Espanyol come into this one off the back of a scrappy 1-1 draw with Sabadell in a July friendly. That result tells you everything about where they are right now — a side still finding its rhythm, not yet clicking in the final third, but solid enough at the back not to lose. It's pre-season, so we won't read too much into the scoreline, but the fact they couldn't beat a lower-league side at home raises a small eyebrow. Still, this is a club that knows how to grind. They're back in La Liga, they've got the RCDE Stadium behind them, and they'll be desperate to start the campaign with a statement.

Levante, meanwhile, edged Albacete 2-1 in their most recent friendly. That's a win, and wins breed confidence, but let's be honest — Albacete are a Segunda side, and Levante are a Segunda side themselves right now. They're the away team here, stepping up a level, and their recent form has been built against lesser opposition. The gap in quality between these two squads is real, even if Espanyol haven't proven it on the pitch yet. Momentum is a funny thing, but class usually tells over 90 minutes.