Levante is set to host Athletic Bilbao in a challenging encounter in the sixth round of La Liga on September 17, 2026. After a spirited performance against Barcelona, where they lost 2-4, Levante is looking to build on their fighting spirit. Despite their efforts, they are considered the underdogs against a strong Athletic Bilbao side.

In their last match against Barcelona, Levante displayed resilience, coming back from a 3-0 deficit to narrow the score to 2-3, thanks to goals from Iván Romero and Roger Brugué. This performance has shown that Levante can create dangerous moments against stronger opponents, especially when playing at their home ground, Ciutat de València.

Levante is likely to prioritize defensive solidity and maintain their formation before looking for counter-attacking opportunities. This strategy is sensible, given Athletic Bilbao's squad depth and ability to create chances. However, Athletic Bilbao enters this match with a strong record, having recently defeated Atletico Madrid 3-0, although they stumbled to a 1-1 draw against Elche in their latest outing.

Historically, Athletic Bilbao has dominated their encounters with Levante, remaining unbeaten in their last 11 meetings, winning eight and drawing three. This statistic provides a significant confidence boost for the Basque team as they prepare for this away match.

While Athletic Bilbao is favored to win, they must not underestimate Levante, who has shown the capability to respond strongly when challenged. The home side has proven they can score, as evidenced by their two goals against Barcelona. Therefore, the match is expected to unfold with Athletic Bilbao controlling possession and seeking to score, while Levante will focus on defense and look for counter-attacks.

If Athletic Bilbao manages to score first, the match could tilt in their favor. Conversely, if Levante can maintain a balanced game in the first half, the pressure may shift to the visitors. Although Levante has the advantage of playing at home and shows a positive fighting spirit, the difference in squad quality and La Liga experience gives Athletic Bilbao the edge.

In terms of recent form, Levante has won one, drawn two, and lost two of their last five matches, scoring seven goals and conceding nine. Athletic Bilbao, on the other hand, has won two, drawn one, and lost two, also scoring seven goals but conceding six. This match could see between 2-3 goals, with Athletic Bilbao likely to edge out Levante due to their superior defense and historical performance.

In terms of corner kicks, Levante averages 4.6 corners per match, while Athletic Bilbao averages 6.4, indicating that Athletic is more effective at applying pressure and creating chances from the flanks. The match could see around 8-10 corner kicks, with Levante expected to earn 3-4 and Athletic Bilbao around 5-6.

As for yellow cards, Levante has received an average of 2.0 yellow cards per match in their last five games, while Athletic Bilbao averages 0.8. Given their history, this match may be relatively intense, with Levante likely to receive 2-3 yellow cards and Athletic Bilbao 1-2, totaling around 3-5 yellow cards for the match.

In conclusion, the predicted score for this match is Levante 1 - 2 Athletic Bilbao. Both teams will be looking to capitalize on their respective strengths and weaknesses, making for an exciting encounter.