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Levante logo
La Liga
Apr 7, 2015 at 9pm UK
 
Sevilla logo

1-2

Uche (73')
FT(HT: 0-2)
Gameiro (10'), Antonio Reyes (37')

Live Commentary: Levante 1-2 Sevilla - as it happened

Follow Sports Mole's live coverage of the La Liga match between Levante and Sevilla.
2

Two first-half goals have given Sevilla a 2-1 win over Levante in La Liga this evening.

Jose Antonio Reyes and Kevin Gameiro both found the back of the net before half time, before Kalu Uche gave the hosts hope after the break.

The result leaves Sevilla level on points with fourth-placed Valencia, while Levante are just three points clear of the relegation zone.

Read how all the action unfolded below.


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Good evening! Two sides at opposite ends of the table go head to head at Estadi Ciudad de Valencia this evening as Levante will be looking to increase the gap between themselves and the relegation zone as they host Champions League place chasing Sevilla. Let's take a look at the teams...

LEVANTE STARTING XI: Marino, Tono, Vyntra, Morales, Juanfran, El Zhar, Garcia, Sissoko, Simao, Uche, Barral

SEVILLA STARTING XI: Rico, Tremoulinas, Figueiras, Kolodzieczak, Pareja, Krychowiak, Carrico, Reyes, Iborra, Vitolo, Gameiro

LEVANTE SUBSTITUTES: Fernandez, Lopez, Ramis, Casadesus, Ivanschitz, Mari, Martins

SEVILLA SUBSTITUTES: Soria, Navarro, Andujar, Suarez, Bacca, Deulofeu, Vidal

Despite thrashing Almeria 4-1 at the weekend, the home side have made four changes to their starting lineup, with Ruben Garcia, Mohammed Sissoko and Kalu Uche all coming in after featuring off the bench at the weekend, while Nabil El Zhar also gets the nod. David Barral, who had a hat-trick at the weekend, will look to continue his goal-scoring streak as he partners Uche up front.

It's four changes for the visitors too following their 2-0 victory against Athletic Bilbao at the weekend. Surprisingly, both goal-scorers are dropped from that match, with Aleix Vidal and Carlos Bacca both starting on the bench. Diogo Figueras, Timothee Kolodzieczak, Kevin Gameiro and Jose Antonio Reyes all come in.

Ahead of this match, Sevilla coach Unai Emery told Spanish paper Marca: "Our dream is to play in the Champions League. Our aim is to play in Europe. There are no easy games and although we are playing well, we must remain humble. We have to focus on our next game, which is Levante, and then on Barcelona. After that we will face Zenit St Petersburg, quarter-finals of the Europa League."

Heading into this match, Sevilla are just three points behind Valencia, who occupy the final Champions League spot at the moment. A win would leave them level on points with the fourth-placed side, but Valencia will have a game in hand, and currently have a much better goal difference.

Levante coach Lucas Alcaraz said at his pre-match press conference: "Everything went well for us at Almeria. We took advantage of that and made the most of our chances. This performance has given us a big boost in confidence."

The Valencia-based side are by no means safe at this stage of the season, with just three points separating them in 15th and 18th placed Almeria, who are in the relegation zone. A win tonight could move them up to 14th, and keep the pressure on the sides below them.

Sevilla's form has been impressive in recent weeks, with the side winning their last four matches, and they're unbeaten in five. Levante have had their struggles, but they returned from the international break to claim their first win in three outings.

This isn't the only La Liga match in action this evening. If you want to follow coverage of Malaga's match against Eibar, you can do so here.

PREDICTION! The players are making their way out ready for kickoff, so there just time for a quick prediction. Sevilla are obviously the favourites, but it's not as strong a side as they had out at the weekend. Levante should be able to make it difficult for the visitors, but I'm going for a 2-1 win to Sevilla.

KICKOFF! The visitors get the match underway.

