Levante vs Mallorca: High-Stakes Relegation Clash in La Liga
Estadio Ciudad de Valencia hosts one of the most dramatic fixtures of the La Liga season on 17 May 2026, as 19th-placed Levante welcome 18th-placed Mallorca in a straight relegation shoot-out. Both sides sit on 39 points from 36 games, separated only by goal difference, and both currently occupy positions marked “Relegation - LaLiga2” in the standings. With just two rounds left, this is as close to a winner‑stays‑up decider as the calendar can offer.
Context and stakes
In the league, Levante arrive in better recent form. Their last five results read “WWLDW”, a late surge that has kept survival hopes alive. Mallorca, by contrast, have stumbled with “LDWLD”, unable to string together a run at the crucial moment.
Across all phases, the numbers underline how tight this is. Both teams have:
- Played 36
- Won 10
- Drawn 9
- Lost 17
- Scored 44 goals
The only difference is at the back: Levante have conceded 59 (goal difference -15), Mallorca 55 (goal difference -11). That four-goal defensive edge is the slender cushion keeping Mallorca above their hosts.
Home and away splits add another layer. Levante’s home record in the league is 6 wins, 5 draws and 7 defeats (24 scored, 28 conceded). Mallorca are a very different side away from Palma: just 2 wins, 3 draws and 13 defeats on the road, with 16 scored and 34 conceded. On paper, the venue strongly favours Levante.
Tactical outlook: Levante
Across all phases, Levante’s season profile is that of a team that usually needs to score at least twice to feel safe. They average 1.3 goals for and 1.6 against per home game, with 24 scored and 28 conceded in 18 outings. They have kept 4 clean sheets at home and failed to score in 5, so there is a genuine chance of either a solid defensive display or a flat attacking night.
Formationally, Levante have been flexible but with clear trends:
- 4-2-3-1 used 11 times
- 4-4-2 used 10 times
- 4-1-4-1 used 8 times
- Occasional switches to back fives (5-4-1) and other variations
At home, the 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 options suggest a side that wants at least two central midfielders shielding a vulnerable defence while still carrying width and a central striker. The “biggest wins” data (4-2 at home, 0-4 away) hints at Levante’s potential when their attacking patterns click. But their heaviest defeats (1-4 at home, 5-1 away) underline how exposed they can be when the structure breaks.
Discipline is another subplot. Levante have accumulated a spread of yellow cards across all time ranges, with a spike late in games (19.51% of yellows in minutes 76–90). Red cards have come most often between 16–30 minutes and again in added time (91–105). In a high-pressure relegation match, early and late-game discipline will be critical.
From the spot, Levante have been reliable: 2 penalties taken, 2 scored across all phases. That gives them a trustworthy fallback if the match turns on a single decision.
Team news is less positive. Levante are without:
- C. Alvarez (Injury)
- U. Elgezabal (Knee Injury)
- A. Primo (Shoulder Injury)
- U. Vencedor (Coach’s decision)
The absence of Elgezabal and Vencedor in particular could thin out their options in central areas, forcing the coach to be more conservative with his base structure and substitutions.
Tactical outlook: Mallorca
Mallorca’s identity this season has been shaped by a strong home record and a fragile away one. Across all phases, they average 1.6 goals for and 1.2 against at home, but only 0.9 scored and 1.9 conceded away. Their 18 away fixtures have produced just 2 wins and 5 clean sheets in total (home and away combined), with 6 away matches where they failed to score.
Formations point to a team built around defensive stability and a focal point in attack:
- 4-2-3-1 used 20 times
- 4-3-1-2 used 7 times
- 5-3-2 used 4 times
- 4-4-2 and 4-3-3 appearing occasionally
The heavy reliance on 4-2-3-1 suggests Mallorca will mirror Levante’s likely shape, with a double pivot in front of a defence that has been heavily hit by injuries and suspensions.
The key figure is clear: Vedat Muriqi. In the league this season he has:
- 35 appearances (34 starts), 2960 minutes
- 22 goals and 1 assist
- 86 shots, 47 on target
- A rating of 7.09
- 5 penalties scored but 2 missed
Muriqi is the attacking system in microcosm: high volume, strong aerial and physical presence (425 duels, 219 won), and a constant reference point for long balls and crosses. However, his penalty record means Mallorca cannot assume automatic conversion from the spot; those 2 misses are a reminder that even their main man is not flawless from 11 metres.
Mallorca’s disciplinary profile is also aggressive, with a high concentration of yellow cards between 46–60 minutes and a notable cluster of reds in the 31–45 and 91–105 ranges. In a match likely to be tense, managing that emotional edge will be vital.
Team news is a major concern:
- L. Bergstrom (Injury)
- M. Joseph (Knee Injury)
- J. Kalumba (Injury)
- M. Kumbulla (Muscle Injury)
- O. Mascarell (Yellow Cards, suspended)
- A. Raillo (Injury)
- J. Salas (Knee Injury)
Losing Raillo and Kumbulla strips experience and height from the back line, while Mascarell’s suspension removes a key midfield screen. That combination could force Mallorca into a more conservative 5-3-2 or a deeper 4-2-3-1, with extra protection in front of a patched-up defence and a game plan built around feeding Muriqi quickly.
Across all phases, Mallorca have also been perfect from the spot as a team (5 penalties, 5 scored), but with Muriqi having missed 2 individually, it is clear that not every attempt has gone his way in the wider context of his career.
Head-to-head record
Counting only competitive fixtures and ignoring the 2020 club friendly, the last four La Liga meetings read:
- 26 October 2025, Estadi Mallorca Son Moix: Mallorca 1-1 Levante – draw.
- 8 January 2022, Estadio Ciudad de Valencia: Levante 2-0 Mallorca – Levante home win.
- 2 October 2021, Iberostar Estadi: Mallorca 1-0 Levante – Mallorca home win.
- 9 July 2020, Iberostar Estadi: Mallorca 2-0 Levante – Mallorca home win.
So in the last four competitive clashes: 2 wins for Mallorca, 1 for Levante, 1 draw. At this venue, Levante’s most recent home game in January 2022 ended 2-0 in their favour, a useful psychological marker heading into another must-win occasion.
Key battles and game script
Given Mallorca’s away struggles and defensive absentees, Levante are likely to try to set the tempo, especially in the opening half-hour. Their average of 1.3 home goals per game suggests they can create enough chances if they commit numbers forward from a 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2.
Mallorca’s plan should revolve around compactness and transitions. With Muriqi as the spearhead, they will look to exploit Levante’s leaky back line (59 conceded across all phases) with direct balls, set pieces and second balls around the box. The duel between Levante’s centre-backs and Muriqi in the air and in physical contests could decide the match.
Discipline, substitutions and mental resilience will be decisive. Both sides have shown a tendency to pick up cards in key phases, and both benches will be stretched by injuries and suspensions, especially Mallorca’s.
The verdict
All data points to a finely balanced, high-stakes encounter between two flawed but desperate teams. Levante’s stronger home record and recent form, combined with Mallorca’s severe absences in defence and midfield, tilt the balance slightly towards the hosts. However, Mallorca possess the standout individual in Muriqi, whose 22-goal season gives them a clear edge in pure firepower.
Expect a tense, physical match where a single moment – a set piece, a penalty, or a red card – could swing the outcome. On balance, the numbers suggest Levante have a marginal advantage at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, but Mallorca’s reliance on Muriqi ensures that survival hopes for both clubs may rest on who handles the pressure better in the final third.
