Espanyol and Levante open the new season in Cornellà de Llobregat
RCD Espanyol and Levante UD meet in the first round of LaLiga 2026/2027 at the RCDE Stadium in Cornellà de Llobregat. The match is scheduled for 16 August at 19:00 local time, and for both teams it represents the first competitive test after summer preparations and changes to the squad.
The table before the start of the round does not yet carry any competitive significance: Espanyol and Levante both have zero matches and zero points. That is why the context they bring from last season and the pre-season period is more important. An additional point of interest is the fact that these teams know each other well. Both of their league meetings in the 2025/2026 season ended without a winner.
Espanyol have the advantage of playing at home, but their final test before the start of the championship did not go ideally. Manolo González's team lost 3-1 to Coventry City. Levante, on the other hand, enter the new season with Luís Castro on the bench and an attack that underwent important changes during the summer.
Tickets for this match are in demand among supporters because the opening round traditionally attracts additional attention, while the home crowd gets its first opportunity of the new season to see Espanyol in a competitive match at the RCDE Stadium.
The opening round provides an important early benchmark for both teams
In August, there is little sense in talking about a battle for a particular position as if the season were already fully developed. The value of this match is different. Three points straight away can provide calm for the following rounds, while a poor start increases the pressure before the team has fully stabilised after the transfer window and pre-season preparations.
Espanyol will not remember last season as an easy one. During the campaign, the team went through very different phases of form, and reached the closing stages in a part of the table where the gaps between several clubs were small. Levante also had to work seriously to remain in the top division. The fact that they meet again as early as the first round means that both sides immediately face an opponent against whom they had difficulty making the decisive difference last season.
Their most recent meeting at the RCDE Stadium ended 0-0. Espanyol had nine shots on that occasion, Levante eight, and both teams created opportunities to win. Levante were particularly dangerous late on, when Marko Dmitrović had to stop attempts from Etta Eyong and Carlos Álvarez.
That previous meeting provides a fairly good basis for expectations: this match does not necessarily have to be open simply because it is being played in the first round. Both coaches have enough reasons to first seek control of space and prevent situations in which the opponent can attack an unorganised defence.
Espanyol search for solutions after Kike's injury
Manolo González's most concrete problem ahead of the start of the championship is the absence of Kike García. The striker injured his right hamstring during a pre-season match against Middlesbrough and had to leave the pitch as early as the 18th minute. Following medical examinations, he underwent surgery on 5 August and began rehabilitation.
That changes the distribution of responsibility in attack. Roberto Fernández becomes an even more important figure. In the 2025/2026 championship, he scored seven league goals for Espanyol, and he was also the player who scored the only goal in the final pre-season match against Coventry City. In the 37th minute, he stylishly finished Edu Expósito's cross with his heel.
Espanyol started that match with Marko Dmitrović in goal and Roger Hinojo, Leandro Cabrera, Unai Núñez and Omar El Hilali in the back line. Urko González de Zárate, Edu Expósito, Javi Hernández, Álex Calatrava, Tyrhys Dolan and Roberto Fernández played in midfield and attack.
The presence of Unai Núñez is particularly interesting. The experienced centre-back arrived on a one-year loan from RC Celta de Vigo, with an option to buy, only a few days before the final pre-season match. He was immediately given a place in the starting line-up against Coventry, showing how quickly Manolo González is trying to integrate him into the defensive structure.
Espanyol finished their pre-season period with two wins, three draws and one defeat. The final match also brought a warning: after a good first half and taking the lead against Coventry, the team conceded three goals in the final twenty minutes or so.
- Kike García underwent surgery on his injured right hamstring and is in the recovery process.
- Roberto Fernández scored seven league goals last season and found the net in the final pre-season match.
- Unai Núñez arrived on loan and immediately started against Coventry City.
- Espanyol finished their summer preparations with two wins, three draws and one defeat.
- Tyrhys Dolan, Álex Calatrava and Edu Expósito offer different ways of creating chances behind and around the central striker.
Without Kike, Roberto will probably have to take on a large part of the work inside the penalty area. His movement between the centre-backs could be particularly important against Levante, but Espanyol will also need a greater contribution from players arriving from deeper positions.