It's a good start for the hosts as they force a corner inside the first minute, but it's easily cleared by the Sevilla defenders. A long ball forward soon sets up Gameiro down the other end, but his first touch is poor and the ball ends up going behind. It looks like it could be a pretty open match is the first few minutes are anything to go by!

Morales makes a quick run down the right to set up El Zhar with a cross for Levante. The midfielder flicks it on for Barral, but the in-form striker can't quite stretch enough to get to it in time.

After a fairly frantic opening couple of minutes, the tempo has calmed down a little, and Sevilla are starting to dictate the pace of the match. They're patiently trying to play it out from the back, but they can't find a way through at the minute.

GOAL! Levante 0-1 Sevilla (Kevin Gameiro)

Well, Sevilla were moving the ball around patiently, but Reyes suddenly changes it up with a quick pass forward to Kevin Gameiro on the edge of the box. The striker takes a touch to control the ball past Tono before lashing it into the bottom corner.

CHANCE! Jose Morales tries to create something down the other end to get Levante back on level terms straight away, but the midfielder's curling effort from the edge of the box fails to test Sergio Rico in the Sevilla goal.

Despite conceding an early goal, Levante certainly haven't let their heads drop as they continue to look to get forward when they get a chance early on. Sevilla are too strong at the back though, allowing Tremoulinas to intercept and bring the ball out from the back to try to set up Reyes, but Tono heads it clear.

Tremoulinas is on the attack again trying to connect with Reyes once more, but it's a poor pass, allowing Garcia to charge down the other end. Barral can't get on the end of a ball into the box, but it falls to Mohamed Sissoko on the edge of the area. He rushes his finish though, slicing it high into the crowd.

BOOKING! Benoit Tremoulinas has made a lively start to the match, but a slightly over-enthusiastic challenge on Nabil El Zhar catches the eye of the referee, earning him the first yellow card of the night.

CHANCE! Ruben Garcia sends in a swerving free kick from the resulting set piece, but Daniel Carrico beats everyone to it and heads it behind for a corner, which is soon dealt with by the visitors.

There could be an early change coming up as Jose Morales clashes with Carrico in midfield, leaving the Levante defender clutching his foot in pain. He manages to limp back on, but the hosts have a substitute warming up.

BOOKING! It's another early yellow for the visitors as Daniel Carrico wildly slides into the feet of Barral as the striker tries to get a cross into the box. It also gives Levante a free kick in a dangerous position, but Rico is off his line to punch it away.

Aside from Gameiro's goes, there hasn't been a lot to separate these two sides so far. Both have seen similar amounts of time on the ball, with Sevilla looking the more patient and organised, while Levante have shown more pace, but some pretty erratic finishing.

Levante get forward again as they continue to look for an equaliser, but Reyes's long ball forward is overhit, leaving Rico with an easy catch at the back.

CHANCE! Nabil El Zhar unleashes a rocket from the edge of the box as Barral heads it back to the midfielder, and he hits is sweetly on the half-volley, but Rico manages to catch it while diving to his left. It's an excellent save from the keeper.

There's a worrying moment for the hosts as Barral is left floored by a tackle from Pareja. The Levante players surround the referee, urging him to take action against the Sevilla defender, but the official just awards a free kick, and Barral is soon back on his feet. The striker has previously used Twitter to show the marks left by tackles that have gone unpunished, but it didn't look like there was much in that one at all.

Tono and Ruben Garcia combine down the left to try to catch the visitors out with a quick surge into the box, but Sevilla manage to turn it behind for a corner.

The visitors haven't posed much of a threat in the Levante box since opening the scoring, but Gameiro is involved as Sevilla come again, this time providing the ball for Vitolo, but the winger can't get a shot away, although they do manage to force a corner.

CHANCE! Gameiro almost gets his second from the corner, but he can't quite get the touch to guide it past the keeper.

