La Liga Week 6
Sunday September 25, 2011 (15.00 UK)
Ruben Suarez pen 14, pen 58, Barkero 76 – Moreno 73
Amat sent off 57, Pandiani sent off 81
Ciutat de Valencia. Valencia
On Sunday afternoon Levante leap-frogged Sevilla and moved into third in the league with a hard-fought 3-1 win over Espanyol.
A quarter of an hour into the game the hosts took the lead as Rui Fonte sent Juanlu tumbling to the ground in the penalty area and Ruben Suarez converted the spot- kick.
Although Espanyol had the better of the first half, they were unable to get on the scoresheet and Levante made them pay just after half-time when Jordi Amat was sent off for pulling Suarez back when through on goal, the midfielder stepping up to grab his second from the penalty spot.
With just under 20 minutes to go, Espanyol gave themselves a lifeline as Hector Moreno attacked the far post to meet Walter Pandiani’s mishit shot and Levante looked like they were in for a nervy end.
However, just two minutes later the hosts once again opened up a two-goal lead when Jose Barkero bent a great shot past Alvarez in the Espanyol net.
Pandiani was sent off shortly afterwards for what the referee believed to be a headbutt and Levante picked up their third victory in a week.
Levante (4-2-3-1):Munua; Javi Venta, Ballesteros, Nano, Juanfran; Xavi Torres, Iborra; Valdo, Ruben Suarez (Barkero 66), Juanlu (Pallardo 77); Kone (Aranda 75)
Unused subs: Navas, Del Horno, Pedro Lopez, El Zhar
Espanyol (4-2-3-2): Cristian Alvarez; Javi Lopez, Amat, Moreno, Didac; Forlin, Romaric (Javi Marquez 63); Rui Fonte (Alvaro 45), Verdu, Thievy (Pandiani 63); Sergio Garcia
Unused subs: Casilla, Baena, Galan, Weiss
Did you know… This win was only Levante’s second win over Espanyol since 2004.
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