Villarreal's priority isn't results but experimentation, with new manager Iñigo Pérez focused on testing his system and integrating academy prospects. Missing seven World Cup internationals and rotating heavily, the hosts are unlikely to have the cohesion or urgency of a full-strength side. Levante's disciplined 5-4-1 low block and rapid counter-attacks are well suited to frustrating possession-based teams, while their threat from set pieces provides another route to goal. In a preseason setup where chemistry often matters more than individual quality, Levante have every chance of coming away unbeaten.

Analysis by Broker Heisenberg - Updated Aug 5, 2026