GOAL! Levante 0-2 Sevilla (Jose Antonio Reyes)

The visitors have doubled their lead, and it was the scorer of the first that set it up as Gameiro benefitted from a poor goal kick by Marino, quickly charging back towards the Levante goal before squaring it to Reyes, who hit it first time to add the second of the night for Sevilla. It was a quick and clinical move, punishing Levante for not making the most of their opportunities down the other end.

Sevilla sense the chance for a third as they quickly make their way back towards the Levante goal. Marino comes off his line to try to halt Vitolo's run, but he doesn't keep hold of it. The keeper does recover though, and dives on top of it to stop Vitolo getting a second chance.

OFF THE BAR! The visitors win a free kick 25 yards out, which Vicence Iborra smashes towards the goal, but Marino just gets his fingertips to it, diverting it onto the crossbar and to safety. Also, Juanfran was booked for giving away to free kick for fouling Iborra.

BOOKING! It's another booking as Simao clashes with Diogo Figueiras, earning the latter a yellow card.

BOOKING! It's all getting rather scrappy in the final few minutes of the first half as Timothee Kolozieczak is the fifth player to be booked for a lunging tackle on Garcia as Levante try to create something before the interval.

Sevilla force a corner as the first half heads into a minute of stoppage time, but Marino is quickly off his line to make a decisive catch that should end the first half.

HALF TIME: Levante 0-2 Sevilla

So goals from Kevin Gameiro and Jose Antonio Reyes give Sevilla a 2-0 lead over Levante at half time. With fourth-placed Valencia currently holding a 10-better goal difference, the visitors will be hoping that they can increase their lead further after the break to boost their Champions League hopes.

In the opening 45 minutes, Levante actually had more possession than their opponents with 60%. However, Sevilla has more shots with eight, four of which were on target, while Levante had just six, with only one forcing a save from Sergio Rico.

One thing that Sevilla will need to be careful of in the second half is their discipline. They already have four players on a booking, and won't want anyone suspended for their clash with leaders Barcelona at the weekend. It wouldn't be a surprise to see some of those that have already picked up a yellow making way shortly after the restart.

The players are starting to make their way back out ready for the second half.

SUB! The hosts are making a change, with Barral making way for Rafael Martins.

RESTART! Levante get the action back underway.

Martins tries to have an immediately impact, attempting to chase down an underweighted back pass from Pareja, but Rico beats him to it.

Levante are chasing everything in the first few minutes of this match as they try to give themselves hope of rescuring a point, but Sevilla continue their patient and methodical approach to the match to make sure they protect their lead.

Levante break quickly from midfield with El Zhar whipping a cross in towards Martins. The substitute can't get his head to it, but Garcia gets a shot away, and it's turned behind for a corner.

Twice the visitors are forced to turn the ball behind again, before Tono gets a shot away from the edge of the box, but his finish is scuffed, allowing Sevilla to survive the danger.

CHANCE! How aren't Levante back in this?! Uche chips the ball beyond Rico, who had rushed off his line to try to block the striker's run. El Zhar is there to meet it, but he comes under pressure from Pareja, and he can only slice over in front of an open goal.

SUB! Fernando Navarro comes on for the visitors, replacing Benoit Tremoulinas.

CHANCE! Levante are in complete control at the moment, and it's El Zhar who continues to lead the charge, collecting the ball from Garcia before unleashing a looping finish, but he can't squeeze it into the top corner.

PENALTY APPEAL! Ruben Garcia forces his way into the box, but his path is blocked by Gameiro, with his challenge bringing the striker down, but the referee isn't interested in the home side's appeals.

SUB! It's another change for the visitors as the scorer of the second goal, Jose Antonio Reyes, makes way for Aleix Vidal.

Sevilla haven't created much since the restart, but they've been seeing a lot more of the ball in the last couple of minutes. Carrico and Iborra try to find a way through the middle, but Vitolo and Gameiro can't get free to create a chance for the visitors to extend their lead.

SUB! Levante make their second change of the match, with Jose Mari coming on for Simao.

