Seven points in the last three games on Levante’s account should have warned Athletic Bilbao it will be anything but an easy job tonight at San Mames, in the ultimate fixture of the La Liga round 27.Once more, the Spanish league basement slot demonstrated high levels of both pressing hard and defending, which seems rather unusual for a team we will probably see in the La Liga 2 next season.This hardship battle ended in a 3-1 home win, but Levante have all the reasons to be proud of their performance despite the final outcome. They were prevailing for as long as 60 minutes, and who knows what could have been if their star player hadn’t left the pitch early on due to an injury.Athletic Club 3️⃣-1️⃣ Levante UD🏁| ¡El @AthleticClub se reencuentra con la victoria frente al @LevanteUD!⚽️| Mikel Vesga 🇪🇸, Iñaki Williams 🇪🇸 y Oier Zarraga 🇪🇸 (p.); Jorge de Frutos 🇪🇸.📊| 🦁 8️⃣ 27 J – 40 P 🐸 2️⃣0️⃣ 27 J – 18 P#AthleticLevante #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/ikL1AD6mRA— Chutando A Ciegas (@ChutandoACiegas) March 7, 2022 Prosperous Inaki Williams had the first fine opportunity of the game, as he went one-on-one with Levante keeper but fired a second too late to see his effort being denied by the custodian. The same two clashed five minutes later, only this time with Williams a bit distracted by the opponents’ defender, ending in the same style.The game propelled around the 30-minute mark, as Bilbao had not one, not two, not three, but four formidable goal-scoring chances in the span of just two minutes. Anyhow, Berenguer, Sancet, Berciche and Vencedor were left without that sought-after reward mainly thanks to Levante’s shot-stopper and the woodwork.TUE: 23.00: (1.60) LIVERPOOL (4.10) INTER (6.25)As usual, when one side misses half a dozen dead chances, there’s a probable possibility they’ll end up with one in their own net. And it wasn’t far from it tonight, either, as Levante’s captain and marksman Morales fired accurately from mid-range, forcing Unai Simon to make a sensational save.Unfortunately for Morales and his struggling slot, not only he didn’t score, but the experienced forward suffered a horrific knee injury near the half-time break, leaving the turf in tears.Left without their most attacking-minded player, the underdogs were oriented to defending and were doing a fine job for almost 20 minutes in the second half. However, Bilbao’s midfielder Mikel Vesga then launched a lovely build-up and swiftly transformed into another attacking option, nailing a superb header to provide his side with a decisive 1-0 lead.
From that moment on, there was no dilemma about who’d win it, while Inaki made sure to kill the game with 15 minutes left.It was a simple, three-piece counter-attack with Williams as the only Bilbao player in the opposite half. It was more than enough to seal the victory and top the die-hard visitors, who deserve applause for Monday’s display. Still, it was not over at the Basque County.
The penultimate goal of the match was Zarraga’s spot-kick for an undeservedly high 3-0 minutes before the stoppage time. Levante scored their consolation goal during it, thanks to high-fly De Frutos and his remarkable solo effort.
LA LIGA – ROUND 27FridayDeportivo Alaves – Sevilla 0-0SaturdayOsasuna – Villareal 1-0 (0-0)/Avila 63/Espanyol – Getafe 2-0 (2-0)/Cabrera 17, Cabaco 27 og/Valencia – Granada 3-1 (0-0)/Guedes 48, Gomez 51, Soler 62 pen – Domenech 56 og/Real Madrid – Real Sociedad 4-1 (2-1)/Camavinga 40, Modric 43, Benzema 75 pen, Asensio 79 – Oyarzabal 10 pen/SundayCadiz – Rayo Vallecano 2-0 (0-0)/Alcaraz 55, Idrissi 63/Elche – Barcelona 1-2 (1-0)/Fidel 44 – Torres 60, Depay 84 pen/Celta – Mallorca 4-3 (2-1)/Galhardo 13, Suarez 25, Aspas 61, 90+7 – Gonzalez 17, Aidoo 49 og, Sevilla 87 pen/Betis – Atletico Madrid 1-3 (1-1)/Tello 45+5 – Joao Felix 2, 61, Lemar 80/MondayAthletic Club – Levante 3-1 (0-0)/Vesga 60, Williams 76, Zarraga 89 – De Frutos 90+1/