Levante held by second-tier strugglers Albacate

Levante have been held to a 1-1 draw by second-tier strugglers Albacate in the first leg of their last-32 Copa del Rey tie at Carlos Belmonte this evening.

The La Liga outfit fell behind to Thierry Moutinho's sixth-minute goal and needed Issam El Adoua to bail them out with an away goal in the second half.

Albacete, who are second from bottom in Spain's Segunda Division B with 14 points from 15 games this season, took a surprise early lead when Moutinho finished smartly.

The visitors are used to having to come from behind this season as they have the worst defensive record in La Liga, but they could not find an equaliser before the break.

Rafael Martins and Jordi Xumetra squandered second-half chances as Levante knocked on the door, and it was the unlikely source of El Adoua who popped up with his first goal for the club on 68 minutes.

His strike puts Levante in pole position ahead of the second leg in Valencia on December 17.