| First Division - Day 37 | |
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Levante 0 - Valencia 0 Levante: Mora;
Descarga, Alexis, Jesule, Pinillos; Camacho, Rivera; Ettien (Juanma 80'),
Jofre, Nacho (Sergio García 61'); Congo (Reggi 71'). 4-2-3-1.
Team changes: Levante: Nacho for Celestini / Valencia: Aimar for Fabio Aurelio. Goals: None. Levante and Valencia drew 0-0 in their city derby, a result which neither of them wanted. Antonio López's side stay in seventh spot, three below Espanyol and outside of the European positions, and the hosts drop down into the relegation zone, below Mallorca who won at Deportivo La Coruña. The home side had the better chances early on, Palop (who was let off a one match ban to play) saving from Congo and Ettien having a penalty appeal turned down by Puentes Leira when brought down by Carboni. The closest anyone came to scoring though was an incredible "rabona" from Aimar later in the first half which bounced back off the post along the goal-line, Rufete arriving just too late to get a head to the ball. Levante continued to dominate though, Palop saving well from Congo and from an Alexis header. Sergio García came on after the restart and almost immediately shot just wide, and another substitute Reggi had a second penalty appeal waved away after he fell under a challenge from Ruz. Di Vaio got away at the other end but was closed down by Alexis, and Palop was in action again to keep out Juanma and then to turn Jofre's shot around the post. But Vicente could have won it in the dying minutes when he broke away only to be pulled up by Puentes Leira for what he thought was a hand ball. In the end though disappointment all round, Levante now a step closer to relegation and Valencia possibly out of Europe. They could have a chance though even if they don't catch Espanyol, but only if Betis win the Spanish cup and finish fifth or sixth in the league, thereby freeing up a third UEFA cup spot. Otherwise the Intertoto cup looms. |
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