Levante vs Mallorca: Relegation Showdown in La Liga
The Estadio Ciudad de Valencia stages a relegation shootout on 17 May 2026 as 19th-placed Levante host 18th-placed Mallorca in La Liga. Both sides are locked on 39 points after 36 matches, separated only by goal difference, and both currently sit in the relegation zone. With just two rounds left, this fixture has the feel of a season-defining final for two clubs trying to avoid an immediate drop to LaLiga2.
League context and recent form
In the league, Levante come into the game 19th with a goal difference of -15 (44 scored, 59 conceded). Their recent form line of “WWLDW” in the standings suggests a late-season uptick, and across all phases their broader form string shows long losing runs but also a more positive recent stretch. At home they have been modestly competitive: 6 wins, 5 draws and 7 defeats from 18, scoring 24 and conceding 28.
Mallorca sit one place above in 18th, also on 39 points but with a slightly better goal difference of -11 (44 for, 55 against). Their form line of “LDWLD” is far more erratic, and the season-long form string underlines a stop-start campaign. The big structural issue is their away record: just 2 wins, 3 draws and 13 losses from 18 away games, with only 16 goals scored and 34 conceded. That contrast – Levante’s relative solidity at home against Mallorca’s frailty on the road – is a central axis of this matchup.
Across all phases, both teams have identical total goals for (44) and almost identical games played, reinforcing the sense of two evenly matched sides whose seasons have followed similar arcs but with different home/away splits.
Tactical shapes and stylistic clash
Levante have been tactically flexible but largely operate from a back four. Their most used formations this season are:
- 4-2-3-1 (11 times)
- 4-4-2 (10)
- 4-1-4-1 (8)
- With occasional switches to 5-4-1 and other variants
At home, that usually translates into a cautious but front-footed approach: 1.3 goals scored per game and 1.6 conceded. The 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 setups suggest an emphasis on wide play and second-line runners, with two holding or box-to-box midfielders trying to shield a defence that has been too porous over the season.
Mallorca are more structurally settled. They have lined up in:
- 4-2-3-1 in 20 matches
- 4-3-1-2 in 7
- 5-3-2 in 4
The 4-2-3-1 base, used more than half the time, points to a team built around a single focal striker and a compact midfield block. At home they can be proactive (28 goals scored, 21 conceded), but away they have been conservative and often reactive, averaging only 0.9 goals for and conceding 1.9 per game. Their 5-3-2 has occasionally been used to stiffen the back line away from Palma, and that could be an option here given the stakes and their injury list.
Discipline could also matter in such a high-pressure fixture. Both teams accumulate a significant number of yellow cards, particularly between minutes 31-75, and each has seen multiple red cards across the season. A sending-off in this context could be decisive.
Key players and attacking threats
The standout individual in this fixture is Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi. The Kosovan has been one of La Liga’s most productive forwards this season:
- 22 league goals and 1 assist in 35 appearances
- 86 shots, 47 on target
- A strong aerial and physical presence (425 duels, 219 won)
- Heavy involvement in build-up with 662 passes and 18 key passes
Muriqi is also a central figure from the penalty spot, having scored 5 penalties but missed 2 this season. His record is impactful but not flawless, and Levante will be wary of conceding spot-kicks given his volume of attempts.
For Levante, the data set does not list a specific top scorer, but their goals distribution suggests a more collective approach. Their biggest home win is 4-2 and they have hit four goals on more than one occasion, indicating that when their attacking structure clicks, they can overwhelm visitors. However, they have also failed to score in 12 league matches, underlining inconsistency in the final third.
Defensively, Levante have kept 8 clean sheets across all phases (4 at home), while Mallorca have 5 (2 away). Neither side is naturally watertight, but Levante’s slightly higher clean-sheet count, combined with Mallorca’s weak away defence, marginally tilts the defensive balance towards the hosts.
Injuries, suspensions and depth
Both squads are stretched at the worst possible time.
Levante are missing:
- C. Alvarez (injury)
- U. Elgezabal (knee injury)
- A. Primo (shoulder injury)
- U. Vencedor (coach’s decision)
The absence of Elgezabal and Vencedor potentially hits their options in central areas, affecting both defensive cover and midfield rotation. With a team that already concedes 1.6 goals per game, losing depth in the spine is a concern.
Mallorca’s list is even longer:
- L. Bergstrom (injury)
- M. Joseph (knee injury)
- J. Kalumba (injury)
- M. Kumbulla (muscle injury)
- O. Mascarell (suspension – yellow cards)
- A. Raillo (injury)
- J. Salas (knee injury)
Crucially, Mascarell and Raillo are prominent names in the spine: Mascarell as a central midfielder and Raillo as a defensive leader. Their absence, on top of other injuries, weakens Mallorca’s defensive organisation and ball progression from deep. For a side already leaking 34 goals in 18 away matches, going into a must-not-lose game without key defensive figures is a major tactical handicap.
Head-to-head record (competitive matches only)
Looking at the last five meetings, excluding the 2020 club friendly, there are four competitive La Liga clashes:
- 26 October 2025, Estadi Mallorca Son Moix (La Liga): Mallorca 1-1 Levante – draw.
- 8 January 2022, Estadio Ciudad de Valencia (La Liga): Levante 2-0 Mallorca – Levante home win.
- 2 October 2021, Iberostar Estadi (La Liga): Mallorca 1-0 Levante – Mallorca home win.
- 9 July 2020, Iberostar Estadi (La Liga): Mallorca 2-0 Levante – Mallorca home win.
Across these four, Mallorca have 2 wins, Levante 1, and there has been 1 draw. At the Ciudad de Valencia specifically, Levante won 2-0 in 2022, while the most recent meeting in 2025 ended 1-1 in Palma. The historical edge in the last few years leans slightly towards Mallorca, but Levante have shown they can handle this opponent at home.
Set pieces and penalties
From the team penalty data:
- Levante: 2 penalties taken, 2 scored across the season.
- Mallorca: 5 penalties taken, 5 scored.
At team level, both have converted all their league penalties, but individual data shows Muriqi has 5 scored and 2 missed in all competitions listed. That makes him a frequent but not infallible taker. In a tight relegation contest, a penalty either way – and the psychological weight on the taker – could be pivotal.
The verdict
On paper this is as finely balanced as it gets: same points, same total goals scored, identical overall records (10 wins, 9 draws, 17 losses each). The separation comes from context and nuance:
- Levante are at home, where they are notably stronger.
- Mallorca are a poor away side (2-3-13) and arrive with a heavily depleted defensive unit, missing key figures like Mascarell and Raillo.
- Levante’s recent league form is slightly more positive than Mallorca’s.
- Mallorca, however, have the game’s outstanding individual in Vedat Muriqi and a marginally better defensive record across the season.
Given the stakes and the data, Levante’s home advantage and Mallorca’s absences suggest the hosts are marginal favourites to edge a tense, low-margin encounter. A narrow Levante win or a draw that keeps both clubs in deep trouble looks the most logical outcome, with Muriqi’s influence and Levante’s ability to score in bursts likely to define whether this becomes a survival lifeline or a shared step towards relegation.
