MADRID, 19 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Levante receives Valencia this Monday (9:00 p.m.) in a derby to which the ‘granotas’ arrive immersed in a historical crisis in the competition, after 25 consecutive games without winning in LaLiga Santander, while the ‘che’ arrive flustered with four wins in a row.
Alessio Lisci’s men are bottom-line players with 8 points and have not won in the league since April, so they hope that the derby will be a turning point that will end up bringing the long-awaited and much-needed victory at the Ciutat de Valencia. The staff, very emotionally touched, trusts that they have already hit rock bottom and not prolong the disastrous dynamic that seems endless.
Although Christmas will pass as a red lantern, a victory, especially against Valencia, would give wings and strength to continue believing in a salvation that is now seven points away.
In the last LaLiga Santander match, Levante did not come out alive from the madness of goals against Espanyol (4-3). In addition, he was eliminated in the thirty-second finals of the Copa del Rey, after succumbing in the penalty shoot-out against Alcoyano, in what has been a black week for the Granotas.
Lisci will not be able to count on Mustafi, Postigo, Son, Malsa and Radoja, who are injured. But the Italian coach recovers Clerc, Vezo, Campaña and De Frutos, key pieces in the Levantine team. On the right side, Miramón could replace Son, while Pepelu would enter for Malsa in midfield. Roger and Morales remain fixed on the attack.
For its part, Valencia reaches the derby 8th in the table just two points behind Barcelona and with the pressure of not being the first victim of a Levante urgently to win. Those from Bordalás have four consecutive victories and have reached eight games without losing, with only one defeat in the last ten games.
A situation that provides comfort and tranquility to a Valencia with much more confidence, which has allowed them to rise in the rankings and be already in the fight for the European competition zone.
A period of optimism now blurred by the cases of coronavrus that have been reported in the team, including that of Bordalás, and that will prevent the central Alderete from being available for the derby. Nor will he be able to count on Maxi Gómez and Daniel Wass, due to suspension, and Lato, Foulquier and Paulista, due to injury.
Although Correia could enter the squad, Piccini aims for the right back, given his great moment of form with a goal against Elche. Guillamón could accompany Diakhaby in the center of defense. Given the casualties in attack, Hugo Duro would return to the starting team.