Espanyol host Levante at the RCDE Stadium on April 27, 2026, in an important La Liga fixture for two clubs trying to distance themselves from the relegation zone. Espanyol enter the match with 38 points from 31 games, while Levante sit 19th with 29 points. The visitors are four points behind 17th-placed Alavés and therefore remain firmly involved in the fight for survival.
The pressure on Espanyol is also considerable. Manolo González's side began 2026 in European contention but has since suffered a dramatic collapse in form, going 15 consecutive La Liga matches without a victory heading into this game. Levante arrive with far greater momentum after consecutive victories over Getafe and Sevilla, giving Luís Castro's team renewed belief that they can escape the bottom three.
Espanyol vs Levante: Last 10 League Meetings
Espanyol have enjoyed the stronger recent record in this fixture.
Across the 10 league meetings immediately before April 27, 2026:
Espanyol wins: 5
Levante wins: 1
Draws: 4
Espanyol goals: 18
Levante goals: 13
Total goals: 31
Average goals per match: 3.1
The previous 10 league meetings were:
Levante 1-1 Espanyol — January 11, 2026
Espanyol 2-1 Levante — February 4, 2024
Levante 1-4 Espanyol — September 8, 2023
Levante 1-1 Espanyol — March 12, 2022
Espanyol 4-3 Levante — December 11, 2021
Espanyol 1-3 Levante — June 20, 2020
Levante 0-1 Espanyol — October 27, 2019
Levante 2-2 Espanyol — April 21, 2019
Espanyol 1-0 Levante — September 16, 2018
Levante 1-1 Espanyol — March 4, 2018
Espanyol have therefore lost only once across those 10 league encounters. They are also unbeaten in the four most recent meetings, winning twice and drawing twice.
The Reverse Fixture Finished 1-1
The most recent meeting between the clubs took place at the Ciutat de València on January 11, 2026, when the match finished 1-1. That fixture had serious consequences for Espanyol beyond the result.
Club captain Javi Puado suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee after coming on as a substitute. The injury required surgery and ruled him out for the remainder of the season. His continued absence remains one of the biggest losses for Manolo González as Espanyol try to arrest their slide down the table.
Espanyol's 2026 Form Has Become a Major Concern
Few teams in La Liga have experienced a more dramatic change in fortunes than Espanyol. They were fifth with 33 points around the end of 2025 and appeared to be discussing European qualification. Since then, their form has collapsed.
Before facing Levante, Espanyol had collected only five points from 15 league matches in 2026, failing to win any of them. Their 1-0 defeat at Rayo Vallecano in their previous game extended the winless sequence to 15 matches.
Their most recent league results include:
Rayo Vallecano 1-0 Espanyol
Barcelona 4-1 Espanyol
Real Betis 0-0 Espanyol
The concern is no longer simply poor form. Espanyol have gradually been dragged towards a relegation fight that appeared unlikely earlier in the campaign.
Espanyol's Numbers Explain the Problem
Espanyol have scored 37 goals in 31 league matches while conceding 49. That works out at approximately 1.2 goals scored and 1.5 conceded per match. The attacking numbers are not disastrous in isolation, but the lack of victories has placed enormous pressure on the team.
Manolo González needs his players to rediscover the confidence that carried them through the first half of the season. A home meeting with a direct relegation rival provides an important opportunity to change that momentum.
Urko González Returns for Espanyol
Espanyol receive an important midfield boost with Urko González de Zárate available again after serving his suspension against Rayo Vallecano. His return gives Manolo González the option of restoring the midfield structure that has regularly featured Urko alongside Pol Lozano, with Edu Expósito operating further forward.
Espanyol's only major confirmed injury absence is Puado. That means the coach has most of his senior squad available for a game where experience and composure could be particularly important.
Kike García Could Lead the Attack
Espanyol have several options at centre-forward, but Kike García is among the leading candidates to start. The experienced striker has scored eight league goals this season and offers a physical presence inside the penalty area.
With Urko returning, Manolo González may move away from the two-striker approach considered against Rayo and return to a more familiar structure with one central forward supported by players such as Edu Expósito, Tyrhys Dolan, Cyril Ngonge or Ramon Terrats. The main challenge will be creating higher-quality chances rather than simply increasing the volume of attacks.
