Levante’s proverbial gingerbread house was blown down weeks ago (or however that story’s supposed to go), but today at least the Valencian outfit was able to restore moral and keep it’s floundering fairly tale campaign alive, for now at least. After three defeats on the trot, today Nacho Martínez’s side recorded it’s biggest victory of the season so far, by spanking Sporting Gijon 4-0 at home.
Manuel Preciado, who is fondly remembered in the Ciutat de València stadium for securing promotion back to la Primera for Levante in 2004, was given no favourable treatment by his old club today, as his Sporting’s recent impressive run of form came crashing to an end after an uninspired performance.
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| Barkero celebrates after scoring the opening goal |
Levante started the brighter of the two but some wasteful play early on by Javi Barkero gave the impression that it was going to be one of those days for the home side: first in the 10th minute when his touch let him down after a well placed Javi Venta pass picked him out running in behind the Sporting back line, and again, in the 16th, after a deftly cushioned pass from Juanlu left the former Real Sociedad man to wriggle past Botía only to sky his shot well over the bar.
The Basque redeemed himself on 20 minutes when Koné, after bearing down on Canillas on the right, intercepted the left-full and bee lined towards the Sporting goal only to unselfishly square it across to Barkero, who side footed it home. One nil Levante.
The first half played out with Levante the stronger side, but that’s not to say Sporting didn’t have their chances. A David Barral header which, luckily for Ballesteros went wide of the mark, should have seen the visitors level the score in the 34th minute. Miguel Ángel de as Cuevas was also culpable of some poor finishing soon after when a corner from the right fell to him on the back post, but instead of finding the net he blasted the ball into the ground for Munúa to easily gather it up.
The second half had barely started when Levante extended their lead. This time Juanlu, who was a thorn in the visitors’ right side all afternoon, dangerously fired the ball towards goal which Alberto Lora blocked only for the equally dangerous Valdo to slot it in from the back stick.
Gustavo Munua made a vital reflex save moments later from a close range Barral header to prevent a fight back from the come-from-behind specialists (Sporting having already come back to win against Mallorca and Getafe this season). The move culminated in Koné steaming through the middle, with Ivan Hernandez only able to chase the Ivorian’s shadow, before the Levante striker rounded Juan Pablo and put his own name on the score sheet.
The game was over very early into the restart but Levante made absolutely sure of it with half an hour to go. This time a beautifully taken Asier Del Horno free kick, which Juan Pablo got his finger tips to, bounced off the woodwork only to be met by the insatiable Koné who notched his second of the afternoon with a simple tap in.
The comprehensive opening 15 minutes of the second half sunk Sporting and with a four goal cushion Levante’s veterans were able to take their foot off the gas for the last third of the game and see out the tie with a clean sheet, having never really being troubled.
Levante’s real acid test comes next week when they face Barcelona in the Camp Nou. Whether they can get their impossible dream season back on track or get punished by the recently wounded European Champions remains to be seen but today’s result will keep everyone’s favourite underdogs in fighting mood. Meanwhile, Preciado’s men will have to dust themselves off quickly for the impending visit of league leaders, Real Madrid next week.
Full Time: Levante 4 Sporting Gijon 0 (Barkero 20, Valdo 46, Koné 51, 61)
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