What: Spanish La Liga
Who: Levante vs Valencia
When: Saturday 5th November 2011, at 21.00 UK Time
Where: Ciutat de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Has the Levante Bubble Burst?
Levante have arguably been the story of the season so far in Spain. A phenomenal seven game winning run, which included a sensational 1-0 home victory over Real Madrid, saw Juan Ignacio Martinez’ men go ahead of the capital city giants into top spot, at least until their first defeat of the season, away to Osasuna in midweek, saw the side fall down to third position.
Los Granotes now welcome their neighbours from across the city to the Ciutat de Valencia, where for the first time since 1964 they will enter battle with their local rivals above Los Che in the league table.
Levante skipper Sergio Ballesteros struck a realistic tone with this pre-match thoughts with the 36-year-old saying, “We head into a match with a little bit more than just three points at stake; we can’t say we are favourites, especially against sides who are competing in the Champions League. It’s ridiculous.”
Valencia Looking to be Top Dogs Again
Los Che are accustomed to seeing Real Madrid and Barcelona above them in the league standings, but seeing their cross-city rivals sit ahead too is unchartered territory. While their neighbours have been making all the headlines, Valencia have embarked on their own unbeaten run of five matches in La Liga however, with the club’s last defeat coming in September against Sevilla.
Valencia coach Unai Emery, speaking at a press conference alongside his opposite number at Levante, Juan Ignacio Martinez, admitted that his side will probably be viewed as favourites, but he holds much respect for Levante given their recent form.
“Our budget and history makes us the favourites, but the current table and Levante’s good form is the argument against us. We have the utmost respect for Levante. But we aren’t scared of the expectation that comes with being favourites."
For Valencia, slipping into Levante’s shadow would be unthinkable and Roberto Soldado and co. will pull out all the stops to ensure they remain top dogs.
Recent form
Levante:
Villarreal 0-3 Levante (23/10; La Liga)
Levante 3-2 Real Sociedad
(26/10; La Liga)
Osasuna 2-0 Levante
(30/10; La Liga)
Valencia:
Real Zaragoza 0-1 Valencia
(26/10; La Liga)
Valencia 3-1 Getafe (29/10; La Liga)
Valencia 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen (01/11; Champions League)
Key absences
Levante: Juanfran (suspended)
Valencia: Hedwiges Maduro; Sergio Canales; Ever Banega
Players to watch
Levante – Arouna Kone: The Ivorian, on a season-long loan from Sevilla, has already struck three goals for Levante in this campaign, including the winner against Real Madrid. The loan move has given the striker a new lease of life after his career stalled at this parent club and Kone’s only appearance for Sevilla last season came as a 90th minute substitute. His popularity with the Levante faithful will reach new heights if he scores the winner in the derby.
Valencia – Adil Rami: The central defender has made an impressive start to his Valencia career following completion of his transfer from Ligue 1 champions Lille in the summer – Rami has already weighed in with three goals in all competitions. Now an integral part of Laurent Blanc’s French set-up, Rami will be hoping to make a positive impression in his first Valencia derby.
Match Predicition
The old adage that says the form book can be discarded when it comes to local derbies might be true, but with both of these teams in good form and high in confidence, picking a victor is difficult.
Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez will be keen for his side not to lose two matches in a row and in turn lose that early season momentum. Valencia though will want to leapfrog their city rivals into third and put pressure on Barcelona and Real Madrid.
An entertaining but keenly contested derby game will finish 1-1 and Martinez will be the happier of the two coaches.
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