Levante vs Elche Prediction 23.01.2026 | LaLiga

Levante’s return to Spain’s top flight has been far from encouraging, with the Valencian side currently languishing in second-from-bottom spot in the La Liga standings. A meagre tally of 14 points from 19 matches underlines the scale of the challenge ahead, as they brace themselves for a relentless battle to avoid relegation.

The Granotes showed brief signs of life at the start of the new year, cruising to an impressive 3-0 away victory over Sevilla before holding Espanyol to a 1-1 draw. However, their momentum quickly stalled as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against title-chasing Real Madrid, exposing the fragility that has plagued their campaign.

If Levante are to engineer a turnaround, their home form must improve drastically. So far, their return to familiar surroundings has offered little comfort, as they sit rock-bottom in the division’s home standings, failing to win any of their eight league matches and collecting just three points in the process.

Head coach Luis Castro will also be hampered by selection concerns, with Unai Elgezabal and Roger Brugue both ruled out, while defensive trio Matías Moreno, Victor García, and Diego Pampín remain major doubts ahead of Friday’s pivotal encounter.

In sharp contrast to their fellow newly promoted sides, Elche have emerged as one of the most pleasant surprises of the campaign so far, defying modest pre-season expectations with a series of brave and disciplined performances that have earned widespread praise.

Despite posting an impressive record for a promoted team and sitting comfortably in eighth place in the LaLiga standings, Los Franjiverdes’ recent form cannot be overlooked. The start of the 2026 calendar year has proven challenging, as they remain winless in their first four matches across all competitions (D2 L2).

Their latest league outing only reinforced those early-year struggles, as Eder Sarabia’s men were held to a frustrating 2-2 draw by Sevilla, a match in which they squandered a two-goal advantage. With just a five-point cushion separating them from the relegation zone, Elche will be under pressure to rediscover their rhythm quickly.

On the injury front, right-back Hector Fort is sidelined with a shoulder problem and is expected to remain out for at least two more months. Victor Chust will serve a one-match suspension due to an accumulation of yellow cards, while forward Rafa Mir remains a major doubt ahead of Friday’s trip.