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Ahead of the preview and match proper, here is some information about our head-to-head record against Levante:
away (Primera only): 6 wins, one draw, one loss
home (Primera only): 4 wins, one draw, two losses.
As should be evident, we've done pretty well away. Our only loss was in the dreadful 2011-12 season, when we managed to lose in the 90th minute to a Xavi Torres goal (just after sub Carlos Marchena had been sent off after two yellow cards in 20 minutes). In 2013-14, we won 3-0 with a Bruno goal and Uche doblete; last year, goals from Cheryshev and Uche gave us a 2-0 win.
Largest away win: 3-0, 2013-14.
Largest away loss: 1-0, 2011-12; 2-1 (Segunda), 1996-97.
As far as Levante are concerned, they are definitely Valencia's second team, but I was happy to see they have a club shop on one of the main streets, and the tourist board office had some Levante stuff for sale. (Compared to Barcelona, where it was almost impossible to find any evidence of Espanyol's existence, the froggies are almost...competitive).
The granotes made some news this summer when an American sports 'magnate', Robert Sarver (owner of the NBA's Phoenix Suns), offered to buy the team, but Levante decided no. But the 42 points they need to survive might be hard to come by this year--they've been in the Primera for six years now, can they make it seven?