Levante and Sevilla meet Thursday in a direct duel to avoid relegation, with seven rounds left in the championship and far more at stake than three points. The game carries the feel of a survival test, because both clubs are close enough in the standings that the result could reshape the race below the line.
Levante return to the bench with Luis Castro after he served a suspension against Getafe, while Sevilla travel with only two physical absences, César Azpilicueta and Marcao Teixeira. José Ángel Carmona and Tanguy Nianzou are available again after missing the Atlético de Madrid match through suspension, and Sevilla add no disciplinary absences for the trip.
The numbers explain why Levante arrive with belief. Carlos Espí has scored seven goals in Levante's last six league matches, and the side is coming off a 1-0 win over Getafe that could leave Luis Castro close to the same lineup. That probable XI has Ryan; Toljan, Dela, Matías Moreno, Manu Sánchez; Raghouber, Olasa; Pablo Martínez, Tunde, Iván Romero; and Espí.
Brugué is back after knee surgery in January, but he will not be in the squad, and Elgezabal remains the only Levante player out with injury because of knee discomfort. Sevilla's probable lineup is Odysseas; Juanlu, Castrín, Kike Salas, Oso; Agoumé, Gudelj; Isaac Romero, Sow, Rubén Vargas; and Akor Adams. The match will be officiated by José María Sánchez Martínez of the Murcian refereeing committee.
That leaves both teams with enough personnel to play the match they need and not the one they would prefer. For Levante, the question is whether Espí's scoring run can keep carrying them. For Sevilla, the task is simpler but just as severe: turn a survival match into a result that changes the pressure around them.