RCD Espanyol v Levante UD to open 2026/27 season | OneFootball

The real stuff begins at 19:00 as RCD Espanyol host Levante UD to launch the 2026/27 campaign at the RCDE Stadium. According to Superdeporte, Levante start their 18th top-flight season after a summer of ins and outs and a promising pre-season, still focused on staying up.

Levante drew 0-0 in Cornellà in April, when missed chances by Etta Eyong and Carlos Álvarez left them centimetres from victory.

Luís Castro’s side feel they have done their work, even if some details still need polishing, and travel with the confidence required for an opening fixture. Captain Roger Brugué is unavailable due to a disciplinary ban following his red card against RCD Mallorca in the penultimate match of 25/26.

The annual registration issues that often hamper clubs early on are not expected to disrupt Castro’s plans. He has worked with the full group this week and has not signalled concern over availability.

Espanyol, coached by Manolo González, want to rediscover the level that had them competing for European places early last season. Their main departure is the end of Carlos Romero’s loan, while they have made few reinforcements that nevertheless raise the squad’s quality. New faces with experience in the Comunitat Valenciana include Unai Núñez with Valencia CF and Álex Calatrava with CD Castellón.

The clubs have met 42 times in official competition, with Espanyol winning 16 to Levante’s 10, and 15 draws, including April’s stalemate. Levante’s last success at the RCDE came in 19/20, a 1-3 victory sealed by Borja Mayoral and Enis Bardhi, plus an Adrià Pedrosa own goal, in a stadium empty due to the pandemic.

Source: Superdeporte

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”