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Tag Levante

  • Feb, Sun, 2020
Sport

Morales’ spectacular strike downs Real Madrid as Hazard limps off injured

Goal
Valencia (Spain), Feb. 22, 2020 (Reuters/NAN) Real Madrid fell to a 1-0 defeat away to Levante on Saturday, dropping off the top of the La Liga standings.

Their problems had earlier deepened as Eden Hazard limped off the pitch four days before their UEFA Champions League showdown with Manchester City.

Levante forward Jose Luis Morales won the game with an unstoppable strike in the 79th minute.

His shot flummoxed Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois as he blasted a first-time shot inside the near post from a tight angle.

Real Madrid’s first defeat in the league since October saw them fall to second place on 53 points after 25 games, while Levante climbed up to 10th.

Champions FC Barcelona replaced Zinedine Zidane’s side at the top of the table on 55 points after hammering Eibar 5-0 earlier on.

They have gained five points on their arch rivals in the space of seven days, ahead of next Sunday’s ‘Clasico’ at the Santiago Bernabeu.

“A week ago we were three points clear and now we’re two points behind, that shows you cannot afford to switch off,” said Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal.

“We wasted a lot of chances. We began well but got worse as the game went on and we have lost three points.”

Real Madrid were looking to respond after last week’s surprise 2-2 draw at home to struggling Celta Vigo.

But they struggled to cope with a Levante side who seem to relish playing the biggest sides at home and beat Barca 3-1 earlier this season at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium.

The visitors’ best chance fell to Hazard, who scuffed the ball when he had a clear sight of goal early in the second half.

A few minutes later he left the pitch looking in pain, in only his second game back from an ankle injury that ruled out him of action for almost three months.

The only goal of the match arrived when it was least expected.

That was when the ball bounced into the path of Morales, who is nicknamed ‘El Comandante’ and is something of a cult hero at the Valencia club.

He had not scored in the league since August but struck the ball perfectly, leaving a dumbstruck Courtois with no chance.

“I struck the ball with all my soul,” said Morales.

“I knew that I was running out of gas but I struck it really well. The ball gathered pace and I’m so happy for the goal and what it means, which is three points.”(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Messi seals another La Liga title for FC Barcelona

Title
Barcelona (Spain), April 28, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Lionel Messi fittingly sealed FC Barcelona’s 26th La Liga title on Saturday by coming off the bench to score the goal in a 1-0 win over Levante.

A jubilant Nou Camp crowd responded by celebrating a remarkable eighth league crown in 11 years.

Barca’s captain decided the game and the title in the 61st minute as he received a header from Arturo Vidal, effortlessly freeing himself from two defenders with his right foot.

He then used his left foot to plant the ball into the far bottom corner.

Cries of “champions” rang out from the 91,000 supporters crammed into the Nou Camp but Barca’s players dropped their concentration and Jose Luis Morales should have levelled for the visitors.

But he blasted over the bar.

Levante also hit the post in the final stages as Barca were left clinging on to their narrow advantage deep into stoppage-time.

But relief came when they cleared a corner kick and the final whistle sounded.

Barca lead the standings on 83 points after 35 games, an unassailable nine clear of second-placed Atletico Madrid with three matches left.

That was because they have a superior head-to-head record with Atletico Madrid this season.

Ernesto Valverde’s side have now taken the first step in their bid to win a third treble in a decade.

They face Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League semi-finals and will play Valencia in the Copa del Rey final on May 25.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Bale penalty kick gives below-par Real Madrid win at Levante

La Liga
Valencia (Spain), Feb. 24, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Real Madrid’s Gareth Bale came off the bench and coolly converted a penalty kick to secure a 2-1 win at Levante in La Liga on Sunday.

It was a match in which the European champions rode their luck to stay within nine points of leaders FC Barcelona.

Real came under heavy pressure early on, but Karim Benzema gave them the lead towards the end of the first half from the spot.

Thereafter, a penalty kick was awarded for handball following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review.

Levante, who pulled off a shock 2-1 win over Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu earlier this season, deservedly drew level on the hour mark.

It was through a sliding finish from Roger Marti, who had struck the woodwork twice before the interval.

Real Madrid struggled to impose themselves on the game but were awarded another hotly-contested penalty kick following a VAR review.

