Athletic eye more Orriols joy in finely poised Ciutat de Valencia test | OneFootball

Athletic visit Levante at 21:00 on Tuesday in a finely poised meeting, the hosts’ home steel against the visitors’ strong record in Orriols. Athletic have three wins and two draws from their last five trips, and last season led 0-2 at the break then closed it out.

According to El Correo, before Barcelona’s visit Levante had seven wins and one draw at home, and this season hit Betis 5-2.

Athletic looked sharper away at Balaídos against Celta, though last season they were the fifth-worst travellers, only ahead of Elche, Osasuna, Mallorca and Oviedo. They must sustain intensity for 90 minutes. Levante rarely fold, as shown when they pulled two back after trailing 0-3 to Barcelona, having gone 0-2 down inside 15 minutes.

Terzic’s team face a sixth early-season test, with the Elche draw adding pressure. He kept the same line-up for the first time this league after the Atlético display, but the level dropped. With Saturday’s derby looming, tweaks look likely as he targets freshness and balance.

The doubt has eased, Iñaki Williams is over his knock and will start again at centre-forward, with Terzic stressing his captaincy. Berenguer could return for Robert Navarro, Jauregizar may get his first start, and perhaps Hugo Rincón comes in after only featuring at Camp Nou, with Johaneko preferred on Saturday.

President Jon Uriarte has travelled and will be in the directors’ box. Heavy showers are forecast, so the pitch should be slick, unlike the very dry surface Flick lamented. Cutting edge will be key, the last two at the Ciutat produced 13 goals, seven for and six against.

Source: El Correo

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