Last Updated on May 7, 2026 1:50 pm by ZUWP Automation
Osasuna bring LaLiga’s sixth-highest scorer to Valencia — can Levante’s goalkeeper stand between them and the three points?
Sixteen goals. That is what Ante Budimir has contributed to Osasuna’s 2025/26 LaLiga campaign, making him the sixth-most prolific striker in the division. When he walks out at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia on Friday evening, Levante’s defence will know exactly what is coming. Stopping it is another matter entirely.
Match Details
- Fixture: Levante vs Osasuna
- Venue: Estadio Ciudad de Valencia
- Date: 8 May 2026
- Competition: LaLiga 2025/26
The Striker vs The Goalkeeper
The most compelling narrative in this fixture is a direct individual duel, and the numbers frame it sharply. Budimir has 16 goals from 33 appearances, a rate of 0.48 per game that places him behind only a handful of players in Spain’s top flight. He has taken 87 shots this season, with 36 on target. The volume and the conversion rate together paint a picture of a striker who does not wait for perfect chances — he manufactures them.
Standing in his way is Mathew Ryan, Levante’s goalkeeper and one of the busiest shot-stoppers in LaLiga. Ryan has made 110 saves this season, ranking him third in the division for that metric. He has been asked to do an enormous amount of work — that save tally alone tells you something about the defensive burden Levante have placed on their goalkeeper’s shoulders.
When a striker who shoots relentlessly meets a goalkeeper who has faced more shots than almost anyone else in the league, something has to give. That tension is the heartbeat of this match.
Current Form
Levante arrive in reasonable shape at home, having gone 2W 1D 2L in their last five. The two wins came at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia — a 2-0 defeat of Sevilla and a 1-0 victory over Getafe — suggesting they are a side that draws genuine strength from their own ground. The losses, both away from home, included a chastening 1-5 defeat at Villarreal just last weekend.
That Villarreal result is worth contextualising carefully. A five-goal defeat on the road is a heavy one, but Levante’s home form remains their cleaner story. They will want to keep it that way here.
Osasuna’s recent run is less convincing: 1W 2D 2L in their last five. Their sole win was a 2-1 home victory over Sevilla, sandwiched between draws against Real Betis and Deportivo Alavés and defeats to Athletic Club and FC Barcelona. The 1-2 loss to Barcelona at home last Saturday is the most recent data point, and while losing to the champions is no disgrace, it does nothing to suggest Osasuna are arriving in Valencia brimming with momentum.
Key Players to Watch
Levante
Iván Romero is the focal point of Levante’s attack. Seven goals from 30 appearances, with 47 shots and 21 key passes across the campaign, mark him as a forward who contributes beyond the scoresheet. His average rating of 6.87 from Sportmonks data suggests consistent involvement rather than occasional brilliance.
Carlos Espí adds another dimension — nine goals this season, 29 shots, and 16 on target. At 0.43 goals per game according to LaLiga web data, he is Levante’s most clinical finisher. He is ranked 32nd among all scorers in the division. For a side that has been promoted or fighting at this level, that kind of output from a forward is significant.
Jeremy Toljan from right back has created 8 big chances this season, ranking 68th in the division for that metric. A defender generating that kind of attacking output gives Levante an extra dimension down the flank that Osasuna will need to account for.
Osasuna
Víctor Muñoz is the engine of Osasuna’s attacking play. Six goals, two assists, and an extraordinary 63 shots in the league this season — a shots average of 2.2 per game that marks him as one of the most trigger-happy players in LaLiga. He has 23 shots on target and an average rating of 6.76. He creates problems not just through goals but through sheer persistence.
Rubén García is the creator. Five assists and 37 shots created for teammates across 31 appearances make him Osasuna’s primary provider. He has generated 7 big chances for colleagues this season. His ability to find pockets of space and deliver the final ball is what keeps Budimir well-supplied.
Season Stats Comparison
The individual rankings tell the story of two sides with contrasting strengths. Budimir’s goal tally dwarfs anything Levante can offer at the top of the pitch, but Ryan’s save count suggests Levante have been under sustained pressure all season and have found ways to cope. The most striking comparison is between the two goalkeepers: Ryan with 110 saves (3rd in LaLiga), Sergio Herrera with 108 (4th). Both sides have been worked hard between the posts.
| Stat | Levante | Osasuna |
|---|---|---|
| Top Scorer | Carlos Espí — 9 goals (32nd in LaLiga) | Ante Budimir — 16 goals (6th in LaLiga) |
| Top Assister | Jeremy Toljan — 3 assists | Rubén García — 5 assists (25th in LaLiga) |
| Top Goalkeeper (saves) | Mathew Ryan — 110 saves (3rd in LaLiga) | Sergio Herrera — 108 saves (4th in LaLiga) |
| Top Tackler | Manu Sánchez — 67 tackles (12th in LaLiga) | Javi Galán — 32 tackles |
| Top Chance Creator | Jeremy Toljan — 8 big chances created | Aimar Oroz — 4 big chances created |
Manu Sánchez’s tackle count — 67, placing him 12th in the entire division — underlines how physically engaged Levante’s defensive structure is. Against a side with Budimir’s movement and Muñoz’s shot volume, that combative quality in defence will be tested thoroughly.
Head to Head
The historical record between these sides is minimal at this level. There is only one previous meeting in the data: Osasuna won 2-0 at home on 8 December 2025. A single result is not a pattern, but it does mean Levante will be looking to establish their own record on home soil rather than reverse a trend.
Levante have yet to take anything from Osasuna in this fixture. That changes tonight, or it does not — but there is no weight of history pressing down on either side beyond that solitary defeat.
Team News
No injuries are recorded for either side ahead of this fixture. Both squads appear available in full, which removes any convenient excuses and places the emphasis squarely on selection and execution.
Closing Paragraph
Strip away the peripheral details and this match reduces to a single, sharp question: can Levante’s goalkeeper and defence absorb what Osasuna’s attack — led by a striker with 16 goals and backed by a midfielder who has taken 63 shots this season — is capable of delivering? Ryan has been one of the busiest goalkeepers in LaLiga all season. On Friday evening, he may need to be at his very best again. Whether Espí and Romero can do enough at the other end to make that irrelevant is the subplot that will keep the match alive until the final whistle.
