Levante vs Mallorca: Relegation Showdown in La Liga

Estadio Ciudad de Valencia stages a desperate relegation shootout on 17 May 2026 as 19th‑placed Levante host 18th‑placed Mallorca in La Liga. Both sides sit on 39 points after 36 games, both are currently in the relegation zone, and with just two rounds left, this feels as close to a winner‑stays‑up decider as the calendar can offer.

Context and stakes

In the league, Levante are 19th with a goal difference of -15 (44 scored, 59 conceded). Mallorca are just one place above them in 18th, also on 39 points but with a slightly better goal difference of -11 (44 scored, 55 conceded). The standings underline how fine the margins are: same points, same wins (10), same draws (9), same defeats (17), identical goals scored – only four goals separate them defensively.

Form lines, though, are diverging. Levante come into the run‑in with a “WWLDW” sequence in the league table, suggesting three wins in their last five and a late surge. Mallorca’s “LDWLD” tells a different story: just one win in the last five, and crucial points dropped when it matters most.

The venue matters too. Levante’s home record in the league shows 6 wins, 5 draws and 7 defeats from 18, with 24 goals scored and 28 conceded. Mallorca’s away form is a glaring weakness: 2 wins, 3 draws and 13 losses from 18, with only 16 goals scored and a hefty 34 conceded. On paper, the relegation six‑pointer is being played on the pitch that suits Levante best and exposes Mallorca’s biggest flaw.

Tactical trends and team profiles

Levante: structure and risk

Across all phases this season, Levante have been slightly more open than they would like. They average 1.2 goals for and 1.6 against per game, and have kept 8 clean sheets in 36 matches. At Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, they score 1.3 and concede 1.6 per game, so home matches tend to be relatively high‑event.

Their tactical identity is fairly clear from the line‑ups data. The most used formation is 4‑2‑3‑1 (11 times), followed by 4‑4‑2 (10 times) and 4‑1‑4‑1 (8 times). That points to a side that oscillates between a double‑pivot with a No.10 and a more traditional two‑striker setup, depending on the opponent and game state. There have also been occasional switches to back‑five systems (5‑4‑1, used 3 times), likely to stabilise when under pressure.

Levante’s “biggest” results hint at volatility. Their best home win has been 4‑2, and they have also lost 1‑4 at home. The ceiling in attack is reasonably high (they have scored 4 both home and away in their best wins), but the floor defensively is low: they have conceded 4 at home and 5 away in their heaviest defeats.

Discipline could be a factor in a high‑pressure relegation contest. The yellow‑card distribution shows a steady rise in cautions as matches wear on, peaking between 76‑90 minutes (19.51% of yellows) and with another spike in added time (91‑105). They also have red cards in the 16‑30, 46‑60 and 91‑105 ranges, underlining that emotional control late in each half will be critical.

From the spot, Levante have a small but clean record this season: 2 penalties taken, 2 scored, none missed. That reliability could matter in a tight, nervous game.

Mallorca: compact at home, fragile away

Mallorca’s season profile is split sharply between home and away. Across all phases, they also average 1.2 goals scored per game, but concede slightly less than Levante overall (1.5 per match). At home they have been solid – 8 wins, 6 draws, 4 defeats, 28 scored and only 21 conceded – but that resilience has not travelled.

Away from Palma, Mallorca concede 1.9 goals per game and score just 0.9. The away record of 2‑3‑13 is relegation form on its own, and Estadio Ciudad de Valencia is not an easy place to fix that.

Tactically, Mallorca have leaned heavily on a 4‑2‑3‑1 as well, using it 20 times. Secondary shapes include 4‑3‑1‑2 (7 times) and 5‑3‑2 (4 times), suggesting they can toggle between a standard back four with double pivot and more compact, narrow systems when they want to protect central spaces or play with two forwards.

Their “biggest” away win is 1‑3, but their heaviest away defeat is 3‑0, matching the pattern of a side that can be dismantled when the game opens up. Clean sheets are relatively rare (5 in total, only 2 away), and they have failed to score in 8 league matches (6 of those away).

From the penalty spot, Mallorca have converted 5 from 5 at team level this season, with no misses in the team stats. However, individual data for Vedat Muriqi shows 5 penalties scored and 2 missed for him personally, so his record is effective but not flawless. That nuance matters in a match where a single spot‑kick could decide survival.

Key players and absences

The standout individual in this fixture is Mallorca striker Vedat Muriqi. In the league this season he has 22 goals and 1 assist in 35 appearances, with a strong overall rating of 7.09. He has taken 86 shots, 47 on target, and is a constant aerial and physical presence, winning 219 of 425 duels and drawing 61 fouls. He is also their main penalty taker, with those 5 converted and 2 missed this season.

Mallorca’s problem is that they travel to Valencia with a lengthy absentee list. Defensively, A. Raillo and M. Kumbulla are both ruled out with injuries, and J. Salas is sidelined with a knee problem. O. Mascarell is suspended due to yellow cards, removing a key midfield screener. L. Bergstrom, M. Joseph and J. Kalumba are also unavailable. That cluster of injuries and suspensions hits them hardest in the spine – centre‑back and holding midfield – precisely where you want stability in a relegation fight.

Levante are not untouched by absences, but the list is shorter. C. Alvarez, U. Elgezabal and A. Primo are all out injured, while U. Vencedor is missing due to coach’s decision. Depth is affected, yet there is less structural damage than Mallorca’s missing core.

Head‑to‑head record

Looking only at competitive matches (excluding the 2‑1 Levante win in 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 win.
• 2 October 2021, Iberostar Estadi: Mallorca 1‑0 Levante – Mallorca win.
• 9 July 2020, Iberostar Estadi: Mallorca 2‑0 Levante – Mallorca win.

So, in the last four competitive clashes, Mallorca have 2 wins, Levante 1, and there has been 1 draw. At Estadio Ciudad de Valencia specifically, the most recent league meeting ended 2‑0 to Levante in January 2022, a useful psychological reference for the hosts.

Tactical battle on the day

With both coaches favouring 4‑2‑3‑1, the key zones will be the double pivots and the half‑spaces behind them. Levante’s recent form suggests they are more willing to commit numbers forward at home, using their attacking midfield line to overload between the lines and create shooting positions around the box.

Mallorca, given their away record and defensive absences, may lean towards a more conservative version of their 4‑2‑3‑1 or even a 5‑3‑2 variant to protect the makeshift back line. They will likely try to keep the game compact, use Muriqi as an outlet for long balls and set‑pieces, and rely on transitions rather than sustained possession.

Set‑plays could be decisive. Levante’s defensive fragility and Mallorca’s aerial weapon in Muriqi point towards corners and free‑kicks as high‑value moments, especially if the visitors struggle to create from open play.

Discipline and game management in the final quarter‑hour will also be crucial. Levante’s yellow and red‑card patterns show a tendency to collect cards late in halves; in a match of this magnitude, a late dismissal could be fatal.

The verdict

The data leans slightly towards Levante. They are in better recent form, at home, and facing an opponent with a very poor away record and significant injuries in central defence and midfield. Levante’s home scoring rate and Mallorca’s away concession rate suggest the hosts will create enough chances.

However, Mallorca have the single most decisive player on the pitch in Vedat Muriqi, whose 22‑goal season gives them a clear cutting edge if they can supply him. His presence, plus Mallorca’s strong penalty‑taking record at team level, means they remain dangerous even if second best for long spells.

Overall, the numbers and context point to a tight, tense encounter with Levante marginal favourites, but the fine margins and individual quality of Muriqi keep the relegation narrative wide open.