That was when Casemiro went down in the box following light contact.

Wales forward Bale, who had only replaced Benzema minutes earlier, deceived Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez with an ice-cool finish from the spot.

But he barely celebrated the goal, brushing away team mates who tried to congratulate him.

Real Madrid had defender Nacho Fernandez sent off for a second booking late in the game.

The Spaniard’s first yellow card meant he was already ruled out of next Saturday’s “Clasico’’ at home to FC Barcelona in the league.

Real Madrid are third in the standings on 48 points, two behind Atletico Madrid who beat Villarreal 2-0 earlier on Sunday and still adrift of Barca.(Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Dembele, Messi see off Levante but Barca Copa hopes in doubt

Cup
Barcelona (Spain), Jan. 18, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) FC Barcelona’s Ousmane Dembele and Lionel Messi were on target as the Copa del Rey holders thrashed Levante 3-0 for a 4-2 aggregate win to reach the quarter-finals.

However, Barca’s status in a competition they have won for the last four years is unclear.

This was after Levante said before the game that they would file a complaint to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Friday about the Catalan club.

Levante claim that FC Barcelona’s teenage defender Chumi Brandariz, who played in the first leg, was ineligible to take part in the match because he was suspended.

If the RFEF ruled against the Catalan club, the 30-times Copa del Rey winners would be thrown out, with Levante given a bye and taking their place in the last eight.

With Barca trailing 2-1 from the first leg, coach Ernesto Valverde made five changes at the Nou Camp on Thursday.

He recalled the club’s all-time top scorer Messi as well as Jordi Alba and Ivan Rakitic to the team, while starting without first-choice striker Luis Suarez.

FC Barcelona made a flying start and, after numerous forays into the visitors’ area, took the lead on the half hour when Dembele latched onto a Messi through ball.

He chipped the ball into the net with the help of a deflection off a defender.

The France forward struck again less than a minute later, receiving another Messi pass and rounding goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez to double Barca’s advantage.

Philippe Coutinho looked to have struck early in the second half but his effort was ruled out for offside following a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR).

Messi wrapped up the win in the 54th minute.

But the Catalans will not know their fate in the competition until the federation rules on Levante’s planned complaint over Chumi. (Reuters/NAN)
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)

Sport

Griezmann strikes for fifth game in a row to give Atletico narrow win over Levante

La Liga

Madrid, Jan. 13, 2019 (Reuters/NAN) Antoine Griezmann proved to be Atletico Madrid’s decisive figure yet again as the Frenchman struck the only goal in a 1-0 win at home to Levante on Sunday.

The victory kept Diego Simeone’s side in touch with La Liga leaders Barcelona.

Griezmann smashed home from the penalty spot in the 57th minute to score for the fifth consecutive game in all competitions after Levante midfielder Nikola Vukcevic was penalised for handball in the area.

Levante, who were perhaps feeling the effects of beating Barcelona 2-1 on Thursday the Copa del Rey, produced a scrappy display.

But they had one chance to level when Jose Luis Morales was played in. However, the forward’s shot bounced off the chest of Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak.

Atletico dominated the first half without creating too many chances and thought they had taken the lead when Koke netted in the 10th minute.

However, the goal was disallowed for a foul by midfielder Rodri after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

Simeone was forced to field usual right back Juanfran on the left of defence due to personnel shortages.

Unfortunately, the Argentine coach suffered yet another injury setback in defence when centre back Stefan Savic had to be substituted early in the game.

The win took second-placed Atletico on to 38 points after 19 games, two points behind pace setters Barcelona who host Eibar later on Sunday.

Despite the narrow scoreline, Simeone said he thought his side had played well and explained why he rushed on to the pitch to embrace his players when the fulltime whistle came.

“It was one of our best displays this season, along with (the 2-0 win over) Borussia Dortmund. We always were looking to take the game to our opponents and kept pressing high.

“We had to overcome the ruled out goal and Savic’s injury and we reset ourselves, against a very good team,” Simeone said.

“When players give their lives on the pitch like they did today it makes me emotional.

“Today was a day to give everyone a hug because they all made a huge effort.” (Reuters/NAN)
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Edited by Felix Ajide