Kervin Arriaga and Levante face tricky Copa del Rey test

The match

Cultural Leonesa vs. Levante UD

  • Competition: Copa del Rey (Round of 32)
  • Date: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025
  • Kickoff: 11 a.m. CST
  • Venue: Estadio Municipal Reino de León (León, Spain)

How to watch in Minnesota

This match is available exclusively on ESPN+. You will need a subscription to stream the match live.

If you can’t watch live due to the midday kickoff, ESPN+ usually offers a full match replay shortly after the final whistle.

The significance

This is a classic “trap game” for Kervin Arriaga‘s Levante side. After earning promotion back to La Liga for the 2025–26 campaign, Levante has found life in the Spanish top flight difficult, currently sitting in the bottom half of the table. They enter this match in poor form, having lost four of their last five league matches.

The Copa del Rey offers a chance for a morale boost, but Cultural Leonesa—who play in the third tier (Primera Federación)—will be smelling blood at home. For Levante, a win is essential to calm nerves and regain confidence before the winter break. For Arriaga, it’s another opportunity to cement his place in the starting XI after recently returning from a minor leg injury.

The Loon in focus: Kervin Arriaga

  • MNUFC Tenure: 2022–2024
  • Role: Defensive Midfielder / Center Back

Loons fans remember Kervin “El Misil” Arriaga for his towering physical presence, his ability to break up play in midfield, and his absolute rocket of a right foot on set pieces. Arriaga made over 50 appearances for Minnesota United before transferring to Serbian giants Partizan Belgrade in the summer of 2024.

His time in Serbia was brief but successful, earning him a high-profile move to Levante UD in July 2025. Since arriving in Spain, Arriaga has been tasked with adding steel to a defense that has often been under siege. He scored his first goal for the club last month—a crucial equalizer against Celta Vigo—proving he still has that attacking threat we saw at Allianz Field.

Prediction

Expect a physical battle in the midfield. If Arriaga starts, he will be key to stopping Leonesa’s counter-attacks. Levante should have too much quality for the third-tier side, but don’t be surprised if this one goes to extra time.

  • Levante wins 2-1.