Levante travelled to Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday knowing that three points would move them into fourth spot in the La Liga table.
After a tight opening, the away side took the lead five minutes before the break courtesy of a tidy finish from former Newcastle United striker Obafemi Martins.
Deportivo missed the chance to level when Riki fired over from the penalty spot early in the second period, while Levante were reduced to 10 men in the same incident.
Deportivo also had a player dismissed in the second half, however, when their goalkeeper Dani Aranzubia felled Martins outside the box.
Despite constant pressure from the home side, it was Levante that wrapped up the points with a late strike from Jose Barkero.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Morning all! La Liga action is with us once more as struggling Deportivo take on an ever-impressive Levante outfit. A win for the home side would move them out of the relegation zone, while a win for Levante could move them into fourth.
Both sides have managed just one win from their last five matches in all competitions, but Deportivo have shaded the recent head-to-head record between the two sides, winning three of the last five meetings.
The last time the pair faced each other was in the Copa del Rey last season. Deportivo won the home clash 3-1, before losing 4-1 at Levante. Meanwhile, Levante won the last league clash between the pair in March 2011.
We are still awaiting team news for the clash. As soon as it becomes available we will bring you up to date. Deportivo started the season in confident fashion with a 2-0 win over Osasuna, while they drew their next three in the league to start the season with a four-match unbeaten run. However, problems have followed since then.
They lost their next four in the league before picking up back-to-back draws and they picked up their second league win of the season at home to Mallorca at the beginning of November. Meanwhile, they lost 5-3 away to Real Zaragoza last time out.
Teams:
Deportivo: Aranzubia; Marchena, Ze Castro, Ayoze, Laure; Valeron, Camunas, Bergantinos, Dominguez; Riki, Gama
Levante: Munua; Juanfran, Navarro, Lopez, Ballesteros; Juanlu, Iborra, Barkero, Michel; Martins, El Zhar
Levante began the league season with a 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Madrid, but they lost their second match to Real Valladolid. It has been a mixed bag since then, they managed a four-match winning run in October, but they have now gone two wins without a league win.
They lost to Real Madrid at home last time out, but they will have been buoyed by their performance. This match is a hard one to predict due to the inconsistency of both sides, but I am backing an away win.
We have already seen that Deportivo can score goals this season, that has not been their problem. But they are so vulnerable in defence, especially to counter attacks and that is a major part of the way Levante play football.
Here we go then. Both sets of players emerge from the tunnel and join us on the pitch on this mild morning in Spain. Let's hope for a match full of goals.
Handshakes? Check. Flags exchanged? Check. It isn't a full house at the Riazor. However, both sets of players seem pumped up for the occasion.
Levante get the action underway as Nabil el Zhar finds Michel from kickoff. You just get the feeling that the first goal could be all-important in this match.
Explosive start from the home side as Riki drives into the Levante half, but Ballesteros is on hand to make the challenge. Meanwhile, another high ball is collected by Gustavo Munua.
Deportivo continue to force the issue in the early stages with Valeron and Bruno Gama combining down the left, but the danger is cleared at the vital moment. It really has been an all-action start.
Levante's hopes this afternoon will surely rest on the performances of former Premier League duo Obafemi Martins and Nabil del Zhar. However, we have not seen much from the away side as an attacking threat thus far.
Levante's first effort of the match is hit by Michel, but his long-range strike is wide of the post. Meanwhile, early change for Deportivo as Marchena is replaced by Aythami. The defender appeared to have picked up an injury.
It's smart work from Riki in a wide position as he beats Navarro before being chopped down by the defender to win a free kick. However, Munua punches the danger clear. It's been a lively opening 11 minutes of football at the Riazor.
Another half-chance for the away side as Juanlu strikes an effort from outside the box, but it was never troubling Dani Aranzubia. Meanwhile, Riki comes close with a strike down the other end.
Deportivo are not having much luck with injuries inside the opening 15 minutes. They are forced into another change as Ze Castro is replaced by Abel Aguilar. Not the start the manager would have wanted.
CHANCE! The best opportunity of the match falls to the home side as Valeron whips a dangerous cross into the box, but Munua just beats Riki to the ball. That's really bright goalkeeping from the Levante stopper.
Half-chance to Levante this time as Martins pounces on a loose ball inside the box, but the former Newcastle United striker just cannot get his shot away. The opportunities are coming for both sides after a tight opening.
Levante are suddenly starting to enjoy the better of it with Iborra and Michel enjoying possession in midfield. Meanwhile, Martins has been a real live-wire in the past few moments.
Both sides continue to exchange spells of possession as we surpass the mid-way point in the opening period. Deportivo are perhaps shading the football, but Levante look the more potent side.
Another half-chance for Levante as Michel slips low ball towards Martins, but Aranzubia is quick off his line to clear the danger. Meanwhile, ragged defending from the home side eventually clears the danger.
You just get the feeling that Deportivo had to score during their bright spell in the early stages. Levante are well in control of this one now as they flood forward in numbers.
Another half-chance comes to the away side as Navarro meets an El Zhar cross in the box, but his header is wide of the target. Deportivo just need to settle in the next five minutes or so.
A couple of thumping challenges have just interrupted the flow of the match and Marchena has quite remarkably been booked, despite being on the subs bench. It is threatening to boil over here.
Again it's really bright work from Martins as he hassles Ayoze and Laure before forcing a corner. However, the danger is cleared by Bergantinos.
Decent spell from the home side as we approach the break. Riki forces a corner on the right, but Valeron's cross is punched clear by Munua. It really is end-to-end stuff at the moment as the challenges continue to fly in.
