The World Today
Mendizorrotza experiences the first direct duel between Alavés and Levante
MADRID, 15 (EUROPA PRESS)
Valencia and Real Sociedad open their 2025-26 LaLiga EA Sports season this Saturday at Mestalla (9:30 p.m.), in which both hope to improve on last year's modest performance, on the first day of competition in which Levante returns to the top flight at home to Deportivo Alavés (9:30 p.m.), a priori a rival in the fight to avoid relegation.
Both Valencia and San Sebastián finished last season with 46 points, in no man's land, enough to avoid jeopardizing their continued presence in the First Division but far from the places that would have guaranteed European competition. For Carlos Corberán's team, it was a bitter victory, after spending much of the season in the danger zone, while for the 'txuri urdin' team, it marked the end of the Imanol Alguacil era.
Now, the 'Che' team, which has not played in continental competition for five years, hopes this will be the course for its return to the top of the table. Without players like Cristhian Mosquera, Giorgi Mamardasvhili, or Enzo Barrenechea, it has managed to retain young talents like Javi Guerra and César Tárrega, in addition to signing players like Julen Agirrezabala, Arnaut Danjuma, and Filip Ugrinic.
The Basques, with Sergio Francisco on the bench, are clinging to the leadership of Mikel Oyarzabal, Brais Méndez, and Take Kubo to overcome the departure of a key player like Martín Zubimendi, now Arsenal's metronome, and are looking to improve their numbers up front with the signing of winger Gonzalo Guedes.
Specifically, both the Portuguese player (if his registration is granted in time) and Umar Sadiq will return to their former home for a match that ended in a 1-0 home victory last season, with a goal from Hugo Duro. In preseason, Corberán's team only won one of their five friendlies (against Torino (3-0)), while the Gipuzkoan side won three of seven.
ALAVÉS AND LEVANTE, IN SEARCH OF THEIR FIRST POINTS
At Mendizorrotza, Deportivo Alavés, who flirted with relegation last year, and Levante, newly promoted to LaLiga EA Sports, will be looking for their first three points of the season, highly coveted this time as they are also potential rivals to avoid relegation.
All in a duel with a morbid quality, since the last time they met, in the second leg of the 2022-23 promotion final, the Babazorros frustrated the Granota team with a last-minute penalty, scored by Asier Villalibre, at the Ciutat de València. Furthermore, Levante has never managed to win at Mendizorrotza in the top flight - four defeats and one draw.
The Valencian side, champions of the 2024-25 LaLiga Hypermotion, will continue to rely on Julián Calero for their new adventure in the First Division, with Jeremy Toljan, Matías Moreno, Alan Matturro, Jon Ander Olasagasti, and Kervin Arriaga, the latter three of whom are doubtful for the debut due to muscle problems, as reinforcements. Carlos Álvarez, recovered from groin pain, will be available for the Granota coach, unlike Alfonso Pastor and Goduine Koyalipou.
Facing them, Eduardo 'Chacho' Coudet's Alavés hope to get off to a strong start at home, where they want to strengthen their defense to avoid any trouble at the end of the season. Youssef Enríquez, Carles Aleñá, Jonny Otto, and Pablo Ibáñez have arrived in Vitoria to reinforce the team, where former Real Madrid player Mariano Díaz looks set to be the key player in attack.
–SATURDAY MATCHDAY PROGRAM ON LALIGA EA SPORTS.
RCD Mallorca – FC Barcelona. 7:30 p.m.
Deportivo Alavés – Levante UD. 9:30 p.m.
Valencia CF – Real Sociedad. 9:30 p.m.
