a top‑half finish rather than a survival scrap.
This is not a cup tie, but the feel is similar: for Levante, the prize is the right to keep believing in safety; for Osasuna, it is the chance to lock in another solid top‑flight campaign.
Context and form
Across all phases, Levante’s season has been a grind. Eight wins, nine draws and 17 defeats from 34 league games, with a goal difference of ‑17 (38 scored, 55 conceded), underline why they are where they are. At home they have been merely average: 5 wins, 5 draws, 7 losses, scoring 21 and conceding 26. In the league table, their recent form string of “LDWWL” hints at some late fightback – two wins in their last five – but the broader season form (a long sequence dotted with “L”s) shows how fragile that resurgence is.
Osasuna, by contrast, are comfortably mid‑table but hardly flying. They have 11 wins, 9 draws and 14 defeats, with a narrow goal difference of ‑2 (40 for, 42 against). The split is stark: at home they are strong (9‑5‑3, 29‑20), away they are vulnerable (2‑4‑11, 11‑22). Their current league form “LWLDD” reflects inconsistency: difficult to beat at times, but unable to string together a decisive run.
The away record is the big red flag: just 2 away wins in 17, and only 11 goals scored on the road. That gives Levante a clear psychological opening despite their league position.
Tactical outlook: Levante
Levante’s season statistics paint the picture of a side that has struggled for control but found pockets of attacking threat. They average 1.1 goals for and 1.6 against per game across all phases, and have failed to score in 12 of 34 matches. Yet they have also produced some high‑ceiling performances – biggest wins of 4‑2 at home and 0‑4 away, and the capacity to score four in a game.
The tactical base has been relatively fluid. The most used systems are 4‑2‑3‑1 (11 times), 4‑4‑2 (10), and 4‑1‑4‑1 (7). That suggests a coach oscillating between an extra attacker and an extra midfielder, trying to balance survival urgency with defensive protection.
Key to their attacking edge is 20‑year‑old forward Carlos Espí. With 9 league goals in just 996 minutes (21 appearances, 9 starts), he is one of La Liga’s most efficient young finishers this season. His shot profile – 32 attempts, 19 on target – and a solid duel volume (159 duels, 75 won) show a striker who both works physically and finishes well. If Levante commit to a 4‑2‑3‑1, Espí is likely to lead the line, with wide players tasked with early deliveries and quick support to maximise his penalty‑area presence.
Levante’s clean‑sheet count (8 across all phases) is respectable for a relegation candidate, but the 55 goals conceded underline how often they are opened up. The card distribution indicates a team that grows more desperate as games go on: yellow cards spike from the 31st minute onwards, and there are notable red cards between minutes 16‑30 and 46‑60. Discipline will be crucial in a match where conceding first could be fatal for their survival hopes.
Injuries complicate the picture. C. Alvarez, K. Arriaga, A. Primo and I. Romero are all ruled out, stripping depth in key areas, while Dela, U. Elgezabal and K. Tunde are listed as questionable. That likely forces a more conservative selection, with limited rotation options if the game becomes stretched.
One small positive: Levante’s penalty record this season is clean at team level – 2 taken, 2 scored. If a spot‑kick arrives in a tight game, they have at least been reliable from 12 yards collectively.
Tactical outlook: Osasuna
Osasuna’s identity is clearer. They have leaned heavily on a 4‑2‑3‑1 (19 times), occasionally morphing into three‑at‑the‑back variants (3‑4‑3, 3‑4‑2‑1, 3‑5‑2) when seeking different angles. Across all phases they average 1.2 goals for and 1.2 against, a classic mid‑table profile.
At the heart of their attack is Ante Budimir, one of La Liga’s standout forwards this season. The Croatian has 16 goals in 33 appearances (31 starts), supported by a high shot volume (76 total, 36 on target). He is a constant duelling presence (339 duels, 161 won), offering Osasuna a focal point for direct play and crosses. His penalty record, however, is mixed: 6 scored and 2 missed. He remains a major threat from the spot, but not flawless.
Osasuna’s away bluntness is striking. They have failed to score in 11 of 17 away matches, and average just 0.6 goals per away game. That suggests that away from El Sadar they often sit deeper, struggle to connect midfield to attack, and rely heavily on set‑pieces and isolated Budimir moments.
Defensively, they are slightly tighter than Levante, with 42 conceded in 34. Clean sheets (7 in total, but only 2 away) show they can shut games down, though not consistently on the road. Their card profile also skews late in matches, with yellow cards and reds clustering from minute 61 onwards, which could become a factor if Levante turn the game into a scrap in the final half‑hour.
Osasuna travel without V. Munoz (muscle injury) and with A. Oroz questionable. The absence of Munoz trims their options, likely reinforcing a more pragmatic, structure‑first approach.
From the spot, Osasuna as a team are perfect this season (6 penalties, 6 scored), even if Budimir’s individual record includes misses. Any penalty awarded to the visitors will be a major scoring chance given that overall conversion rate.
Head‑to‑head picture
The last five competitive meetings in La Liga tilt clearly towards Osasuna:
- Osasuna 2‑0 Levante (December 2025)
- Osasuna 3‑1 Levante (March 2022)
- Levante 0‑0 Osasuna (December 2021)
- Levante 0‑1 Osasuna (February 2021)
- Osasuna 1‑3 Levante (September 2020)
Over these five, Osasuna have 3 wins, Levante 1, and there has been 1 draw. Levante’s solitary victory came away from home; at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia they have not beaten Osasuna in this run, drawing once and losing once without scoring.
That recent history reinforces the narrative of Osasuna as a tough stylistic opponent for Levante: organised, physically strong, and able to edge tight games.
Key battles
- Carlos Espí vs Osasuna centre‑backs: Levante need their young striker’s movement and finishing to unlock a defence that is solid if not spectacular. Quick service and second‑ball support will be essential.
- Ante Budimir vs Levante’s back line: Budimir’s aerial and physical presence is a constant threat, especially against a defence that concedes 1.6 goals per game. Limiting crosses and set‑piece quality will be central to Levante’s plan.
- Midfield control: With Levante often oscillating between two‑ and three‑man midfields, the choice of shape against Osasuna’s likely 4‑2‑3‑1 will dictate who can progress the ball. If Levante are overrun, their back four will be exposed repeatedly.
The verdict
On paper, Osasuna’s league position and superior overall record make them slight favourites. They have the best individual scorer on the pitch in Budimir and a more stable season behind them. However, their away numbers – 2 wins from 17, 11 goals scored, 11 games without scoring – are those of a side that often leave points on the road.
Levante, meanwhile, are fighting for their La Liga lives. Their home record is modest but not disastrous, and in Carlos Espí they have a genuine match‑winner in form. The injury list is a concern, but desperation can sharpen focus as much as it can induce panic.
Tactically, this shapes up as a tight, attritional contest. Osasuna are unlikely to open up; Levante cannot afford to. With both teams’ recent games not screaming goal‑fest, and Osasuna’s away attack particularly blunt, a low‑scoring encounter feels likely.
Levante’s urgency and Osasuna’s travel sickness point towards a finely balanced game that could easily finish level or be decided by a single goal. If either side is to edge it, the likeliest script is a narrow win built around their talismanic striker: Espí for Levante, Budimir for Osasuna.
