Preview: Valencia vs Levante, the Most Exciting La Liga Football Encounter
April 15, 2019 | 09:42 |1336
On April 14, as a part of the 32nd round of the Spanish National Championship, the Valencian derby, the name given to any association football match contested between Levante UD and Valencia CF, will be held at the Mestalla Stadium.
ORIENT, together with La Liga – about the bitterest rivalry of Europe
On Sunday, the entire football part of the city of Valencia, laying away all the matters till the dark time, will be part of the Valencian derby or most commonly known as “Derby del Turia” for the river which runs through the centre of Spain’s third-biggest city, the fixture has really picked up steam in recent decades as Levante have established themselves in LaLiga Santander, with all the clashes and controversies that brings. The Valencian city derby between Valencia CF and Levante UD has grown in recent years into one of Spanish football’s keenest local rivalries, as Levante reached the top division of Spanish football.
Interesting facts that make rivalry unique:
1. Actually, Levante UD pre-date their local rivals by a decade, while Valencia CF is named after the city. “Los Granotas” [the frogs] was founded in 1909, while “Los Ches” [bats] – ten years later, in 1919. This year, Valencia will celebrate its 100-year anniversary, while the Levant is already counting its second century of entering. 2. As it was expected, Levante became the first guest of Mestalla Stadium, opened on the 20th of May 1923, which today is the oldest stadium among all the top clubs in Spain. That day, Valencia CF played against Levante UD and won 1-0, setting the winning spirit for the future derby games.
3. Their first official La Liga match between the teams was held relatively recent, given that the clubs were founded in the early twenties. They did not actually meet until the 1963/64 season.
4. The 2004/05 season derby conjured up controversy for the ages. Valencia won the match 2-1, but their second goal never actually crossed the line. Striker Miguel Angel Ferrer Martinez, better known as Mista, struck a powerful blow to the crossbar – the ball bounced off the goal line and flew out. The judge awarded the goal, and in the end, Valencia won a fairly controversial victory.
5. In their football careers, the coaches of both clubs played for opposite sides. The Valencia coach, Marcelino García Toral, played for Levante UD last two years before his retirement, while José ‘Paco’ López, the manager of Levante UD, is from Valencia CF’s youth setup and played for Valencia CF.
The Valencian derby is an excellent example of how football in the spaces of one city can unite people and turn into a big sports festival, which is followed all over the world.
