Valencia and Levante Prepare for Anticipated Derby Encounter

omidbasir- Valencia and Levante are set to face each other in a thrilling La Liga derby this Friday, November 21, at Mestalla Stadium (21:00 hours). This matchup comes more than three years after their last meeting. In light of this, both clubs brought together their coaches, Carlos Corberán and Julián Calero, as well as their captains, José Luis Gayá and José Luis Morales, on the pitch for a symbolic event.

The occasion served more as a gesture than a formal pre-match briefing, featuring a photo opportunity for representatives of both teams and a moderated Q&A session. The intent behind this gathering, after a lengthy hiatus of rivalry matches in the city, is to foster sportsmanship and strengthen institutional ties.

In this cordial atmosphere, Levante’s captain, Morales, openly expressed his sentiments, particularly considering that Levante has never secured a victory against Valencia at Mestalla. He stated, “For us, this is a special match; we are eager to compete. The team and the club have yet to win at this stadium. We have a chance to make history, and that motivates us to compete. In this game, you forget everything else, including the league standings, because you’re fighting for three points against your city rival, with the added importance of making our fans proud.”

Gayá, the most experienced player in city derbies, acknowledged the challenges ahead, anticipating a “complicated” match. “Levante has started the league strongly and is achieving results away from home, competing well in significant venues. This will be a very difficult match, and the outcome will depend on the details. It will be fiercely contested, and we hope it swings in our favor.”

For Corberán, this derby marks his first experience of the Valencia rivalry, and he expressed his gratitude for the anticipated full attendance at Mestalla, stating, “The response from our fans is wonderful; the support we receive every week is an additional source of energy and pride to represent such a great fan base.”

Julián Calero also spoke highly of his counterpart, praising Corberán’s significant work at Valencia: “I want to acknowledge the tremendous job Carlos Corberán is doing at Valencia. He has transformed many aspects regarding structures, systems, and team conduct.” He further emphasized that amidst good relations, the priority remains to secure victory, saying, “It’s a pleasure to be here. We have spent our lives in football, but we have never faced each other. Our goal is to compete and take home the win.”

Historically, Valencia and Levante have clashed 32 times in the league during the 16 seasons Levante has played in the top division (this being their seventeenth). The results have been favorable for Valencia, with 15 victories compared to Levante’s eight and nine draws. In these encounters, Valencia has scored 58 goals (including the controversial goal by Mista), while Levante has netted 36 times.