Levante will be looking to book their spot in the last-16 stage of the Copa del Rey when they travel to second-tier side Fuenlabrada on Saturday evening.
The visitors will enter the match off the back of successive wins, including a 2-1 victory over Eibar in La Liga last weekend, but Fuenlabrada lost their last Segunda Division game at Sporting Gijon.
Match preview
Fuenlabrada have beaten both Atletico Baleares and Mallorca to advance to this stage of the Copa del Rey, and the home side will now be looking to claim a La Liga scalp on Saturday evening.
Los Kirikos recently became a Segunda Division side, earning promotion to the second tier for the 2019-20 campaign, where they finished eighth, ensuring that they would again be present at that level.
Jose Ramon Sandoval's side have reached the last-32 stage of the Copa del Rey for just the second time in their history, but they will certainly be up against it this weekend.
Fuenlabrada have actually only won one of their last six matches in the league, meanwhile, and as mentioned, will enter this contest off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Sporting Gijon on January 11. A total of 27 points from 21 matches has left them down in 14th spot in the Segunda Division table, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
Levante, meanwhile, will enter Saturday's clash in impressive form, having recorded victories in three of their last four matches in all competitions, including a 2-1 success at home to Eibar in La Liga on January 10.
A total of 21 points from 17 matches has left Paco Lopez's side in 11th position in the table, and they will be looking to move into the top half when they travel to Cadiz on January 19.
The Frogs thumped Racing Murcia 5-0 before beating Portugalete 2-1 to advance to this stage of the Copa del Rey and will be the favourites to advance to the round of 16.
Levante reached the semi-finals of this competition in 1935 but have not made a serious impression for a while, exiting in the round of 32 last season.
The Valencia-based club made the quarter-finals in 2011-12 and 2013-14, though, and have reached the last-16 stage of the competition in two of their last three campaigns.
Fuenlabrada Copa del Rey form: WLWLWW
Fuenlabrada form (all competitions): LWWDWL
Levante Copa del Rey form: LWWLWW
Levante form (all competitions): WDWLWW
Team News
Fuenlabrada's side is expected to have a similar look to the one that started against Mallorca in the last round of the competition, where Adrian Dieguez was on the scoresheet.
The hosts are likely to line up in a 4-5-1 formation with Alex Mula operating on the right, while 20-year-old Tahiru Awudu could again be handed the opportunity to lead the line.
As for Levante, Enis Bardhi, Rober Pier, Ruben Vezo and Jose Campana remain unavailable for selection through injury and will therefore play no part in Saturday's contest.
Head coach Lopez is expected to make changes from the side that started against Eibar in the league last time out, with Sergio Leon, Alfredo Pedraza, Coke and Gonzalo Melero all in line to start.
There are still expected to be first-choice players in the away side's XI, though, with Nemanja Radoja and Jose Luis Morales likely to be handed starting roles.
Fuenlabrada possible starting lineup:
Pol; Valentin, Pulido, Jano, Dieguez, Delgado; Mula, Damian, Fuentes, Nteka; Awudu
Levante possible starting lineup:
Cardenas; Coke, Pedraza, Postigo, Tono; Kochorashvili, Radoja, Melero; Son, Leon, Morales
We say: Fuenlabrada 1-2 Levante
The home side are certainly capable of making it a tricky contest for Levante, who are expected to be much-changed from their strongest XI. The La Liga outfit will be full of quality regardless of the side that takes to the field, though, and we fancy the top-tier side to emerge victorious.
Top betting tip
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