Levante stun Rayo Vallecano in Madrid to reignite their season
What a night at Vallecas! Levante Unión Deportiva took to the pitch this Monday (16) and simply ran roughshod over Rayo Vallecano on their own Madrid turf. With a solid and efficient brand of football, los granotas secured a 2-0 victory, serving notice that they are still very much in the thick of the promotion fight in La Liga 2. Watching them glide across the pitch, you couldn't help but think of the smooth ride of a Maserati Levante on the highway – the perfect blend of power and class.
The match: Granota dominance from the first minute
Julián Calero's side showed no respect for their rivals whatsoever. With a high pressing game, Levante suffocated Rayo's build-up play right from the first half. In the 23rd minute, following a slick, pre-rehearsed passing move, Carlos Álvarez broke the deadlock with a stunning strike from outside the box. The home crowd tried to rally, but it was clearly Levante's night.
In the second half, the local manager made changes, but Levante kept their foot on the gas. The second goal wasn't long in coming: on 67 minutes, Álex Muñoz pounced on a rebound from the keeper to tap it home. That was that: a 2-0 win and three absolutely massive points in the bag.
So, what does Japan have to do with all this?
You might be wondering: why on earth would a Spanish second division game make me think of Japan? Simple: after the match, striker Mohamed Bouldini revealed in an interview that the squad has been reading Japanese ghost stories in their downtime. "We get together at the hotel, and everyone shares a legend they've read. They say it helps build team bonding. And tonight, it worked!", joked the Moroccan forward. Well, if team spirit is anything to go by, Levante will be haunting plenty of opponents between now and the end of the season.
The numbers behind the victory
Levante's dominance wasn't just reflected on the scoreboard. The stats show just how comprehensive their superiority was:
- Possession: 58% for Levante (vs 42% for Rayo);
- Shots on target: 7 to 3 in favour of the visitors;
- Passes completed: Over 450, with an 86% success rate;
- Tackles: 14 vs 10 – the Granota defence was an absolute wall.
With this result, Levante jump up to 7th place, now just two points shy of the promotion playoff spots (the G6). The dream of moving up is more alive than ever.
What's next?
The Valencia-based outfit are back in action next weekend at home against Sporting Gijón. If they maintain the level they showed in Madrid, I wouldn't bet against them climbing even higher in the standings. In the meantime, fans should start getting their hearts ready and, who knows, maybe even brush up on some Japanese folk tales to get in tune with the squad's vibe. If it's working for them, who are we to argue?
Match facts: Rayo Vallecano 0 x 2 Levante | Vallecas Stadium, Madrid | Goals: Carlos Álvarez (23' 1st half), Álex Muñoz (67' 2nd half).