BARCELONA’S 1-0 victory over Granada last night may have edged Levante off the top of the Spanish Primera Liga last night, but even still, these are heady days for the unheralded side from Valencia.
The only reference point many Irish football fans may have with Levante is that the former Ireland international defender Ian Harte spent two injury-plagued seasons at the club in the mid noughties.
An impressive run of six consecutive league victories, including a 1-0 defeat of Real Madrid, saw Levante leapfrog both Barcelona and Jose Mourinho’s Real side to the summit.
Leading the division is made all the more remarkable considering it is only the seventh time in their history (they were founded in 1909) that the club have competed in the top tier of Spanish football.
Key to Levante’s success has been a defence – with an average age of 34 in their last match – that has conceded just three goals in eight games. Consecutive 3-0 victories over more illustrious opponents like Malaga and Villarreal show they are also capable of scoring goals.
In such a star-studded league, they are a side without marquee names.
Coach Juan Ignacio Martinez’s squad is made up of a mixture of journeyman pros like 36-year-old captain Sergio Ballesteros, alongside a smattering of players deemed unworthy at the traditionally bigger clubs.
They include the Ivorian striker Arouna Kone, a recent loan signing from Sevilla, and Jose Barkero, a 32-year-old free transfer from Numancia, who has been a revelation playing in the “hole”.
Tonight Levante play host to Real Sociedad, where a win will see them leap-frogging the mighty Barcelona and restoring their two-point advantage at the top.
For a club known as “Granote” translated into English as frogs, it seems fitting.
BARCA GO TOP
XAVI celebrated setting a new club record for La Liga appearances when he netted a superb free kick to give Barcelona a 1-0 win at Granada.
The 31-year-old midfielder, playing his 392nd league game, struck in the 33rd minute at Granadas Los Carmenes stadium.
Granada played most of the second half with 10 men after Jaime Romero was shown a second yellow card for catching Maxwell with a high foot. Dani Benitez was dismissed in stoppage time when he earned a second yellow for kicking the ball away.
