Levante News

Barcelona are still a long way behind leaders Real Madrid, who have 72 points from 31 after beating Getafe 2-0 at home on Saturday. Barca have 60 points from 30 matches so far.

Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane said he could ask for nothing more from his side after they recorded a third consecutive La Liga win by beating Levante 2-0 away on Sunday despite another unconvincing display. Real took an early lead through Vinicius Jr. but needed Thibaut Courtois to make a string of saves to hold on to their advantage before Karim Benzema sealed the three points with a goal in added time. Real won last season`s title thanks to a relentless run of 10 straight victories in which they rarely hit top gear and they have taken a similar path at the start of this campaign.

Valencia stayed seventh on 43 points from 28 games, while the result left Levante in 12th with 34 points.

A superb strike from Jose Luis Morales condemned Real Madrid to a 1-0 defeat away to Levante on Saturday which saw them unseated at the top of the La Liga standings by Barcelona.

The victory took Atletico onto 35 points after 19 games, level with fourth-placed Sevilla who were held 1-1 at home to Athletic Bilbao on Friday.

Benzema scored twice against Levante to help his side register a 3-2 win during their La Liga clash on September 14. 

Celta`s captain and talisman Iago Aspas then sealed the win by converting from the penalty spot after another VAR review ruled that Barca`s Samuel Umtiti had handled the ball.

Barca`s captain decided the game and the title in the 61st-minute when he received a header from Arturo Vidal and planted the ball into the far bottom corner.

Alvaro Morata put Atletico ahead on a rain-swept evening in the ninth minute by knocking a cross in from close range on the volley but Valencia equalised in the 36th through former Atletico forward Kevin Gameiro.

Valencia are sixth in the La Liga standings after 32 games on 49 points, two behind fifth-placed Getafe who drew 2-2 at Valladolid.

Real are third in the standings on 48 points, two behind Atletico Madrid who beat Villarreal 2-0 earlier on Sunday and still adrift of Barca, who won 4-2 at Sevilla on Saturday.

With Barca trailing 2-1 from the first leg, coach Ernesto Valverde recalled the club's all-time top scorer Messi as well as Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic while starting without first-choice striker Luis Suarez.

Stuani has spent most of his career as a prolific forward for lesser known clubs, playing for the likes of Spanish sides Levante and Espanyol as well as English club Middlesbrough, where he spent two years before joining Girona in 2017.

Barcelona and Levante will now meet in the second leg of the Copa del Rey last-16 tie at the Nou Camp on January 18. 

Levante were the only team to beat Barca in the league last season, stunning them at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium with a 5-4 win in the penultimate game of the campaign.

Friday`s result leaves the two clubs separated by just a point. Levante are seventh with 17 points and Sociedad sit ninth in La Liga with 16 points.

After their 3-0 win over Levante on Sunday, Atletico have 71 points from 32 games, meaning that they are guaranteed to finish among the top-four in the La Liga.

A disallowed Luis Suarez goal summed up a frustrating afternoon for Barcelona as the leaders of La Liga dropped points for the second week running after a 0-0 stalemate with Getafe.

Former Italy striker Giampaolo Pazzini scored a dramatic late equaliser as Levante held Real Madrid to a 2-2 draw on Saturday, leaving Zinedine Zidane's men 18 points adrift of La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Spanish winger Lucas Vazquez scored the equaliser for defending champions Real Madrid in the 36th minute.