This is the first leg of an intriguing battle between Espanyol and Levante in the Copa del Rey. This is the stage of the Round of 16 which is going to be played over two legs. What makes this interesting is that they should be really evenly matched up as they are sitting together in the bottom half of La Liga table at the moment and both will see this as a golden opportunity to edge closer to some potential silverware.
Copa del Rey – Espanyol v Levante – Cornellà-El Prat, Cornellà de Llobregat – Thursday 4th January 2018 – 20:00 UK Time
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Draw Best Odd of: 11/5 at Ladbrokes |
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Espanyol
LevanteEspanyol Form
Espanyol took a win over Tenerife in the last round of the Cup to set up this tie, which is a repeat of a clash from last season’s tournament incidentally. Espanyol took an unexpected 1-0 home win over Atletico Madrid just before the winter break and that leaves them with a W3 D1 L2 record in their last six games in all competitions. On home soil, they have gone W6 D1 L3 for the season and each of the three defeats saw Espanyol fail to score. Three of their last four home wins in all competitions have been by a 1-0 scoreline and that should be a good trend to follow. This should be tight as Levante will turn up and want to have something to play for back on home soil in the second leg. Espanyol have failed to score in four of their ten home games this season and a low-scoring game is on the cards.
Levante Form
Levante edged Girona in the last round of the Cup and they are going into this game badly in need of a win. That’s because they are D4 L2 in their last six games in all competitions and goals have dried up badly for them. They have failed to score in four of their last six and three of their last four games have ended in a 0-0 draw. Despite all of that they have actually only lost one away game in all competitions this season and that was earlier in the league season at Real Betis. They have taken a clean sheet in five of their last six away games and will keep the score down in this one. Both teams not score has to be value.
Head to Head News
There was a 0-0 draw between these earlier in the season at Espanyol in the league. Here were paired together in last season’s Copa del Rey and Espanyol won through 3-2 on aggregate, winning the second leg at home 2-1. Of the last six games between the two of them in all competitions, things are even with one win each and four drawn games. Espanyol are unbeaten in their last six at home against Levante (W3 D3).
Espanyol v Levante – Betting Odds and Predictions
Espanyol are 3/4 to take the win with the visiting Levante at 4/1.
Top Betting Tips Espanyol v Levante
This has to be a low scoring affair but Espanyol may just do enough to get over the line, probably with a 1-0 scoreline. Levante are tough to break at the back, but they are not scoring goals so back the home side to edge the first leg.