Levante 3-2 Osasuna: Granota comeback of pride to keep believing

The match came loaded with urgency for the Granota side, who faced matchday 35 in the relegation zone and needed to win to close in on the salvation zone. Osasuna, settled in the upper mid-table, traveled to Valencia with 42 points and the chance to get closer to European spots if they took all three points.

First half

The game started in the worst possible way for Levante. At three minutes, Toljan deflected an Osasuna move into his own goal, putting the Navarrese side ahead. The blow was even greater in the 11th minute, when Budimir appeared at the far post after a good action by Bretones to make it 0-2. Osasuna had punished every arrival and the Ciutat went cold.

Far from breaking, Levante began gaining ground, pressed on the wings and found air in the figure of Víctor García. In the 35th minute, the forward cut the deficit after a corner; barely two minutes later, he struck again with a venomous shot that ended in the top corner. In just two minutes, Levante turned a night that looked lost into a declaration of survival. Before the break, Sergio Herrera was sent off for handling the ball outside the area, leaving Osasuna with ten men.

Second half

With numerical superiority, Levante took control and kept up the pressure consistently. Aitor Fernández, forced to come on for Aimar Oroz following Herrera’s red card, kept Osasuna going for many minutes with commendable interventions. Dela struck a shot against the crossbar, Olasagasti also tried from the edge of the box, and Morales had a clear chance in the final stages.

The reward came when the match was slipping away. In the 90th minute, Levante flooded the area, Matturro extended it at the far post and Etta Eyong appeared determined to head in the 3-2. The Ciutat exploded with a comeback that keeps the Granota team alive, while Osasuna left empty-handed after having the game well in hand in the first quarter of an hour.

Match details

Result: Levante UD 3-2 CA Osasuna (2-2 at halftime).

Goals: 0-1, 3’: Jeremy Toljan, own goal. 0-2, 11’: Ante Budimir, assist by Abel Bretones. 1-2, 35’: Víctor García, assist by Pablo Martínez. 2-2, 37’: Víctor García, assist by Oriol Rey. 3-2, 90’: Etta Eyong, assist by Alan Matturro.

Levante UD: Mathew Ryan; Manuel Sánchez, Jeremy Toljan, Matías Moreno, Adrián de la Fuente; Víctor García, Oriol Rey, Jon Olasagasti, Kareem Tunde, Pablo Martínez; Carlos Espí. Also played Roger Brugué, José Luis Morales, Alan Matturro, Etta Eyong and Tay Abed.

CA Osasuna: Sergio Herrera; Valentín Rosier, Alejandro Catena, Flavien Boyomo, Abel Bretones; Jon Moncayola, Iker Muñoz, Rubén García, Aimar Oroz, Raúl Moro; Ante Budimir. Also played Aitor Fernández, Lucas Torró, Raúl García, Iker Benito and Asier Osambela.

Referee: José Munuera Montero. Booked Víctor García and Matías Moreno for Levante. Sent off Sergio Herrera with a direct red in the 45th minute.

Stadium: Ciutat de València, 19,974 spectators.