Levante arrive at the Ciutat de València with a point to prove. Luis Castro's side were handed a harsh welcome back to the top flight, a 3-0 beating at Espanyol on August 16 that exposed the gap between the Segunda and La Liga. Yes, they beat Albacete 2-1 in a friendly, but that was pre-season gloss. The real stuff stung. They've had a week to stew on that defeat, and Castro will have demanded a response. But here's the thing: Levante are still finding their feet. New faces like Yanis Musuayi, Hugo Sotelo and the Liverpool loanee Ifeanyi Ndukwe need time to gel. The loss of Carlos Espi to Real Madrid — £21.4m release clause activated — robbed them of their creative heartbeat. That's a hole in the middle of the park that won't be filled overnight.

Betis, meanwhile, are the quiet professionals. No research data on their recent results, but we know the profile: a settled La Liga outfit, comfortable in possession, with a squad that's been together for years. They're not flashy, but they're solid. They don't panic. They've been here before — European nights, derbies, pressure games. This is a trip to a newly-promoted side's fortress, and they'll treat it with the respect it deserves. The visitors are the clear favourites in the odds, and for good reason. Levante's confidence is fragile after that Espanyol shellacking; Betis's is steady. Momentum is a real thing in football, and right now it's wearing green and white.