CHANCE! Jose Mari almost gets a goal back for Levante with almost his first touch of the evening, taking a touch just outside the box before unleashing a swerving shot towards the bottom corner, but Rico got across in time to tip it around the post.

Gameiro gets forward on the counter-attack for Sevilla, and he cuts it back for Carrico. The midfielder is too selfless though, crossing it back in for the striker and allowing Levante to clear. Had he taken it on himself, that could have been a tricky shot for Marino to deal with.

CHANCE! Rico is almost left red-faced as he gathers a high ball into the box, but then drops it straight into the path of El Zhar. The midfielder hits it first time, but it's straight at the keeper.

GOAL! Levante 1-2 Sevilla (Kalu Uche)

Levante's second-half pressure finally pays off as Garcia curls the ball in high towards Uche, who scuffs his attempted volley from just a few yards out, but the mis-cue catches out Rico, and it bobbles in off the inside of the post. It's not a classic, but it gets the home side back into the match.

The hosts can sense an opportunity now as Garcia tries to find Uche again. His heads is cleared before Tono tries to get it back in, but Sevilla just about hold on. The crowd have come alive too, and are getting right behind Levante as they push for an equaliser.

CHANCE! The hosts make another quick attack, with Tono picking up a pass from El Zhar, but the defender's cross it turned behind by Pareja, while Sevilla quickly make the clearance from the resulting set piece. The visitors really are clinging onto their lead now.

SUB! It's a final roll of the dice for Sevilla as they try to keep their advantage, replacing Kevin Gameiro with Carlos Bacca.

CHANCE! Vicente Iborra has been pretty quiet tonight, but he times his run into the box well to meet a ball from Carrico before trying to head it past Marino, but his finish is just wide.

SUB! The home side also make their last change, and it's an attacking one with Victor Casadesus replacing Mohamed Sissoko.

CHANCE! Iborra has suddenly come to life as he intercepts a pass by Juanfran before charging into the box, but his thunderous strike to punched away by Marino.

CHANCE! Levante are soon back down the other end, with Tono looking to head in, but Prejo gets to it first and heads it behind for another corner. Once again, Levante can't get a shot away from their set piece though.

Sevilla win a free kick as they try to see out the victory. Bacca is the target for Iborra, but the striker can't reach his curling delivery into the box.

OFF THE BAR! Out of nowhere, Bacca almost adds a third for the visitors as a long ball forward drops to the striker. His first touch is excellent, and he shakes off Vyntra to get his shot away, but the crossbar keeps it out.

BOOKING! Sevilla have a goal kick, but Rico takes too long, earning himself a booking.

BOOKING! It's all getting a bit heated as Levante concede a free kick while attacking, and Victor Casadesus goes in the box for protesting.

The visitors have four minutes of stoppage time to hold on, while Levante have the same to try to find a late equaliser. A poor clearance from Vyntra almost sets Iborra up for a third for Sevilla, but the winger can't stretch far enough to guide it in.

BOOKING! El Zhar goes in too heavy on Pareja while trying to force his way into the box, earning him a booking.

CHANCE! Ruben Garcia tries to go for glory, unleashing a powerful effort from 30 yards out, but it goes well high.

FULL TIME: Levante 1-2 Sevilla

So Sevilla survive a strong second-half performance from Levante to hold on for a 2-1 win, leaving them level on points with Valencia. The hosts remain just three points clear of the relegation zone, having played one match more than the sides below them.

That's all from this match, but join us again tomorrow evening for more action from La Liga, including Barcelona's match against Almeria, and Real Madrid's trip to Rayo Vallecano. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye.

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Sevilla's Colombian forward Carlos Bacca (L) celebrates a goal during the Spanish league football match Sevilla FC vs Elche CF at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan stadium in Sevilla on March 15, 2015
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4Athletic Bilbao1795326151132
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6Real Sociedad167361611524
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11Real BetisBetis165651820-221
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17Leganes163671423-915
18Espanyol1541101528-1313
19Valencia142481322-910
20Real ValladolidValladolid1623111134-239


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