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With his penalty, Raúl García becomes the sixth LaLiga player who has scored the most goals from eleven meters, 19.
The second half at the Ciutat de Valencia followed the script of the first, occasions for both teams, although it was Athletic who was most active in the rival area. Marcelino's team equalized Roger's penalty goal in the first half through a controversial Vukcevic penalty on Berenguer that Raúl García converted. Although the VAR spent several minutes reviewing the play, in which it is observed that the midfielder does not touch the Athletic player, it was considered a foul and Marcelino's team managed to equalize the contest. Both sets lacked precision. In the second half, both coaches began to rotate thinking about next Thursday's clash: the Copa del Rey semifinal round, which will decide whether lions or granotas go to the final.
Red card Íñigo Martínez Berridi
END OF THE MATCH VALENCIA! Distribution of points between Levante and Athletic.
First yellow card of the match for Athletic. Morcillo grabs Miramón and is reprimanded.
Unai Simón has to put his fist in after Rochina's lateral free kick, and that he did not find a finisher in the area.
5 minutes added in the Ciutat de Valencia.
De Marcos pass behind from the right wing, but Malsa cuts the action to prevent him from falling into the boots of an Athletic player.
FACT: Levante have not won any of their last four matches played on Friday in LaLiga although they have drawn three of them (1D) while Athletic has only lost one of their last eight that day in the competition (4V 3E).
UP VILLALIBRE! The Athletic striker looked for the squad with a shot from the balcony of the area that he armed with his right leg.
Marcelino also takes advantage of the break to give entry to Zarraga and give Vencedor a rest.
Sergio León replaces Roger in the granotas ranks.
Double change in Levante: De Frutos leaves and Toño enters.
Morcillo's shot that no Athletic teammate reaches and that Aitor Fernández catches. New occasion, although imprecise, of Marcelino's set.
Corner in favor of Levante after Unai Simón has to clear the shot from De Frutos, who started the race from the center of the field, won the position to Lekue, but arrived blown and the shot did not enter between the three posts.
The meeting is encouraged at the Ciutat de Valencia! The game completely open when we enter the last ten minutes of the game. Attacking both sets with solvency.
Double chance for Levante, first a volley from De Frutos from the balcony in the area that the Athletic defense rejected; the rebound fell to Rochina, who put together a long shot that went over the goal of Unai Simón.
And change of striker for the lions, Williams leaves and Villalibre enters.
New double change in Athletic: Berenguer leaves and De Marcos enters.
GET OUT ROGER! Levante's first great move in this second half. Son received on the right wing, crossed for Roger in the small area, but the ball went brushing the left post of Unai Simón's goal. The granota striker was forced to arrive and did not measure the strength of the shot.
Íñigo Martínez is now encouraged with a shot from the balcony of the area, but Aitor Fernández was impeccable when catching the ball.
FACT: Athletic has only won one of its last nine away matches in LaLiga (3E 5D), the last against Cádiz (0-4) and has not won two in a row at home in the competition since July 2020, precisely the second that streak was against Levante.
Third change in Levante, Morales leaves and Dani Gómez enters.
Dominating again Athletic, who has been stalking Aitor Fernández's goal for several minutes.
HE IS GOING TO NÚÑEZ! The Athletic center-back almost got a terrific shot. A low center from the little Ander Capa, Núñez does not measure the speed at which he reaches the control, and ends up being the one who sends the ball out on the baseline. He received at the far post, but could not control it to set up the shot.
The other change of the Athletic coach is Muniain for Jon Morcillo.
Double change in Athletic. Marcelino makes two changes, thinking of giving his players rest for the clash next Thursday. Balenziaga leaves and Lekue enters.
Now pressing Levante, biting insistently after Rául García's goal.
De Frutos was now trying to combine with a partner in the area, but Vencedor cuts off the action.
BERENGUER IS NOT ARRIVING! Very good driving on the left wing of Williams, including a great control to leave Duarte alone towards the area, the pike looking for his partner, but between Pier and Clerc they hinder Berenguer and avoid Athletic's shot.
