Levante vs Osasuna: La Liga Relegation Battle

Estadio Ciudad de Valencia stages a tense La Liga relegation-versus-mid‑table clash on 8 May 2026 as 19th‑placed Levante host 10th‑placed Osasuna in Round 35 of the regular season. For the home side this is about survival; for the visitors it is about consolidating a solid campaign and finally solving their away‑day issues.

With Levante sitting on 33 points and in the relegation zone, every remaining home game is effectively a final. Osasuna, on 42 points, are comfortably mid‑table but still within reach of a top‑half finish and the extra prize money that comes with it.

Form and momentum

In the league across all phases, Levante’s record underlines why they are in trouble: 8 wins, 9 draws and 17 defeats from 34 matches, with 38 goals scored and 55 conceded (goal difference −17). Their recent five‑game form line of “LDWWL” hints at a late flicker of life: two wins in that sequence have kept them in touch, but the inconsistency remains stark.

At home, Levante have been marginally more reliable: 5 wins, 5 draws and 7 losses from 17 games, scoring 21 and conceding 26. They average 1.2 goals for and 1.5 against at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, with 4 home clean sheets but also 5 games in which they have failed to score. That volatility makes them hard to trust but also suggests that when they click, they can trouble opponents.

Osasuna’s campaign has been the mirror image: solid overall but extremely uneven between home and away. Across all phases they have 11 wins, 9 draws and 14 defeats, with 40 goals for and 42 against (−2 goal difference). Their form line of “LWLDD” shows just one win in the last five, but also a tendency to stay competitive and pick up draws.

The big split comes away from Pamplona: Osasuna have won only 2 of 17 away matches, drawing 4 and losing 11. They have scored just 11 away goals (0.6 per game) and conceded 22 (1.3 per game), with 2 clean sheets but 11 away fixtures in which they failed to score. That bluntness on the road is the main reason they are not higher than 10th.

Tactical outlook: Levante’s structure vs Osasuna’s focal point

Levante’s season data suggests a coach searching for balance. They have used a 4‑2‑3‑1 in 11 matches, 4‑4‑2 in 10, and 4‑1‑4‑1 in 7, occasionally shifting to a back five. That flexibility can be read two ways: adaptability or uncertainty.

Given the stakes and Osasuna’s away struggles, a proactive 4‑2‑3‑1 at home looks likely. The double pivot will be tasked with screening a defence that has conceded 1.6 goals per game across all phases and has been vulnerable to transitions. Levante’s yellow‑card distribution shows a spike late in games (19.23% of yellows between 76–90 minutes), hinting at fatigue and desperation in closing stages; game management will be crucial if they are protecting a lead.

In attack, the emerging figure is 20‑year‑old forward Carlos Espí. With 9 league goals in just 996 minutes (21 appearances, 9 starts), his scoring rate is impressive. He averages 32 shots with 19 on target and has been effective in duels (159 total, 75 won) and dribbles (10 successful from 22 attempts). He has not yet scored from the penalty spot this season (0 penalties taken), so his threat is all from open play. Levante’s best route to survival may well be to build around his movement and finishing, using wide players to feed him early.

Osasuna, by contrast, have a clear offensive reference point: Ante Budimir. The Croatian striker has 16 league goals from 33 appearances (31 starts), ranking high among La Liga scorers. He has taken 76 shots with 36 on target and is central to Osasuna’s direct, penalty‑box‑focused approach. His physical presence is underlined by 339 duels (161 won) and his ability to occupy centre‑backs.

Budimir’s penalty record this season is mixed rather than flawless: 6 scored and 2 missed. Osasuna as a team are 6/6 from the spot in league stats, but the individual data shows Budimir has not been perfect. That nuance matters in a tight relegation‑influenced game where a single penalty could be decisive.

Tactically, Osasuna have favoured a 4‑2‑3‑1 in 19 matches, with various back‑three systems (3‑4‑3, 3‑4‑2‑1, 3‑5‑2) used situationally. Away from home, a more compact 4‑2‑3‑1 or 3‑4‑3 is likely, aiming to keep distances short, protect the central corridor and play quickly into Budimir. Their away average of 0.6 goals suggests they often prioritise solidity first and accept limited attacking output.

Team news and selection puzzles

Levante arrive with a worrying injury list. Confirmed absentees include C. Alvarez (injury), K. Arriaga (suspension – yellow cards), A. Primo (shoulder injury) and I. Romero (muscle injury). On top of that, Dela (muscle), U. Elgezabal (knee) and K. Tunde (muscle) are all listed as questionable.

This cluster of problems hits both depth and potentially the spine of the side. Rotation options at centre‑back and in midfield may be restricted, making it harder to switch formations mid‑game or to inject energy from the bench late on.

Osasuna’s issues are lighter but still notable. V. Munoz is ruled out with a muscle injury, and creative midfielder A. Oroz is questionable with an unspecified injury. If Oroz is unavailable, Osasuna lose a link player between midfield and attack, increasing the reliance on wide service and set‑pieces for Budimir.

Head‑to‑head: Osasuna’s edge, but not dominance

The last five competitive meetings between these sides in La Liga show:

• Osasuna wins: 3
• Levante wins: 1
• Draws: 1

All five were league fixtures (no friendlies). The most recent, in December 2025 at Estadio El Sadar, ended 2‑0 to Osasuna, who also won 3‑1 at home in March 2022. Levante’s sole victory in this run came away in September 2020 (3‑1), while the only draw was a 0‑0 at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia in December 2021. Osasuna also edged a 1‑0 win in Valencia in February 2021.

The pattern: Osasuna have had the better of the rivalry recently, including twice on this ground, but Levante have shown they can both win in Pamplona and shut Osasuna out at home. There is no evidence of a fixture that always explodes with goals; scorelines have been mixed, from 0‑0 to 3‑1.

Discipline and late‑game dynamics

Both teams carry disciplinary risk. Levante’s yellow cards cluster heavily after the break, especially in the final quarter of an hour, while Osasuna’s bookings peak between 76–90 minutes (20.73%) and they have multiple red cards spread across late time ranges. In a high‑pressure context for Levante and with Osasuna comfortable in the table, emotional control could be a hidden deciding factor.

Levante’s 8 clean sheets and Osasuna’s 7 across all phases suggest both can dig in when required. However, Levante’s higher goals‑against average and Osasuna’s chronic away scoring issues point to a tight, nervy contest rather than an open shoot‑out.

The verdict

On paper, Osasuna are the stronger side: higher in the table, better overall record and with the standout striker in Budimir. They also carry psychological confidence from winning 2‑0 in the reverse fixture in December 2025 and from three wins in the last five head‑to‑heads.

Yet context shifts the balance. Osasuna are a different team away from El Sadar, with just 2 wins in 17 away matches and 11 games on the road without scoring. Levante, while flawed and depleted by injuries, have more to lose and have shown flashes of resilience at home. The emergence of Carlos Espí gives them a genuine cutting edge if they can supply him.

This looks set up for a cagey, low‑margin encounter in which Levante’s desperation and Osasuna’s away fragility cancel out some of the visitors’ technical superiority. A narrow home win or a draw both feel plausible; the data leans towards a tight game with one or two goals rather than a high‑scoring spectacle.

If Levante manage their discipline and keep Budimir under control, they have a realistic chance to take something vital from a match that could define their survival hopes.