A Valencian Community derby takes centre stage on Sunday, September 20, as Villarreal host Levante at the Estadio de la Cerámica in La Liga. Kick-off is scheduled for 16:30 local time, with the teams sitting close together in the standings: Villarreal are 14th and Levante are 15th. The home side enter the fixture with renewed confidence after ending a difficult sequence by beating Málaga 3-1 on September 17. Levante, meanwhile, are looking to respond to a 4-2 defeat against FC Barcelona and rediscover their scoring touch away from home. Villarreal's home games have consistently produced goals, but Levante have failed to score across more than 270 minutes on their recent travels. That contrast creates an intriguing match between a team seeking to build momentum and visitors hoping to become more effective in the final third.

Villarreal's Recent Form and Key Statistics

Villarreal endured a challenging beginning to their La Liga campaign. Their first three league fixtures were all played away from home, producing 2-2 draws against Racing Santander and Atlético Madrid before a 1-0 defeat against Alavés. Returning to the Estadio de la Cerámica did not immediately solve their problems, as a 3-2 loss to Deportivo was followed by a 3-2 defeat in Dortmund and a 2-1 setback against Betis.

The 3-1 victory at Málaga therefore represented an important response. Villarreal came from behind and delivered a strong collective performance, showing the attacking variety and resilience that had been missing during their poor run. It was their first victory across their latest five matches, a period in which they recorded four defeats while averaging 1.6 goals scored and 2.0 conceded per game.

Their La Liga record stands at one win, two draws and three defeats, with averages of 1.7 goals scored and 1.8 conceded. Defensive vulnerability remains a major concern: Villarreal have conceded in each of their last 21 matches across all competitions and in their last 20 league games. That sequence also extends to their previous 15 home fixtures, including 13 in La Liga.

• Villarreal have not drawn any of their last 17 home matches.
• At least two total goals were recorded in each of their last 15 home league games.
• Their last 10 La Liga home matches all produced over 2.5 goals.
• Both teams scored in each of those 10 home league fixtures.
• Villarreal were ahead at half-time in seven of their last 10 home league matches.

Foyth is carrying a fitness issue and appears unlikely to make the home squad. Nevertheless, Villarreal approach the derby encouraged by the manner of their recovery in Málaga and now have the opportunity to register consecutive victories.

Levante's Recent Form and Key Statistics

Levante began with a clear 3-0 defeat away to Espanyol before claiming their first point through a 0-0 draw at Osasuna. They then produced their best attacking result of the campaign by defeating Betis 5-2, followed by another goalless away draw against Málaga. Their latest completed game ended in a 4-2 home defeat to FC Barcelona, although Levante scored twice in succession and reduced the gap to one goal late in the contest. Their midweek fixture against Athletic was suspended because of heavy rain.

Across their latest five matches, Levante have collected one win, two draws and two defeats. They averaged 1.4 goals scored and 1.8 conceded during that sequence, figures that are identical to their season averages in La Liga. Their league record currently stands at one victory, two draws and two losses.

The principal issue ahead of this derby is Levante's away attack. They have gone three consecutive trips and more than 270 minutes without scoring. Their last two away league matches both finished with under 0.5 total goals, while three of their previous 11 La Liga fixtures also produced no goals. If the visitors are to improve on that recent road record, they must translate the attacking response shown against Barcelona into this away assignment.

Primo, Etta Eyong and Sotelo are unavailable and will not be part of the Levante squad. Those absences come as the visitors attempt to secure their second league victory and move above their regional rivals.

Villarreal vs Levante Probable Lineups

Villarreal: Gulacsi; Mouriño, Costa, Veiga, Romero; Gueye, Saliba; Pépé, Gerard, Moleiro; Mikautadze. Coach: Iñigo Pérez.

Levante: Ryan; Nacho Pérez, Dela, Mandi, Manu Sánchez; Olasagasti, Oriol Rey; Brugué, Bardeli, Thiago Fernández; Iván Romero. Coach: Luis Castro.

Ndukwe is another option for Levante in central defence and could replace Mandi in the starting side.

Villarreal vs Levante Match Analysis

The available numbers point to a game shaped by Villarreal's productive but defensively fragile home pattern. The hosts have repeatedly been involved in matches with goals at both ends, while their refusal to settle for draws at the Estadio de la Cerámica suggests that these fixtures regularly produce a decisive outcome. Their first-half record is especially notable: at least one goal was scored before the interval in each of Villarreal's last 10 home league matches, as well as in 19 of their previous 20 La Liga games and 19 of their last 21 matches overall.

Levante's recent away record offers a clear counterpoint because their last two league trips were goalless. Even so, their 5-2 win over Betis and two goals against Barcelona demonstrate that they have produced attacking returns in recent home fixtures. Villarreal's long run without a clean sheet also gives the visitors an opportunity, although Levante must overcome their extended scoreless sequence away from home.

Villarreal hold the stronger recent head-to-head record, with four wins and one defeat across the listed five meetings. They averaged 2.0 goals scored and 0.8 conceded in that sequence, while the latest encounter finished 1-0 on August 5, 2026. The match probabilities give Villarreal a 52% chance of victory, compared with 25% for the draw and 23% for Levante. However, the clearest recurring trend surrounds the opening period. Villarreal's repeated first-half goals at home make an early breakthrough the most coherent conclusion from the statistical evidence.

Villarreal vs Levante prediction from BetMines: Over 0.5 goals at Half-Time with 82% probability.