Levante begin a new era under Luís Castro
On the other side, this is not just about a new season, but also a new coaching project. Luís Castro took over Levante during the summer and signed a contract until June 2027. The Portuguese coach previously worked at FC Nantes and USL Dunkerque, and his profile is associated with an emphasis on attacking football and the development of younger players.
The changes did not stop with the coach. Levante lost Carlos Espí, their leading league scorer from last season. Espí scored 11 league goals in 2025/2026 and left the club during the summer. Young Yanis Musuayi has arrived to provide another option in attack.
Luís Castro nevertheless retains several players who have already shown that they can cause Espanyol problems. Iván Romero finished last league season with seven goals, while Etta Eyong scored six. Carlos Álvarez remains one of the important creative options between the lines and around the penalty area.
In a pre-season match against Villarreal CF, Levante lost 1-0, but the result did not fully describe their performance. The team created chances, especially in the first half, when Aïssa Mandi and Roger Brugué forced Péter Gulácsi into saves. After Villarreal took the lead through Logan Costa, Levante tried to respond, including through players introduced from the bench.
For the match against Espanyol, it is particularly important that Castro has several different profiles available in the attacking line. Etta Eyong offers physical presence and runs into space, Iván Romero can play more dynamically, Carlos Álvarez can look for the ball between midfield and defence, while Musuayi represents a new option whose role is still developing.
- Luís Castro is the new coach of Levante UD and has a contract until June 2027.
- Carlos Espí, Levante's leading league scorer last season with 11 goals, has left the club.
- Iván Romero scored seven league goals in the 2025/2026 season.
- Etta Eyong finished last league season with six goals.
- Carlos Álvarez remains one of the main options for creating play in the final third of the pitch.
Where the match could be decided tactically
Espanyol's final pre-season line-up suggests that Manolo González will try to connect a solid central area with quick players around Roberto. Edu Expósito has an important role in distribution and set pieces, while Dolan can attack space from the wing. Calatrava and Javi Hernández provide additional movement between the lines.
Roberto, meanwhile, does not have to be only the finishing point. Against Coventry's physically strong centre-backs, he had to do a great deal of work with his back to goal, while his goal showed how dangerous he can be when he attacks the six-yard box at the right moment.
Levante's response could be an attempt to break forward quickly after winning possession. In the match against Villarreal, they showed that they can create a high-quality chance even without prolonged possession. Brugué and the other wide players can move the ball forward quickly, while Etta Eyong is dangerous if he is given space behind the defence.
One of the key details will also be the adjustment of Espanyol's back line. Unai Núñez has only just arrived, Roger Hinojo has been getting significant minutes during pre-season, and their coordination with Omar El Hilali and Cabrera will be important against forwards who frequently change positions.
Levante will simultaneously have to be careful with Expósito's crosses. In the previous head-to-head meeting, it was his cross late in the match that found Roberto, whose header went wide. It is a simple but concrete pattern that the home side can use again.
Last season ended with two draws
The results from 2025/2026 show well how little separated these two teams.
- Levante UD - RCD Espanyol 1-1, 11 January 2026.
- RCD Espanyol - Levante UD 0-0, 27 April 2026.
In the first meeting, Carlos Romero put Espanyol ahead in the 53rd minute, but Iker Losada equalised just two minutes later. There were no goals in the return fixture at the RCDE Stadium.
The closing stages of that second meeting were particularly dramatic. Dmitrović stopped attempts from Etta Eyong and Carlos Álvarez, while Roberto Fernández came very close to scoring for Espanyol with a header in stoppage time.
An attendance of 25,526 spectators was recorded for that April match. This time it is the opening round of the new season, so the context is completely different, but the previous two results show that Espanyol have no reason to expect an easy task simply because they are playing at home.
RCDE Stadium - a modern stadium between Cornellà and El Prat
RCDE Stadium is located at Av. del Baix Llobregat 100, 08940 Cornellà de Llobregat, in the Barcelona metropolitan area. The stadium opened on 2 August 2009 and was designed for 37,776 spectators.
The stands are relatively close to the pitch and enclose the playing area on all sides, which intensifies the sound when the stadium is well filled. The structure has a distinctive exterior façade, while solar panels are installed on the roof.
For a supporter visiting for the first time, it is important to distinguish the RCDE Stadium from football stadiums located within the city of Barcelona itself. The venue is in Cornellà de Llobregat, west of the central parts of the metropolitan area, so it is worth planning transport in advance, especially after the match when a large number of spectators leave the stadium at the same time.
