Another twist in the Levante relegation battle saga. After a run of form that nobody expected Levante have given themselves hope of a miraculous escape to La Liga safety. Mark Pulley reports…
Less than two weeks ago, I wrote about how it wasn’t too soon to say it’s all over for Levante. I called them embarrassing and pathetic. To me then, it was as clear as day that the Comunidad Valenciana would only have three teams in La Liga next season. I couldn’t speak of a Levante relegation battle, because they’d already lost the battle. They were goners! Toast. Dead in the water. Walking dead. An ex-parrot. They have ceased to be. (We get the picture – Ed.)
Now I sit here wondering if my article was printed out by Alessio Lisci and put on the dressing room wall. The classic ‘prove them wrong’ tactic often used by managers to rally their troops.
In reality, I very much doubt that Mr Lisci stumbled upon my article and hit the print button. However, just a few hours after my ‘expert’ opinion went public they went and beat reigning champions Atlético Madrid. Not only did they beat them, they did it in the hostile Wanda Metropolitano Stadium and they didn’t concede a goal. A miracle considering they’d conceded 50 the previous 23 games. A ratio only Leeds United can compete with right now.
Levante Relegation battle: Hope brews after victory in Madrid
Five days later The Granotas had another away fixture. This time they headed out on their longest trip of the season, to Vigo, on the Atlantic coast. Celta were the opponents and even after the shock result in Madrid, were expecting to dispose of Levante without breaking a sweat and send them back to the Mediterranean pointless. They couldn’t, though. A resurgent Levante battled hard and even though they did go behind, they kept believing and equalised late in the game. A point to add to the three taken from Atlético. Four points that nobody saw coming. Especially me.
These four points, as impressive as they were, still left Levante looking at a mini-abyss to the promised land of 17th place. Logic would tell you it was still nigh on impossible. But form and momentum are everything in a relegation battle. String together a few good performances and the impossible can suddenly seem possible. Just look at Newcastle in the EPL. A few weeks ago they feared being the world’s richest club in the 2nd tier of English football. Now, after a few good results, their fans are calculating how soon they’ll be in the top half…
Levante vs Elche – Could they keep the run going?
Levante had a huge fixture on Friday night. A home game against Elche. For once fans went into the game thinking they might actually win. Something they’d only seen once so far this season.
Not only did they get that rare victory, it was a comfortable one at that. The crowd at Estadi Ciutat de València enjoyed an easy 3-0 win against their Comunidad rivals. Another three points to add to the four picked up on the road. Now they were looking at seven points from nine. If they can keep that ratio up for the final 12 games it would surely lead them to survival. It’s a big ask but at least they’re putting up a fight.
We can definitely talk about a Levante relegation battle now. They’ve woken up and are fighting for their very survival.
• As well as covering football and helping edit ‘Valencia Life’, Mark Pulley also writes especially about travel – with a focus on Valencia – at thesketchytraveller.com
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