Crisis Clubs Collide: Levante and Real Sociedad in Relegation Dogfight
Two managerless sides meet at the Ciutat de Valencia with both teams desperate for points as Levante fight to escape the bottom and La Real look to avoid the drop zone.
Crisis Clubs Collide: Levante and Real Sociedad in Relegation Dogfight
Bottom-placed Levante host a struggling Real Sociedad side at the Ciutat de Valencia today, with both clubs in such dire straits they’ve recently sacked their gaffers.
Caretaker Chaos
It’s all gone a bit Pete Tosh for these two Spanish sides. Interim bosses Álvaro del Moral and Jon Ansotegi will be in the dugouts following the dismissals of Julián Calero and Sergio Francisco respectively. Talk about being thrown in at the deep end!
The stakes couldn’t be higher - Levante are desperate to climb off the bottom of the table, while La Real are looking nervously over their shoulders at the relegation zone.
Levante: Rock Bottom
Things are proper grim for the Granotas right now:
- Rooted to the bottom with just nine points, six away from safety
- No win in seven matches - over two months without tasting victory
- Recently dumped out of the Copa del Rey by Cultural Leonesa
- Missing several key players including Unai Elguezabal, Roger Brugué and Koyalipou through injury
Interim boss Del Moral has described this fixture as a “final” - and he’s not wrong. Levante need points, and they need them sharpish.
Real Sociedad: Star Power Shortage
La Real might have squeaked through their Copa del Rey tie against Eldense with a last-gasp winner, but don’t let that fool you. The Basque side are in a proper barney:
- Team morale at rock bottom despite having quality players like Carlos Soler, Brais Méndez and Take Kubo
- Said stars are all woefully out of form
- Captain Oyarzabal returns from a three-week muscle injury layoff, but likely won’t start
- Aramburu suspended, with either Odriozola or Aritz expected to step in
- Zakharyan or Sergio Gómez competing to replace the injured Barrenetxea
Ansotegi knows this will be his only match in charge of the first team, but he’ll be desperate to steady the ship before a permanent appointment arrives.
Key Battle: Romero vs Guedes
Both teams will be looking to their main men up front to deliver the goods. Iván Romero has established himself as Levante’s attacking reference point, while Guedes is finding his feet as La Real’s central striker - though his finishing still needs work.
Whichever forward can find their shooting boots could well decide this relegation six-pointer. One thing’s certain - with both sides in such dire straits, this won’t be one for the faint-hearted.