Berenguer foul on Clerc. Look for the Raise to respond after the tie in the light.
FACT: At home, Levante have only won one of their last six games against Athletic in LaLiga (1E 4D), 3-0 in December 2018, in which it was the first match of the Granotas coach, Paco López, at home against Bilbao in the competition.
Coke also leaves and Miramón enters.
Paco López takes advantage of the delicate moment of the match to make a double change: a pissed off Vukcevic leaves after the penalty and Malsa enters the green.
Vukčević now takes the yellow for protesting. The granota midfielder does not quite believe that the penalty has been called.
GOOOOOOOOL OF RAÚL GARCÍA! ATHLETIC GOOOOOL! Raúl García does not miss from eleven meters, adjusting the shot to the left post of Aitor Fernández's goal.
In the repetition it is clear that Vukcevic does not get to touch Berenguer, but the referee indicates that it is a penalty in favor of Athletic.
The Levante players complain that Vukcevic hides his foot when he sees Berenguer trying to prolong his position to fall in the area. Follow the ongoing review.
PENALTY IN FAVOR OF ATHLETIC! Berenguer falls in the area and the referee has it very clear. It is being reviewed by the VAR.
Defending compact now the Levante, locked in its area.
Athletic has come out wanting to get closer to the rival area. Marcelino's team continues to insist, in this prelude to the next meeting between the two next Thursday in which a pass to the final of the Copa del Rey is at stake.
From the lateral foul obtained, Muniain hung the ball into the area looking for Raúl García at the far post, but Aitor Fernández advanced his position to catch the ball. The play was invalidated by offside of the forward of the lions.
Second yellow card of the match, also for a Levante player. Son did not measure the strength of the entry and takes Balenziaga ahead.
THE SECOND HALF STARTS IN THE CIUTAT DE VALENCIA!
With his goal from eleven meters, Levante is, after Real Sociedad, (with Alexander Isak and Mikel Oyarzábal) the second LaLiga team, the ninth in the five major leagues, in which two of their players have scored at least ten goals this season: Roger (10) and Morales (10). Couple.
Athletic is trying actively and passively, but it is still not in the area: lack of precision and very easy shots for an Aitor Fernández who has been, without a doubt, the best of Levante in these first 45 minutes of the match. Marcelino's team has given him work, much more aggressive in front of goal, but with few ideas in the last meters. The Granota team, who knew how to measure the times of this first half, went to the locker room with a one-goal advantage thanks to Roger's penalty goal (after Unai Núñez trampled De Frutos in the area).
END OF THE FIRST HALF IN THE CIUTAT DE VALENCIA! Levante left with an advantage at halftime thanks to Roger's penalty.
1 minute added.
Good move for Athletic! Berenguer finished the play from the area, received from Capa, but the pass was not measured and the shot ends up being noble enough for Aitor Fernández to stop the ball.
Up, winner! Now Marcelino's box was animated from outside the area, but Vencedor's far shot goes far off the three sticks.
EYE WILLIAMS! The forward tried to connect with his head from the left post of the goal, but the Levante defense is attentive, after a crazy play by Marcelino's men.
First yellow card of the match for Coke for a lateral foul on Williams.
We go into the last five minutes of the first half.
Now Unai Núñez is wrong when combining with Muniain, and the ball is lost to the side.
Now Athletic wants to respond to Levante's goal, they have woken up in these last minutes and now completely control possession. However, Marcelino's men are lacking precision in the small area.
New corner kick in favor of Athletic, after a cross from Berenguer that Rober clears.
What a Williams control now! Aitor Fernández sends the ball into a corner, but the forward connected with a very long ball in the area that seemed impossible to control. First time that Athletic found Williams in the area.
GOOOOOOOOOL OF LEVANTE! ROGER GOOOOOOL! The forward of the granota team does not fail from eleven meters, which puts his team ahead in the light.
