One of the most intense matches of the 32nd round of LaLiga EA Sports is underway in Barcelona: Espanyol hosts Levante on their home field. Both clubs find themselves in a difficult situation — the hosts haven’t won since the beginning of 2026, while the visitors remain in the relegation zone. The match at RCDE Stadium could prove decisive for both teams in their battle to stay in the top division.
Before the match, Espanyol coach Manolo González noted that Levante has improved significantly in the second half of the season, but the disastrous start left the team with too much of a points deficit. According to him, it is now important to act calmly and not lose focus, since even with decent play, the result remains the main criterion. González emphasized that victory in this match would bring Espanyol closer to securing their place in the league and boost the confidence of a team that has yet to break their long winless streak.
Losing streak and personnel issues
Levante, despite recent successes, are still under pressure. After their victory over Sevilla in January, the team failed to win any of their next five away matches: four losses and a draw — their worst run since February 2022. At the same time, Levante earned wins over Getafe and Sevilla in the last two rounds, conceding no goals. However, in Barcelona, the visitors will have to do without forward Iván Romero, who will miss the match due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Romero was the player who scored a brace in the previous match against Sevilla.
Espanyol, in turn, lost to Rayo Vallecano in the previous round, conceding the decisive goal in the final minutes. The Catalans have not managed to earn three points for several months and risk coming dangerously close to the relegation zone—only four points separate them from it at the moment. Over the last 15 rounds, the team has collected only five points, making the situation particularly worrying for fans and club management.
Head-to-head record and referee team
Espanyol has the advantage in their head-to-head meetings: over the last 14 LaLiga matches, the team has lost to Levante only twice, claiming four wins and drawing eight times. Only against Celta have the Catalans had more draws in recent years. In the last five home games against Levante, Espanyol has won twice, lost once, and shared the points twice.
Mateo Busquets from the Balearic Islands has been appointed as the main referee, with Jorge Figueroa overseeing the VAR system. Both clubs approach the match with different moods: Espanyol is searching for a way to break a long winless streak, while Levante hopes to build on recent success despite personnel losses.
Situation in the league table
A win for Espanyol would bring them to 41 points and almost guarantee their place in LaLiga for next season. For Levante, every point is now worth its weight in gold—the gap from the safety zone is minimal, and any mistake could cost the team relegation. Guest coach Luis Castro urges his squad to stay calm and not get carried away after two consecutive wins, emphasizing that morale needs to remain stable.
The Espanyol vs. Levante match wraps up the round, and its result could impact the balance of power at the bottom of the table. A similar relegation battle is unfolding in other parallel games, as was recently seen between Mallorca and Valencia — more details about that clash can be found in the article on the key match at Son Moix.
According to MARCA.com, the opening whistle will sound in a few hours, and fans of both teams are expecting a tense battle until the final minutes. The outcome could be a turning point for both clubs at this stage of the season.