Oh it's so poor from Juanlu. Martins shows a wonderful piece of skill as he beats Dominguez before releasing the midfielder, but his shot/cross is high and wide. Martins has been the bright spark in this half.
Half-chance for Riki five minutes before the interval as he collects a Valeron pass, but he is crowded out by Munua and the danger is cleared. It has been a really interesting half between these two sides.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-1 Levante (Martins)
Levante take the lead and it just had to be Martins as the striker pounced on a loose pass before rounding the goalkeeper and slotting home. Really smart finishing from the striker.
Martins has been the bright spark in this opening period. The Nigerian is such a threat with his pace and direct running and demonstrated his cool head with that finish. How do the home side respond?
The home side's frustration continues as Riki is penalised for challenges twice in quick succession. It appears that Levante will enter the break in the lead.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional two minutes at the end of the half. Levante have possession of the ball.
Deportivo 0-1 Levante
So there we have it. A bright first half is brought to an end with Levante leading at the interval courtesy of a fine finish from Obafemi Martins.
It was the home side that started the match the stronger, but they suffered two injuries in the early stages and it certainly upset their tempo. Since then, Levante have been the better side and deserve to lead at the break.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening half of football. Deportivo have dominated the possession with 66%, but they have managed just two shots to Levante's four.
That said the only shot on target from either side has brought the only goal of the match. It has not been a game full of clear chances, but it is an interesting tactical battle. Stay with us for the second period which will get underway shortly.
Here we go then. Deportivo get us underway in the second period. As it stands they will remain in the bottom three. Meanwhile, Levante would move into fourth.
Not the best of starts for Deportivo as Valeron plays possession straight out of play on their first attack of the half. That hands the ball back to Levante and they have kept it well thus far.
Martins remains the threat for Levante as he collects possession before finding Michel, but Navarro just makes the challenge. Meanwhile, the scrappy challenges have also returned.
Both sides continue to provide their own threat as Riki comes close with an effort for the home side before El Zhar forces a corner for Levante. However, both efforts are cleared to safety.
PENALTY TO DEPORTIVO: Pedro Lopez is handed his second yellow card for handling in the area and the defender is sent from the field.
OH MY WORD! Riki fires his effort over the crossbar. That was not even close! They have missed the chance to level, but Levante are now down to 10 men.
Change for Levante as Michel is replaced by Chris Lell. It will be backs against the wall for the away side in the remaining 30 minutes or so of action.
Half-chance for the home side to level as Valeron advances on goal, but his effort is saved by Munua. Meanwhile, Navarro heads the resulting corner clear of the danger zone.
The chances continue to fall for the home side as Bruno Gama whips a dangerous cross into the box, but Riki just cannot make contact. It is all one-way traffic at the moment.
Final change of the match for the home side as Dominguez is replaced by Bodipo. They are dominating possession but Levante remain a threat on the break.
Riki is intent on making up for his penalty miss as he strikes a long-range effort once more, but Munua is comfortable in dealing with the danger. This will be a long 25 minutes for Levante.
The frustration continues to grow for the home side as they give away foul after foul. Meanwhile, the home supporters are making their displeasure known.
CHANCE! Glorious opportunity for Deportivo to level as Valeron whips a low cross into the box, but Navarro clears the danger.
RED CARD: Deportivo are reduced to 10 men as their goalkeeper Aranzubia is dismissed for fouling Martins outwide the box. They have made all their subs!
Incredible, just incredible. The goalkeeper leaves the field and it looks like Javi Camunas will take his place between the sticks. Both sides are now down to 10 men.
You will not want to leave this one believe me. We have 20 minutes remaining and it is 10 versus 10. Meanwhile, the home side now have a midfielder in goal.
Good grief there is a lot happening. It is all Deportivo as they fire shot after shot at Munua, but the Levante goalkeeper is having the game of his life at the moment.
Deportivo want another penalty as two players clash in the penalty area, but the referee blows for a free kick and another melee happens. Wonderful excitement.
You just get the feeling that there is another goal in this match. I wouldn't rule out Levante on the counter attack. Meanwhile, the away side make their second change as El Zhar is replaced by Miguel Pallardo.
Deportivo continue to flood forward in numbers, but Levante clear the danger with some desperate defending as Valeron fires over from distance. No one wants this match to end!
So close for the home side as Valeron searches out Gama with a ranging cross, but it just would not fall for the midfielder and it drifts out for a goal kick. The pressure is relentless.
Final change of the afternoon for Levante as Martins is replaced by Angel. This is just about surviving for the away side.
GOAL! Deportivo 0-2 Levante (Barkero)
What was I saying? Just about surviving? Barkero is not interested in that as he fires his effort into the bottom corner. This match is over.
This has been the perfect away performance from Levante. They have soaked up the pressure and hit on the counter. Meanwhile, Munua continues to make a host of fine saves.
Little under four minutes of normal time remaining and the second goal has just taken it out of the home side. You do wander what this result will do for their season.
CHANCE! It should really have been three for Levante as Angel collected possession in the box, but Ayoze made a fine challenge to deny the striker.
The fourth official indicates that we will play an additional four minutes. Can we make that 40? It has been such an enthralling La Liga clash.
It just will not go in for Deportivo despite attack after attack on the Levante goal. They have dominated possession, but clinical finishing has deserted them.
Deportivo 0-2 Levante
So there we have it. A perfect away performance from Levante hands them the points in a pulsating encounter with Deportivo. That is just about it from me now. But be sure to join us again from 2.30pm for Celta Vigo versus Real Mallorca. Until then!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
