Levante UD - Athletic Club
- 33' (p.) Roger Ms.
- Raúl García 55' (p.)
LocationCiutat de València , Valencia
Athletic held to frustrating draw by Levante
Despite constantly threatening, Athletic only pick up one point from a match where both goals came from the penalty spot
Athletic Club drew 1-1 with Levante UD at the Ciutat de Valencia. The Lions controlled the match and had chances to win, but come away with just the point.
The Rojiblancos conceded a penalty in the first-half, but Raúl García with a spot-kick of his own in the second half. Athletic kept going for the winner but lacked accuracy in front of goal.
Athletic were straight out of the gates and could have been two-nil up within the first ten minutes. In the eighth minute, playmaker Iker Muniain was inches away from getting on the end of an Alex Berenguer cross, and two minutes later Muniain struck the post with a left-footed shot in the box.
Despite the Lions’ dominance it was the home side who drew first blood. In Levante’s first threatening passage of play, Jorge de Frutos intercepted a pass by Unai Vencedor before being brought down in the box by centre-back Unai Nuñez. Roger Marti converted from the spot, putting the ball to the left of Unai Simon.
Iñaki Williams went close to equalising less than five minutes later. The striker plucked a Raúl García long ball out of the air in the box, but he couldn’t find a way past Levante’s Aitor Fernandez.
Athletic came out firing after the restart. And in the 52nd minute they were awarded a penalty when Berenguer was fouled in the box by Nikola Vukcevic. Raúl García didn’t falter, putting the Lions back on level pegging.
Marcelino ringed the changes as Athletic maintained their command of the match. Right-back Ander Capa and Unai Nuñez almost combined to give the Lions the lead, but the latter missed the target.
Five minutes later, forward Asier Villalibre shot over the bar as tried his luck from distance with his weaker right foot.
After the full-time whistle, Iñigo Martinez received a red-card when the referee was advised to review an incident between the centre-back and Sergio Leon that occurred in the last moment of the match.
It’s the second 1-1 draw between both teams in recent weeks and the two sides meet again on Thursday (21:00 CET) for the second leg of their Copa del Rey semi-final.
