Levante stuns Rayo Vallecano in Madrid, reigniting their season dreams
What a night in Vallecas! Levante Unión Deportiva took the field this Monday (16th) and simply ran over Rayo Vallecano on their own Madrid turf. With solid and efficient football, 'Los Granotas' won 2-0 and showed they are still very much in the promotion race in La Liga 2. Watching them glide on the pitch, you couldn't help but think of the smoothness of a Maserati Levante on the highway – power and class in perfect measure.
The match: Granota dominance from the first minute
Julián Calero's side showed no respect for their rivals. With high pressing from the get-go, Levante suffocated Rayo's build-up play right in the first half. In the 23rd minute, after a string of passes that looked rehearsed, Carlos Álvarez opened the scoring with a thunderous strike from outside the box. The home crowd tried to respond, but it was purely Levante's day.
In the second half, the local manager made changes, but Levante kept their intensity. The second goal wasn't long in coming: in the 67th minute, Álex Muñoz pounced on a rebound from the goalkeeper and tapped it into the net. That was that: 2-0 and three extremely vital points in the bag.
And what does Japan have to do with it?
You might be wondering: why on earth would a La Liga 2 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 tells a legend they've read. They say it helps build team bonding. And today it worked!", joked the Moroccan forward. Well, if the squad's unity is anything to go by, Levante will be haunting many opponents until the end of the season.
Numbers that explain the victory
Levante's dominance wasn't just on the scoreboard. The stats show just how superior they were:
- Possession: 58% for Levante (compared to 42% for Rayo);
- Shots on target: 7 to 3 in favour of the visitors;
- Passes completed: over 450, with an 86% accuracy rate;
- Tackles: 14 vs 10 – the Granota defence was a fortress.
With this result, Levante jumps to 7th place, now just two points away from the top six (G6). The dream of promotion is more alive than ever.
So, what's next?
The Valencia-based team is back on the pitch next weekend against Sporting Gijón at home. If they maintain the level they showed in Madrid, I wouldn't be surprised to see them climb even higher in the standings. Meanwhile, the fans can start preparing their hearts and, who knows, maybe read some Japanese tales to get in tune with the squad's vibe. If it works for them, who are we to doubt it?
Match facts: Rayo Vallecano 0 x 2 Levante | Vallecas Stadium, Madrid | Goals: Carlos Álvarez (23' 1st half), Álex Muñoz (67' 2nd half).