As the season began way back in sunny August, there was little doubt about which teams would be competing for the title. But as the usual suspects for the Champions League places were being rounded up, no one could have imagined that one surprise package, labelled “Ugly, poor and bad at football” by their own supporters, would be in contention for a top-four finish with seven matches remaining. Villarreal, Sevilla, Atlético Madrid, and even Málaga with all their Qatari millions, are being outdone by Levante Unión Deportiva, who currently sit in fifth place, just one point behind their city rivals Valencia in fourth. What is even more astounding for a club that is more accustomed to … [Read more...] about La Liga: Levante’s old guard still in the mix
levante
The brains behind Levante’s La Liga fairytale
The most appealing story in Spanish football this season so far has been the almost unbelievable success of Levante. The heart-warming tale of the little side on a shoestring budget socking it to La Liga’s all-conquering duopoly was catnip for the Spanish and global media – with even The New York Times sending a reporter to find out what was going on. A run of seven successive wins including 1-0 over Real Madrid and 3-0s against both big-spending Málaga and local rivals Villarreal lifted Levante to be the shock leader of the Primera División (until last weekend). The little Valencia-based club has only been in Spain's top division for seven of its 102 years and has never won a major … [Read more...] about The brains behind Levante’s La Liga fairytale
Sergio Ballesteros
Not many teams beat Real Madrid these days and not many defenders outsprint Cristiano Ronaldo. But Levante and their club captain Ballesteros have managed both this season. Weighing in at 90 kilos (200 pounds), the 36-year-old not only still has his legs, but has also led his ageing teammates on an incredible run, defying pre-season predictions that his team were relegation fodder and topping La Liga for a few heady weeks. And they manage all this on a diet of pizza, beer and paella. Old school, in every way. … [Read more...] about Sergio Ballesteros