Castro Warns Levante of Sevilla Threat Before LaLiga Clash

Levante coach Luis Castro has warned that Sevilla's physical approach, defensive discipline, and efficiency will make their LaLiga encounter at the Ciutat de Valencia a difficult test. Speaking at his pregame press conference ahead of Monday's match, the Portuguese manager emphasized Sevilla's strong away performances as his team seeks to improve its position in the league standings.

According to the match preview published by GOAL on October 12, 2026, Levante entered the fixture in 17th place, inside the relegation zone, while Sevilla occupied fifth position. Sevilla had also won their previous two league matches without conceding, giving Luis García Plaza's side a strong run of form before traveling to Valencia.

Castro identified Sevilla's ability to compete physically and minimize risks as major challenges for the home side.

"Sevilla haven't lost away from home; they are very comfortable playing on the road. They are one of the strongest teams in duels, very aggressive, take almost no risks, and are very efficient in everything they do," Castro said.

The Levante manager also acknowledged Sevilla's squad development and current league position. He stressed that his players would need to match their opponents' level to compete effectively.

"They are in a good position and are very comfortable in away matches. It will certainly be very tough, and we have to be at that level. They are one of the teams that have improved their squad very well, and they are one of the good teams in LaLiga," Castro said.

Levante's preparations have been affected by injuries, with Castro confirming that Hugo Sotelo and Etta Eyong would not be ready for the Sevilla match. The break in competition allowed the squad to work on recovery and fitness, although the coach expressed frustration with the extended period without competitive action.

The schedule presents another challenge for Levante, who were due to travel to A Coruña on Friday to face Deportivo after hosting Sevilla on Monday. Castro acknowledged the short turnaround between the two fixtures.

"We weren't lucky; that's how it is. It's not ideal for the players, and we'll try to do our best in these matches that are so close together," Castro said.

GOAL's October 12 preview also reported that Levante had recorded one win, two draws, and two losses across their previous five league matches. They had lost 3-1 to Villarreal and 4-2 at home to Barcelona, while their standout result in that stretch was a 5-2 victory over Real Betis. The team scored seven goals and conceded 11 across those five games.

Sevilla, meanwhile, had won 1-0 against Valencia and 1-0 away to Deportivo de A Coruña in their two most recent league fixtures. Their wider recent record included two wins, one draw, and one defeat across five competitive away outings, including a friendly against Aston Villa that ended in a 3-1 loss.

The recent head-to-head record also favored Levante. According to GOAL, the Valencian club beat Sevilla 2-0 at home in April 2026 and won 3-0 away in January 2026. Across their last five LaLiga meetings, Levante had three victories, compared with one for Sevilla.

Castro also addressed the attention surrounding Diego Moyano, a 14-year-old center back from Levante's youth ranks who trained with the first team the previous Thursday. The coach said more than 20 academy players had joined the session and explained that the coaching staff needed additional center backs because the reserve and Juvenil B teams had matches on Friday.

Castro acknowledged Moyano's potential but cautioned against placing excessive attention on a young player who still needs time to develop. He also said the information about Moyano's participation had emerged before the training session began.

"I was very surprised by everything that was said about one more player coming to train, because more than 20 academy players came to train with us," Castro said.

The coach questioned the decision to publicize the teenager's involvement, emphasizing that the attention could be premature. He added that a center back promoted to the first team would ordinarily come from Levante's reserve side if the squad needed reinforcements.

"I don't know who leaked it, but whoever leaked it doesn't like the kid, because the player needs time and the noise is unnecessary," Castro said.

Castro reiterated that Moyano remained at an early stage of his development and that his immediate priority should be continued work rather than public attention.

"I was surprised by what came out. He's 14 years old and has a lot of work ahead of him. If we need a center back, the first one promoted will certainly be a center back from the reserve team," Castro said.