Seats in the stands disappear quickly for attractive kick-off times and the start of the championship, so it is worth securing tickets in good time.
How to get to the stadium
RCDE Stadium is well connected by different forms of public transport. The club lists the metro, tram, commuter railway and FGC as options for reaching the stadium, so visitors do not have to rely on a car.
- Metro: line L5 to Cornellà station.
- Tram: lines T1 and T2.
- Renfe: lines R4 and R7 to Cornellà.
- FGC: Cornellà Riera or Almeda stations.
- By car: for arrival via Ronda de Dalt, exit 15 is recommended, while the Polígono Industrial de Cornellà area has space for up to 4,000 vehicles.
Drivers should bear in mind that parking capacity is not the same as a guaranteed free space. The opening round and evening traffic can increase congestion on roads around the stadium, so arriving earlier reduces the risk of getting caught in the heaviest traffic immediately before kick-off.
The exact time at which the gates will open for this match is not specified in the information reviewed, so it should not be guessed. Before setting off, visitors should check the latest information for the specific match and allow enough time for security checks and finding their section.
What to expect in the stands
For Espanyol, the first home match is an opportunity to create positive early momentum after preparations that ended with a defeat in England. For the first time in a competitive setting, supporters will be able to see new players such as Unai Núñez and assess how the team looks without the injured Kike García.
Levante supporters also arrive with plenty of reasons for curiosity. A new coach, a changed attacking hierarchy and several younger players mean that it remains to be seen what identity the team will develop over the course of the championship.
More than 25,000 people watched the previous meeting between these clubs at the same stadium, and the outcome remained open practically until the final attack. A similar course this time could further increase the noise from the stands, especially if the result remains uncertain in the final third of the match.
Ticket sales for this match are under way, and supporters planning to travel should organise both their arrival and their return before matchday.
Players particularly worth watching
For Espanyol, Roberto Fernández is the most logical starting point. Seven league goals last season, a goal against Coventry and Kike's injury place him at the centre of the attacking story. His duel with Levante's central defenders could determine how successfully the home side can retain the ball high up the pitch.
Edu Expósito is important because of his distribution and crosses. If Levante close down the centre, his switches of play and deliveries towards the penalty area become an alternative way of creating pressure. Dolan brings pace and one-on-one ability, while Calatrava will be expected to connect midfield with attack.
For Levante, Etta Eyong is worth watching. He had several opportunities late in the previous match at the RCDE Stadium, while his six league goals last season confirm that he represents a genuine threat. Iván Romero enters the season after seven league goals, while Carlos Álvarez can change the rhythm of the match by receiving the ball between the lines.
Musuayi is a different case. As a summer signing, he is still adapting to his new team, but Espí's departure opens space for a new distribution of minutes among Levante's forwards.
Details that could decide the opening round
The first competitive match after pre-season often reveals how ready the automatisms really are. Espanyol looked stable for around seventy minutes against Coventry, but then lost control of the result in a short period. Levante showed against Villarreal that they can create chances even though they did not score.
That is why several very specific things are worth watching: how successfully Espanyol can feed Roberto with balls in the penalty area, how dangerous Levante will be after winning second balls, whether Núñez can quickly establish coordination with his new teammates, and which team reacts better after the first substitutions.
Another important element is set pieces. In matches with few clear chances, a corner or free kick often becomes the simplest route to a goal. Espanyol have Expósito as a quality taker, while Levante have potential targets for crosses among their taller players.
All of that gives the match an interesting framework: the home side want to make immediate use of the RCDE Stadium, the visitors are beginning a new era under Luís Castro, and the last two meetings between the teams ended in draws. The first goal could therefore carry particular weight and force the other team to change its initial plan.
Sources:
- LALIGA - opening-round schedule, match information, and results and statistics from the teams' head-to-head meetings in the 2025/2026 season.
- RCD Espanyol - information about the RCDE Stadium, transport and parking, Kike García's medical report, the arrival of Unai Núñez, and the report from the final pre-season match.
- Levante UD - current team squad and information about the arrival of coach Luís Castro.
- AS - current pre-season form of both teams, player statistics from the 2025/2026 season, and changes to Levante's attacking squad.