The Valencia derby promises intrigue: prediction for Villarreal vs Levante on August 5, 2026
Villareal
Levante
On Wednesday, August 5, Villarreal and Levante will face off in a friendly as part of their preparations for the 2026/27 season. The match kicks off at 10:00 Central European Time on the Mini Estadi at the José Manuel Llaneza training complex. Both teams are in the final stages of preseason, so coaches are expected to start fielding lineups close to what we’ll see once the La Liga campaign gets underway.
Villarreal: Pérez’s new philosophy still searching for balance
This summer, Villarreal changed head coaches. After Marcelino’s departure, Iñigo Pérez took the helm, signing a contract through 2029. The new boss is gradually reshaping the team’s style, focusing on proactive possession, a high defensive line, and intense pressing. These changes are generating chances up front, but they’re also leaving space for opponents to counter at pace.
The “Yellow Submarine” had a mixed bag of preseason results. They fell 0-2 to Benfica, then confidently beat PSV 3-1. At the Como tournament, Villarreal defeated Al-Ulu 3-0 in a shortened match, drew 1-1 with Como, and reached the final, where they lost 1-3 to Lens.
In the Como Cup final, Villarreal struck first through an Ayoze Pérez goal assisted by Gerard Moreno, but then allowed the French side to capitalize on defensive errors three times. The team looked especially vulnerable after halftime, when a flurry of substitutions disrupted their off-ball structure. Matches against PSV, Como, and Lens showed Villarreal’s attack can already create chances, but keeping a clean sheet remains a challenge.
All players who participated in the World Cup have now returned to the squad. This gives Pérez options to use Papa Gueye, Tajon Buchanan, Tani Oluwaseyi, Renato Veiga, Nicolas Pépé, and other key men. Still, after a grueling tournament in Italy and with Galatasaray looming on August 8, rotation is almost certain.
Levante: Productive preseason after losing their top scorer
Levante are enjoying a productive preseason under Luis Castro. In their first four friendlies, they beat Leganés 2-1, lost 1-2 to Sheffield United, edged Al-Qadsiah 1-0, and overcame Albacete 2-1. That means the Valencia side has found the net in every summer outing, with both teams scoring in three of four matches.
Castro is instilling an adventurous style, using a high defensive line and aggressive pressing when opponents build from the back. This approach worked well against Al-Qadsiah, but against Sheffield United it resulted in two goals conceded in the opening seven minutes. Against a more technically gifted Villarreal, such risks could again lead to dangerous moments at Levante’s end.
Shortly before this match, Levante lost last season’s top scorer Carlos Espi. The striker, who netted 11 goals in 25 league games, moved to Real Madrid. However, the first match after his departure ended in victory over Albacete: Roger Brugué equalized before halftime, and Etta Eyong scored the winner early in the second half.
Another boost for the defense is Aïssa Mandi, who returned from the World Cup and has already played his first 30 minutes for the new team. Still, in these friendlies, Castro has been rotating heavily, splitting minutes between starters and youngsters, which inevitably affects defensive stability.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Levante have scored in all four preseason matches.
- Both teams have scored in three of Levante’s four friendlies.
- Villarreal have conceded against PSV, Como, and Lens.
- In May, Villarreal thrashed Levante 5-1 in La Liga.
- Villarreal won both meetings last season: 1-0 and 5-1.
Rotation should spark both attacks: Villarreal vs Levante prediction
In terms of squad quality and individual talent, Villarreal have the upper hand. Iñigo Pérez’s side have already shown strong spells against PSV, Como, and Lens, with the Gerard Moreno–Ayoze Pérez partnership consistently creating danger.
However, banking on a straightforward home win is risky. Villarreal are still adapting to their new coach’s demands, play a high defensive line, and remain susceptible to dangerous counterattacks. The added factor of rotation after returning from the Italian tournament can’t be ignored.
Levante are in good form and have scored in every friendly. Even after Carlos Espi’s departure, they still have Brugué, Etta Eyong, Paco Cortés, and Carlos Álvarez. The visitors’ high pressing could trouble Villarreal, though it will also open up space for the hosts’ more potent attack.
Both teams are primarily interested in testing out attacking combinations, and numerous substitutions after halftime will likely disrupt defensive discipline. That makes both teams to score the most logical bet.
Prediction: both teams to score — yes.
