La Liga: Yellow Submarine could sink newly-promoted hosts

EUROPEAN football fanatic Ben Levene (@benlevene96) shares his thoughts on Monday night's La Liga offering.

Levante v Villarreal | Monday 21st August 2017, 19:15 | Sky Sports

Levante were able to bounce straight back to La Liga by winning the Segunda division by a monster 14 points. They lost just one of 21 games at home and that form is something they will be looking to carry into the new season.

Expect Les Granotes to start fast and get at Villarreal early. They could possibly be a bet on the corner count (Villarreal conceded an average of seven corners per-away game in La Liga last season).

Villarreal finished five points shy of a Champions League spot last season. Away from home they look to sit deep and counter. They’re a tough-to-beat unit – only Atletico Madrid had a better defensive record last season.

The Yellow Submarine have strengthened well over the summer and this week’s acquisition of Carlos Bacca could be the business that fires them into the top-four. They lacked an out-and-out goalscorer but Bacca can change that.

Powerful defender Ruben Semedo replaces Mateo Mussachio after an impressive U21 Euro’s with Portugal, while Pablo Fornals and Ernes Unal come in with good pedigree.

If Fran Escriba’s team can weather the early Levante storm, they have to be fancied to come away with maximum points at 7/5 (William Hill)