Competition: Spanish Segunda
Market: Levante win
Odds: 1/2 @ 888sport
Hoping to find a route into the top-two on Thursday evening, Levante will welcome a struggling Ponferradina to the Ciutat de Valencia.
Starting with the hosts, while Levante might have lost their La Liga status last season, it is no secret that the Frogs have their sights fixed on an immediate top-flight return. Putting in another rugged display last weekend as they picked up a 1-0 victory at home against Malaga, Javier Calleja’s men will know that another victory here could see them skyrocket into the top-two. With the mood in their camp at a real high, the one-time Villarreal boss finds his side enjoying a stellar 10-match unbeaten run across all formats. With their extended purple patch stemming all the way back to September 9th, Levante have also continued to gain a reputation for their eye-catching performances on home soil. In fact, Calleja’s high-flying squad have collected 10 points from their last four Segunda showdowns at the Ciutat de Valencia.
As for the visitors, last seen on November 26th when getting hit with a 1-0 loss away at Malaga, Ponferradina mark their return to action in the midst of an extended rut. Although the El Bierzo-based outfit might have just missed out on a play-off spot last season, David Gallego’s men have really come crashing back down to earth this time around. Making the trip to Levante on Thursday evening sat in the drop zone, the ex-Espanyol boss has seen his side win just one of their last 12 attempts across all formats. With their nightmare blip stemming all the way back to the middle of September, there is no doubt that La Ponfe have a real test on their hands here. Likewise, collecting just a single point from any of their previous four Segunda outings, we’re backing a fairly routine home victory for the promotion contenders.
Bet: Levante 1/2 to beat Ponferradina in Thursday’s Segunda matchup @ 888sport