PENALTY IN FAVOR OF THE LEVANTE! Unai Núñez complains to the referee, but the Athletic defender had to stop a De Frutos who left alone in the area after an Athletic loss. It seems that Núñez touches De Frutos' ankle after touching the ball.
Levante almost got into a mess after a committed loss that Rober had to correct.
It is very clear now from De Frutos on Martínez.
FACT: After three consecutive victories between 2012 and 2013, Levante have only won two of their last 13 matches against Athletic in LaLiga (1E 10D), losing the last four.
Athletic has tried now through a long pass from Raúl García, who was heeling on the right wing, but he did not measure well and cannot connect with Williams in the area.
Son shot! First time between the three clubs for the locals after a long stretch in which they have dominated the match. Morales crossed, tried to clear Athletic's rear, but Son managed to connect with the rebound. The auction was very weak and Simón caught without complications, but a good response from the locals to the brilliant start of Athletic, now more diluted.
Two consecutive recoveries from Levante to the possession of Athletic. Now press the set of Paco López.
Corner in favor of Levante, the center was very close to the area and Unai Simón has to leave his goal to clear with his fists.
Now the match is slowed down due to the possession of the granota box, which has managed to overcome after three very dangerous actions by Athletic in their area.
Levante now enjoys a long possession after a stretch in which Athletic was the one who controlled the beat of the match.
FACT: Only against Real Sociedad (ten), Raúl García has seen more yellows in the First Division than against Levante (nine, as against Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia).
Little by little, Marcelino's rear gaining control of the game. Since Morales' free kick, Levante has not put Unai Simón in trouble.
AITOR FERNÁNDEZ! The play has been invalidated due to an illegal position, but Raúl García receives in the area after a long pass from the defense, controls, sets the shot, but it is the local goalkeeper who puts on the hero cape to save his team. Three serious notices from Athletic.
Athletic has already had two very clear chances in these first ten minutes of the match, both from Muniain's boots. Levante is animated and has not stayed in their area to see them come. The meeting at the Ciutat de Valencia, which has started very dynamic, does not stop.
TO THE PALO MUNIAIN! Athletic stalking Aitor Fernández's goal. Marcelino's team takes advantage of Levante's lack of control to start the race towards the area after a long pass, Muniain receives from the right, shoots, the ball hits the stick, and it is through the local goalkeeper and the defense that the Levante has managed to save himself.
Morales dared to launch the lateral free kick without hanging the ball in the area, but the ball goes very wide of the goal of Unai Simón.
VERY CLOSE TO MARCAR MUNIAIN! Athletic's good play in the small area, Berenguer crossed low from the right looking for Muniain at the far post, but Aitor Fernández deflected the ball just enough so that the Lions player could not connect with the ball in the small area. The play was born from a wall between Muniain and Williams in the area's balcony, and the forward later connected with Berenguer on the wing.
Rochina put her in the area looking for a shot from a teammate at the far post, but she couldn't connect with anyone. Coke fell in the area from the momentum to head the ball, but it does not appear that it was caused by any Athletic player. The Collegiate does not indicate anything.
It is now very clear in the center of the field of Martínez on De Frutos. Levante will have a chance from set pieces.
The meeting begins beautifully, even and open. Both Athletic and Levante combining with verticality.
Good idea now from Vencedor, who wanted to connect through a long pass into the hole with Williams, but it was too long and the Lions forward could not reach the ball.
Levante has had a long possession in these first stages of matches. De Frutos makes a spout to Vencedor, the granotas. they combine after stealing possession from Athletic, but fail to finish the play.
START THE PARTY!
The protagonists jump to the green of the Ciutat de Valencia. The referee for the match will be Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos.
8. Levante have not won any of their last four games played on Friday in LaLiga although they have drawn three of them (1D) while Athletic has only lost one of their last eight that day in the competition (4V 3E).
7. Marcelino García Toral has only lost in one of his last five visits to Levante in LaLiga (2V 2E), 1-0 at the head of Villarreal in October 2015, although he has not won in his last three (2E 1D).
