Same feeling here the closest team in my league is 18% weaker the rest are 20%+ weaker yet I keep losing strangely especially when the opponents are absent.
not forgetting the several times I got disconnected and came back to be either losing or have lost.

what even got me more pissed is when it happened in the IC with a slightly less strong opponent who was Anonymous and present that has to be a bot and funny thing was for the first time I saw a supporting manager for my opponent that supporter was also anonymous I lost that match yet had better possesion more shots and my tactics were on point

am at level 5 now I won all my previous leagues no hustle with closer opponents , Now I believe it when users say the postions and outcomes are predermined at the draw.

unless u spend money even that does not guarantee anything