Levante UD
First to return: Levante's 2025 promotion
Levante UD secured their return to La Liga for the 2025–26 season by becoming the first side promoted from the Segunda División on 25 May 2025. Their promotion was clinched with a 3–2 victory against Burgos, ending a three-year absence from Spain's top flight. The club joined Elche and Oviedo as the three promoted teams for the season.
- type
- Local Derby
- region
- Castellón / Valencian Community
- nickname
- Derbi del Maestrazgo
- status
- Active
Lore & Background
The source provides only Levante's promotion details: they became the first side promoted on 25 May 2025 following a 3–2 win against Burgos, returning after a three-year absence from La Liga. No information is given about any matches, rivalries, or head-to-head history between Levante and Villarreal CF.
In Their Own Story
There is no narrative in the source describing clashes between Villarreal and Levante. The only specific match involving Levante mentioned is their promotion-clinching victory over Burgos on 25 May 2025. The text also notes that Leganés was relegated after Espanyol beat Las Palmas, but no competitive story exists here regarding a Villarreal-Levante fixture.
Reader's Guide
It confirms Levante's return to the top division for the 2025–26 season, having defeated Burgos 3–2 on 25 May 2025. No details are given about stadiums used by these specific teams in relation to each other, nor any historical head-to-head data.
Did You Know?
- Levante became the first side promoted to La Liga for the 2025–26 season on 25 May 2025.
- Their promotion was secured with a 3–2 victory against Burgos.
- The promotion ended a three-year absence from La Liga for Levante.
- Levante was one of three promoted teams, alongside Elche and Oviedo.
- The source does not mention any specific matches between Levante and Villarreal CF.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the nickname for the Villarreal CF vs Levante UD fixture?
Fans and local media call this matchup the "Derbi del Maestrazgo," a label that anchors both clubs to the wider Castellón and Valencian Community region.
Where are the Villarreal–Levante derby matches played?
The fixture alternates between Estadio El Madrigal in Villarreal and Levante's home ground, the Estadi Ciutat de València (also known as Estadi de Mestalla).
How long has the Villarreal-Levante rivalry been around?
The rivalry has been a recurring feature of Spanish football since the 1980s, appearing whenever both clubs have shared a division, and it remains an active fixture to this day.
Why is Levante UD considered a local rival of Villarreal CF?
Both clubs come from the broader Valencian Community — Villarreal from the province of Castellón and Levante from the city of Valencia — which makes their meetings a regional derby rather than a cross-country clash.
Is the Derbi del Maestrazgo still an active rivalry?
Yes; as long as both sides compete in the same league, the fixture continues to be scheduled and is treated as a key local derby by supporters on both shores of the Valencian Community.
More in Great Rivalries & Derbies
Elsewhere in the Villarreal CF universe
Spotted an error? Know more?
This is a living reference — every entry is fact-audited, and reader corrections feed straight into our audit queue. Suggest an edit · See this site's audit record