Levante are expected to line up in their usual 4-4-2, a shape that’s served them well in the lower leagues but can be brutally exposed against top-tier quality. The two banks of four will try to stay compact, but the gap between midfield and defence is a chasm waiting to be exploited. Their wide midfielders will tuck in, which means the full-backs are left on an island against Betis’s wide runners. That’s a recipe for disaster if the visitors get their passing going.

Betis are likely to stick with their trusted 4-2-3-1, with a double pivot that gives them total control of the middle of the park. The two holding midfielders will sit deep, screen the back four, and launch quick transitions through the number ten. That’s where this game will be won. Levante’s central midfielders will be dragged out of position, and Betis will knife through the lines with one pass. The wide attackers will hug the touchline, stretching Levante’s back four, and the full-backs will bomb on to create overloads.

Set pieces could be Levante’s only real route to goal. They’re a side that thrives on second balls and chaos in the box. But Betis are disciplined, tall, and well-drilled at the back. They’ll win the first header, clear the second ball, and then break with pace. Expect Betis to dominate possession without forcing it, happy to let Levante chase shadows. The game state will be exactly what Betis want: patient, controlled, and then a sudden burst of killer intent.