6. After not participating in any goals in his first 13 LaLiga games, Levante player Jorge de Frutos has done so in ten in his last 13 in the competition (three goals and seven assists).
5. Álex Berenguer, Athletic Club player, will complete 50 games in LaLiga. He has scored three goals in his last two LaLiga games (a double in Cádiz and a goal against Villarreal), the same as in his 18 previous encounters with the rojiblancos in the competition, and only one less than in his 47 wins in the maximum category.
4. Levante have only lost one of their last 11 home games in LaLiga (4V 6E), 0-1 on matchday 23 against Osasuna, although they have not won in their last four (3E 1D).
3. Athletic have only won one of their last nine away games in LaLiga (3E 5D), the last against Cádiz (0-4) and they have not won two in a row at home in the competition since July 2020, precisely the second that streak was against Levante.
2. At home, Levante has only won one of their last six games against Athletic in LaLiga (1E 4D), 3-0 in December 2018, in which it was the first meeting of the Granotas coach, Paco López, at home against Bilbao in the competition.
1. After three consecutive victories between 2012 and 2013, Levante have only won two of their last 13 matches against Athletic in LaLiga (1E 10D), losing the last four.
Let's go with some data prior to the start of the crash!
On the Athletic bench: Morcillo, Yeray, Ibai Gómez, Ezkieta, Lekue, Oihan Sancet, Yuri, Villalibre, De Marcos, Zarraga, Nolaskoain and Íñigo Vicente.
Athletic also makes certain changes with respect to the eleven that played against Villarreal, two of them forced by the suspension of Unai López and Dani García, who will be replaced in the double pivot by Vencedor and Vesga. Marcelino maintains the rest of the eleven, although in the line of four only Íñigo Martínez repeats. Thus, the visitors go out with: Simón; Capa, Núñez, Martínez, Balenziaga; Berenguer, Vesga, Vencedor, Muniain; and Raúl García and Williams at the top.
On the granota bench: Toño, Sergio León, Malsa, Miramón, Dani Gómez, Doukouré, Blesa, Cárdenas and Monzó. Paco López cannot count on Melero, Bardhi, Postigo and Radoja due to injury, and neither on Campaña nor Vezo, due to sanction.
Levante, weakened by casualties, modifies its scheme and opts for a 4-4-2 and introduces five changes in its line-up with respect to the eleven that played in the Wanda Metropolitano. Martí will accompany Morales in point. Thus, the granotas go out with: Aitor Fernández; Coke, Duarte, Rober, Clerc; They are, Vukcevic, Rochina and De Frutos; and Morales and Roger as the most advanced players.
We already have confirmed line-ups from both teams!
Marcelino declared about Levante that “they are in the best moment of the season, but we are also in a very good line of play and regularity”.
At a press conference, Paco López declared that he will not allow the next Copa del Rey match to be more important than tonight. “There is no other party,” he admitted.
Despite the tight schedule, granotas and lions have been able to rest for almost a week, and although both teams surely have their thoughts on next Thursday's match, this match is essential to direct the sensations and form in the League.
Levante is morally boosted after having achieved four of the six possible points in their double confrontation in the domestic competition against the leaders, Atlético de Madrid. Marcelino's team has added the same number of points in his locker, after passing over Cádiz (4-0) and drawing against Villarreal in the previous day.
Returning to LaLiga, both Levante and Athletic want to focus on closing the gap to European positions. The granotas occupy the eighth position with 31 points, while the lions are tenth with 29.
Although both teams have their sights set on the next Copa del Rey clash, the semifinal round that will face both on Thursday and which ended 1-1 in the first leg, Levante and Athletic have the opportunity to measure their temperature in a previous anteroom to the meeting that will mark which team will go to the final.
Good evening and welcome to the match that kicks off the twenty-fifth day of LaLiga and which will face Levante and Athletic at the Ciutat de Valencia!