The hosts finished sixth in the Spanish second tier standings having collected 67 points from 42 games, five points adrift of third-placed Levante.
Follow Us
Albacete will host Levante in the first leg of their Segunda Division semi-final playoff tie at Estadio Carlos Belmonte on Saturday evening. The hosts finished sixth in the Spanish second tier standings having collected 67 points from 42 games, five points adrift of third-placed Levante. Meanwhile, both sides are heading into the match on the back of 2-1 victories in their respective games on the final matchday of the league campaign last weekend, with Albacete getting the better of Mirandes, while the visitors overcame Oviedo.
MATCH DAY | Come on team đź‘Š
🆚 @AlbaceteBPSAD
đź•’ 9 PM
🏟️ Carlos Belmonte pic.twitter.com/csx8HiMiII— Levante UD 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@LevanteUDen) June 3, 2023
Albacete secured their 17th second tier victory of the season against Mirandes last Saturday thanks to Jovanny Bolivar’s 50th-minute equaliser and Alvaro Rodriguez Perez’s winner two minutes from time. The result extended Clockwork Cheese’s unbeaten run to seven matches, winning four games in the period. The impressive run of form helped Ruben Albes’s side finish eight points clear of seventh-placed Andorra. In fact, Albacete have been pretty good at home, having lost only two of their last 12 league-games at Estadio Carlos Belmonts, while recording eight victories in the process. Meanwhile, Alba have not participated in the La Liga since the 2004-05 season, and they have spent five season’s in the third tier during that period of time, including in 2021-22.
Levante, on the other hand, secured their 18th league-win of the season against Oviedo last time out courtesy of Jorge de Frutos’s 65th-minute equaliser and Wesley’s winner four minutes into the injury time. The victory helped Granotas to take their points tally for the season to 72, level with second-placed Las Palmas but separated by goal-difference. Frogs will feel unlucky not to secure an automatic qualification spot (top two), but they must now focus on the upcoming two-legged semi-final playoff against Alba. In fact, Javier Calleja’s side have the second-best away record in the Segunda Division this term, having taken 32 points from 21 outings, and will be confident about earning a positive result in the first leg on the road. Meanwhile, Levante dropped out of La Liga last season due to their 19th-place finish, but they are aiming to return to the top division at the first time of asking.
Albacete probable starting lineup: Altube, A Rodriguez, Djetei, Antonio, Alonso, Dubasin, Olaetxea, Mesa, Alvarez, Bolivar, Escriche
Levante probable starting lineup: Femenias, Pubill, Postigo, Pier, Saracchi, De Frutos, Pepelu, Iborra, Cantero, Wesley, Bouldini
Albacete
| Opponents | Score |
| Mirandes | 2-1 (W) |
| Ponferradina | 1-1 (D) |
| Alaves | 1-1 (D) |
| UD Ibiza | 0-5 (W) |
| FC Cartagena SAD | 1-1 (D) |
Levante
| Opponents | Score |
| R. Oviedo | 2-1 (W) |
| Villarreal B | 2-3 (W) |
| UD Ibiza | 0-0 (D) |
| Tenerife | 1-0 (L) |
| Alaves | 2-0 (W) |
| Last 5 match-results | Score |
| Levante draw Albacete | 0-0 |
| Levante beat Albacete | 2-3 |
| Levante beat Albacete | 2-3 |
| Levante draw Albacete | 0-0 |
| Albacete draw Levante | 1-1 |
The Segunda Division playoff match between Albacete and Levante will take place at Estadio Carlos Belmonte on Sunday at 12:30 am IST.
| Albacete vs Levante | Key Details |
| Date | June 3 (Spain) |
| Venue | Estadio Carlos Belmonte |
| Kickoff time in Spain | 9:00 pm (Saturday) |
| Kickoff time in India | 12:30 am (Sunday) |
Football fans in Spain can catch the live action via # Vamos, Movistar + and LaLiga Smartbank TV.
More football news:
