levante vs villarreal: Match preview, team news and La Liga picks
The La Liga midweek fixture between Levante and Villarreal is set for Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, with kickoff at 2: 00 PM ET. The game pits a struggling home side fighting to avoid the drop against a top-table visitor desperate to steady a wobbling title bid. Expect urgency from the hosts and caution from the Yellow Submarine as both teams seek momentum at different ends of the table.
Match context
Villarreal arrive in Valencia sitting third in the table, level on points with Atlético Madrid; a win here would lift them clear and strengthen their hold on a Champions League position. Still, form has been a concern: Villarreal have lost five of their last seven matches in all competitions and have managed just one victory in their last five league outings.
Levante occupy 19th spot and are seven points adrift of safety, making this fixture a virtual must-win if the hosts hope to keep survival realistic. Defensive issues have plagued Levante all season — they have conceded 40 goals in 23 league matches, the worst tally in the division — and home form has been poor, with just seven points collected from 11 matches at Estadi Ciutat de Valencia.
The match was originally scheduled for December but was postponed due to heavy rainfall in the Valencia region; it now serves as a pivotal fixture in both clubs' calendars.
Team news and likely availability
Levante will still be without attacker Roger Brugué through injury. Pablo Martínez faces a late fitness test ahead of kickoff, while midfielder Kervin Arriaga remains suspended following a red card in the recent local derby. Etta Eyong, a key offensive option who was left on the bench last time out, is expected to return to the starting lineup and provides a much-needed focal point for Levante's attack.
Villarreal's squad is also depleted. Logan Costa, Juan Foyth and Pau Cabanes are ruled out, and several players — Willy Kambwala, Gerard Moreno, Alfon Gonzalez and Thomas Partey — are listed as doubts, potentially limiting selection options and forcing rotational adjustments. The visitor's injury list helps explain inconsistent recent results and could influence tactical caution from the manager.
Betting odds, projections and prediction
Model simulations favor Villarreal as the most likely winner, projecting roughly a 52. 5% chance of victory for the visitors, a 24. 4% chance for Levante, and a 23. 1% probability of a draw. The same models give a roughly 57% chance that the game will go over 2. 5 goals and put the both-teams-to-score market just above coin-flip territory, with around a 57. 6% probability for BTTS.
These figures reflect the clash of trends: Villarreal remain the stronger side on paper and in the table, but their recent slump combined with Levante's defensive vulnerabilities — and the hosts' desperation for points — suggests goals are likely. Expect Villarreal to dominate possession and create chances, while Levante will aim to exploit spaces on the counter and set-piece situations.
Prediction: Villarreal to win, but not without conceding. A 2-1 victory for the visitors is the most probable outcome in this matchup, with alternative value in the market for over 2. 5 goals and both teams to score. Bettors looking for an upset should note Levante's home urgency and Villarreal's injury list, which could narrow the gap and increase the chance of a surprise.
Kickoff reminder: Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 — 2: 00 PM ET.
