Levante stun Rayo Vallecano in Madrid to reignite their season
What a night in Vallecas! Levante Unión Deportiva travelled to the Spanish capital on Monday (16th) and put on a dominant display, steamrolling Rayo Vallecano on their own turf. With a solid and efficient performance, 'Los Granotas' secured a 2-0 victory and served notice that they are firmly in the promotion mix in La Liga 2. Watching them glide effortlessly across the pitch, you might have been reminded of the smooth power and class of a Maserati Levante – it was that kind of performance.
The game: Granota dominance from the first minute
Julián Calero's side showed no respect for their hosts. With a high pressing game, Levante suffocated Rayo's build-up play right from the first half. On 23 minutes, following a beautifully worked passing move, Carlos Álvarez smashed them into the lead with a stunning strike from outside the box. The home crowd tried to rally their team, but it was clearly Levante's night.
The local manager made changes in the second half, but Levante kept up the intensity. The second goal wasn't long in coming: on 67 minutes, Álex Muñoz pounced on a rebound from the keeper to slot it home. Game over: a 2-0 win and three massive points in the bag.
And what's Japan got to do with it?
You might be wondering: what on earth does a Spanish second-division game have to do with Japan? Simple enough: 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 spirit. And it certainly worked today!", joked the Moroccan forward. Well, if the squad's unity 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 paint a clear picture of their superiority:
- 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% accuracy rate;
- Tackles made: 14 to 10 – the Granota defence was an absolute wall.
With this result, Levante jump to 7th place, now just two points off the play-off places. The dream of promotion is very much alive.
So, what's next?
The Valencia-based side 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 meantime, fans can start getting their hearts ready and, who knows, maybe even delve into some Japanese folk tales to get in tune with the squad. If it's working for them, fair play – who are we to argue?
Match stats: Rayo Vallecano 0 x 2 Levante | Estadio de Vallecas, Madrid | Goals: Carlos Álvarez (23'), Álex Muñoz (67').