If you look up Levante in any Spanish-English dictionary, you are
informed that its...a masculine noun and that it refers to the East
Coast or the East Wind.
The Levante currently in 2nd position in La Liga (equal on points with Barça) are indeed from the east-coast, hailing from Valencia, having endured an eternity in the shadows of their wealthier city neighbours Valencia CF and this season have generated plenty of their own "footballing east wind", this weekend blowing away the nu-rich on the block, Malaga 3-0.
To fully appreciate what this team full of football journeymen, astute signings and old cast off's has achieved in the opening 7 fixtures, here are some statistics that give their amazing early season achievement some perspective.
They have an annual budget of €22 million (2nd lowest in the league), this overshadowed somewhat by the €461 million of Barça and €450 million of Real Madrid.
Their back four on Sundays game v Malaga had a combined age of 137.
They have the best defensive record in the league having just conceded 3 goals (Barça & Sevilla have both conceded 4)
They are the only team this season to beat Real Madrid in La Liga.
Aiser del Horno (ex Chelsea) plays for them !
The groundwork to their success was laid last season by ex coach Luis Garcia, who left Levante in the Summer with a move to the capital at Getafe. He was replaced by Juan Ignacio Martinez who has got the team playing effective and practical football. Lightning on the counter attack, rock solid defence and evident great team spirit are the keys to this early season fairy story.
In a day and age when most of Europeans major leagues are now starting to look a little over predictable with the usual names dominating, time will tell whether Levante have the wherewithal to stand the pace. Logic and lack of deep pockets would suggest not, but for the past weeks Levante have been gathering acclaim and winning over neutrals, the media and even "Bah-Humbug" Jose Mourinho reluctantly praised them after Real Madrid´s 1-0 defeat calling their style of play as "shrewd".
Levante play away next weekend at Villareal on Sunday (23rd) night at 2200 (CET).
The Levante currently in 2nd position in La Liga (equal on points with Barça) are indeed from the east-coast, hailing from Valencia, having endured an eternity in the shadows of their wealthier city neighbours Valencia CF and this season have generated plenty of their own "footballing east wind", this weekend blowing away the nu-rich on the block, Malaga 3-0.
To fully appreciate what this team full of football journeymen, astute signings and old cast off's has achieved in the opening 7 fixtures, here are some statistics that give their amazing early season achievement some perspective.
They have an annual budget of €22 million (2nd lowest in the league), this overshadowed somewhat by the €461 million of Barça and €450 million of Real Madrid.
Their back four on Sundays game v Malaga had a combined age of 137.
They have the best defensive record in the league having just conceded 3 goals (Barça & Sevilla have both conceded 4)
They are the only team this season to beat Real Madrid in La Liga.
Aiser del Horno (ex Chelsea) plays for them !
The groundwork to their success was laid last season by ex coach Luis Garcia, who left Levante in the Summer with a move to the capital at Getafe. He was replaced by Juan Ignacio Martinez who has got the team playing effective and practical football. Lightning on the counter attack, rock solid defence and evident great team spirit are the keys to this early season fairy story.
In a day and age when most of Europeans major leagues are now starting to look a little over predictable with the usual names dominating, time will tell whether Levante have the wherewithal to stand the pace. Logic and lack of deep pockets would suggest not, but for the past weeks Levante have been gathering acclaim and winning over neutrals, the media and even "Bah-Humbug" Jose Mourinho reluctantly praised them after Real Madrid´s 1-0 defeat calling their style of play as "shrewd".
Levante play away next weekend at Villareal on Sunday (23rd) night at 2200 (CET).
