Levante vs Villarreal: Prediction, H2H and probable lineups — February 18, 2026
On Wednesday, February 18, at the Ciudad de Valencia stadium, a rescheduled Matchday 16 La Liga clash between Levante and Villarreal will take place. This game was originally set for December, but weather conditions forced a postponement.
Match preview
Levante are currently in a deep crisis and desperately fighting for survival. The team sits 19th in the table with only 18 points. Since Luis Castro took charge at the end of last year, the "Frogs" have tightened up defensively, but results remain poor: two straight defeats in recent rounds, both with red cards (0-2 against Valencia and 4-2 against Athletic), have only made matters worse. On average, the team concedes almost two goals per game, which is reflected in their results. At home, Levante will try to dig in defensively, hoping to capitalize on rare counter-attacking chances.
Villarreal, on the other hand, are enjoying a fantastic season under Marcelino and are currently third, making a serious push for a Champions League spot. Although the "Yellow Submarine" recently suffered a surprise setback against Getafe (1-2) and their overall form has dipped a bit lately, they remain a dangerous opponent. Villarreal play a very vertical and fast-paced brand of football, with transitions from defense to attack being key. Marcelino has instilled discipline in his squad: they concede few goals against teams from the lower half and are ruthless when exploiting space.
Tactically, expect both sides to line up in 4-4-2 formations. Levante will play on the back foot, packing the midfield and trying to deny Villarreal any room to operate. The visitors will press down the flanks, relying on the passing quality of their midfielders. If Villarreal can score an early goal, it could spell disaster for Levante, as opening up against a side as quick as this Villarreal would be pure suicide.
Probable lineups
Levante: Ryan; Toljan, De la Fuente, Moreno, Sanchez; Vencedor, Raghouber; Tunde, Alvarez, Romero; Eyong
Villarreal: Junior; Mourino, Marin, Veiga, Cardona; Buchanan, Gueye, Comesana, Moleiro; Mikautadze, Perez
Match facts and head-to-head
- In the last five meetings, Villarreal have won three times, with one Levante victory and one draw
- Levante have only one win in their last six games, drawing twice
- Villarreal have managed just one win in their last seven matches, losing five times
Prediction
I expect a scrappy contest here, with plenty of midfield battles and both sides prioritizing defense. My prediction: total under (3) at 1.7
