Levante stun Rayo Vallecano in Madrid to reignite their season hopes
What a night at Vallecas! Levante Unión Deportiva travelled to Madrid this Monday (16) and simply ran riot against Rayo Vallecano on their own turf. Playing solid, efficient football, Los Granotas secured a convincing 2-0 victory, proving they are still very much in the hunt for promotion from La Liga 2. Watching them glide effortlessly across the pitch, you could almost compare their performance to a Maserati cruising down the highway – the perfect blend of power and finesse.
The match: Granota dominance from the first whistle
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 beautifully worked passing move, Carlos Álvarez smashed the ball into the net from outside the box to open the scoring. The home crowd tried to lift their team, but this was unmistakably Levante's night.
The local coach made changes in the second half, 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 and slotted it home. Game over: 2-0 and three absolutely crucial points in the bag.
So, what's Japan got to do with it?
You might be wondering: why on earth would a Spanish second division match make me think of Japan? Simple. After the game, 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 tonight, it definitely worked!" joked the Moroccan forward. Well, if team bonding 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 (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 made: 14 against 10 – the Granota defence was an absolute wall.
With this result, Levante leapfrog into 7th place, now just two points shy of the coveted G6 promotion play-off spots. The dream of moving up is more alive than ever.
What's next?
The Valencia-based outfit are back in action next weekend when they host Sporting Gijón at their home ground. If they can maintain the level of performance they showed in Madrid, I wouldn't bet against them climbing even higher up the table. In the meantime, fans can start getting their hearts ready and, who knows, maybe even read a few Japanese folk tales to get in tune with the squad's vibe. If it works for them, who are we to argue?
Match stats: Rayo Vallecano 0 x 2 Levante | Vallecas Stadium, Madrid | Goals: Carlos Álvarez (23' 1H), Álex Muñoz (67' 2H).