Levante Arrive With Renewed Confidence
The contrast in form between the two teams is significant. Levante enter the fixture after recording back-to-back La Liga victories. They first beat Getafe 1-0 before defeating Sevilla 2-0 on April 23, collecting six crucial points in their survival fight.
Those results have not yet lifted Luís Castro's side out of the relegation zone, but they have transformed the mood around the club. Levante remain 19th on 29 points, but survival is once again within reach.
Luís Castro Has Changed Levante's Season
Levante's improvement under Luís Castro has been considerable. The Portuguese coach took charge in December with the club bottom of the table and has gradually made the team more competitive through clearer tactical organisation and greater confidence in younger players.
His approach has helped Levante become more difficult to break down while still allowing attacking players to threaten quickly after possession changes hands. That balance could be particularly useful at the RCDE Stadium. Espanyol are under pressure to attack at home, and any spaces they leave behind could give Levante opportunities to counter.
Carlos Espí Is Levante's Main Goal Threat
One player Espanyol will need to monitor closely is Carlos Espí. The young striker has scored eight league goals and is expected to lead Levante's attack at the RCDE Stadium. His movement gives Levante a central target when they play directly, while players around him can attack the second ball or make runs beyond the defensive line. Espanyol's centre-backs need to prevent him from receiving possession too comfortably around the penalty area.
Levante Have Several Absences
Levante do not arrive with a completely healthy squad. Luís Castro will be without Kareem Tunde, Iván Romero and Unai Elgezabal. Iván Romero is unavailable after reaching the yellow-card suspension threshold during the victory over Sevilla, while Elgezabal remains sidelined through injury.
There is better news with Roger Brugué and José Luis Morales returning to the squad, giving Castro additional attacking options. Those returns are useful because Levante may need attacking reinforcements from the bench if the match remains close late on.
Espanyol's Tactical Approach
Espanyol are likely to take the initiative because they are playing at home and urgently need a victory. Manolo González can restore his midfield structure with Urko and Pol Lozano providing the base and Edu Expósito operating in more advanced areas.
Their main objectives should be to:
move the ball quickly through midfield;
attack Levante before their defensive block becomes organised;
use width to create crossing opportunities;
get more players around Kike García;
avoid exposing themselves when possession is lost.
The final point is particularly important. Espanyol's desperation for a victory cannot become recklessness. Levante's improved confidence makes them dangerous if the home side commit too many players forward.
How Levante Could Approach the Match
Castro is unlikely to ask Levante to dominate possession. The visitors can afford to remain compact, frustrate Espanyol and wait for transition opportunities. A likely midfield structure includes Ugo Raghouber with Pablo Martínez and Jon Olasagasti, while Carlos Espí provides the central reference point in attack.
Levante should look to:
protect the central areas;
force Espanyol into predictable wide attacks;
remain patient when defending;
move forward quickly after turnovers;
use Espí as a target;
exploit any nervousness inside the RCDE Stadium.
The psychological side of the game could become increasingly important if Espanyol fail to score early.
A Relegation Battle Despite Espanyol's League Position
Espanyol's position in the table may appear relatively comfortable at first glance. They enter the match 10th with 38 points, but the bottom half of La Liga is extremely congested. Only a small number of points separate several clubs from the relegation places.
Espanyol's remaining schedule also increases the importance of this match. After Levante, they still have fixtures against Real Madrid, Sevilla, Athletic Club, Osasuna and Real Sociedad. That makes the Levante game one of their clearest opportunities to collect points before a demanding final run. Levante have even less margin for error because they begin the night inside the bottom three.
Espanyol vs Levante: Who Has the Advantage?
Espanyol have the stronger historical argument. They have won five of the previous 10 league meetings, lost only once, and have home advantage. Levante, however, enter with significantly better current form.
The visitors have won their previous two league games, while Espanyol have gone 15 consecutive La Liga matches without victory. That makes this far more balanced than the head-to-head record alone would suggest. Espanyol have enough quality to end their winless run, particularly with Urko returning and most of the squad available.
But Levante have genuine momentum and know that another victory could dramatically improve their survival position. For Espanyol, three points would provide enormous relief after months without a league win. For Levante, victory at the RCDE Stadium would be another major step towards escaping the relegation zone. With both teams under pressure for different reasons, the April 27 meeting looks set to be a tense battle where confidence, defensive discipline and the first goal could prove decisive.