RC Deportivo vs Levante: Tactical Preview, Team News and Starting Lineups

At ABANCA-RIAZOR, the central question is whether RC Deportivo can turn its attacking movement into a more precise performance against a Levante side looking for valuable points away from home. The Matchday 9 meeting in LALIGA EA SPORTS brings together two teams with different immediate priorities, with Deportivo seeking to build on its promising passages of play and Levante needing greater defensive consistency.

Deportivo entered the fixture with 10 points from eight matches, while Levante had collected six points from seven games, with its postponed fixture against Athletic Club still outstanding. The standings underline the importance of the contest, but the tactical details may prove just as significant: Deportivo must make its possession and forward movement count, whereas Levante needs to remain compact without surrendering opportunities to the home side’s wide attackers.

Deportivo’s attacking movement against Levante’s defensive organisation

Antonio Hidalgo has emphasised the need for Deportivo to be more precise in certain phases of its play. That assessment matters against an opponent whose defensive concentration will be tested by the home side’s movement between the lines and attempts to create one-on-one situations. Mario Soriano, Yeremay Hernández and Luismi Cruz are among the attacking options capable of helping Deportivo progress through midfield and create opportunities in advanced areas.

Levante coach Luís Castro specifically praised Deportivo’s offensive mobility, its organised movements and the quality of its individual attackers. His comments suggest that controlling space around the wings and maintaining concentration when Deportivo advances will be important elements of the visitors’ approach. Levante will also need to choose its moments to move forward rather than allowing the hosts to establish prolonged pressure.

For Levante, Roger Brugué and Iván Romero offer important attacking reference points, while the availability of midfield options such as Enzo Bardeli, Oriol Rey and Daniel Requena gives Castro choices in the central areas. The balance between protecting the defence and providing sufficient support to the forwards could determine how effectively the visitors compete for possession and territory.

What the coaches said before kickoff

Deportivo coach Antonio Hidalgo said the team had experienced a productive week of preparation, although the schedule was shorter than usual. He stressed the need to collect three points and improve precision in certain phases of play. He also confirmed that injuries would leave Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Zakaria Eddahchouri and Marc Casadó unavailable, while Amatucci was suspended following his dismissal in the previous match.

Castro’s pre-match assessment was equally direct. The Levante coach highlighted Deportivo’s squad continuity and its ability to retain players who had attracted interest from other clubs. He described the hosts as a team with considerable quality and well-rehearsed attacking movements, insisting that Levante would need to perform at its highest level to compete for the result it wanted.

Match details and the league picture

• Competition: LALIGA EA SPORTS, Matchday 9.
• Date: Friday, 16 October 2026.
• Venue: ABANCA-RIAZOR, A Coruña.
• Scheduled kickoff: 21:00 local time.
• Referee: Manuel Jesús Orellana Cid.

The official LALIGA fixture page lists the match and its competition statistics.

🚑 Official Injury Report and Confirmed Absences

The tables below distinguish reported longer-term absences from other players confirmed unavailable before kickoff. They include only absences identified in the clubs’ published pre-match information; no unverified doubtful players have been added.

RC Deportivo — Injury Report

Amatucci was also unavailable for Deportivo because of suspension, not injury, and is therefore excluded from the injury table.

Levante UD — Injury Report

📋 Official Matchday Elevens and Key Personnel

The starting lineups below are the published matchday selections. Player numbers are included to help identify each player, with the captaincy noted where confirmed.

RC Deportivo — Starting Lineup

Levante UD — Starting Lineup

The published starting lineups are reported by Sky Sports. The clubs’ official pre-match reports are linked above for confirmation of team news and availability.

Three details worth watching

• Deportivo’s use of the wings: Can Yeremay Hernández and Luismi Cruz create openings without leaving the home side exposed to counterattacks?
• Levante’s midfield discipline: Can the visitors close the spaces around Soriano and prevent Deportivo from building attacks comfortably?
• Concentration in both boxes: With points important to both sides, defensive decisions and the quality of the final pass may carry particular weight.

A contest shaped by precision and patience

Deportivo have the home setting and a coach who knows the squad’s attacking strengths, but Hidalgo’s demand for greater precision points to an area that still requires attention. Levante arrive with their own need for points and a clear understanding of the movement they must contain. Their ability to stay organised while creating meaningful attacking opportunities will be central to the challenge.

Rather than assuming either team will control the game, the key question is how each responds when its preferred approach meets resistance. Deportivo will want its forward combinations to produce clear chances; Levante will seek the concentration and balance Castro has demanded. Those tactical exchanges provide the clearest framework for assessing this fixture without presuming the outcome.