LATE MELERO PENALTY GIVES LEVANTE WIN OVER REAL SOCIEDAD; LEVANTE 2-1 REAL SOCIEDAD.

Levante’s pursuit of a sixth consecutive season in the Spanish top-flight was handed a lifeline in the dying embers, as Gonzalo Melero’s 90th-minute penalty secured the ‘Frogs’ their first victory over Real Sociedad since December 2020.

With the second tier beginning to look an increasingly likely destination for Levante, La Liga’s bottom-placed side faced some glittering moments of incisive play from Sociedad. In one heart-stopping moment for the hosts, Alexander Isak rattled the crossbar via a thunderous strike, and wizardry from Silva moments later would present the visitors with their best sight of goal before HT. The 2010 FIFA World Cup winner fed Andoni Gorosabel inside the box, but the marauding full-back saw his squirmed strike scooped off the line by covering full-back Son.

Second-best for much of the opening 45 minutes, Levante would primarily present a threat on the counter, with José Luis Morales passing up two gilt-edged chances just before the break. Having scored over a quarter of Levante’s goals this season, he was always likely to provide much of the home side’s attacking threat, but both of his efforts were comfortably saved by a steadfast Álex Remiro in the Sociedad goal.

Having struggled to get going in the first half, Alessio Lisci’s side began the second period with renewed energy, and the hosts’ efforts were rewarded with the game’s first goal. Taking a touch to steady himself inside the Sociedad penalty area, Jorge Miramón rifled his right-footed strike beyond an outstretched Remiro, injecting life into Levante’s survival charge.

Such optimism was temporarily crushed just 13 minutes later though, as a simple headed effort from Silva restored parity for Europe-chasing Sociedad. However, with the match meandering towards a stalemate, there was to be one final twist, as a flailing arm from Diego Rico would catch Morales in the face, leaving referee Javier Alberola Rojas little choice but to point to the spot.

Strolling up to take the spot-kick, a composed Melero rolled the ball beyond Remiro, securing Levante a first home victory since the beginning of April, and potentially altering the course of history yet to be written at the Ciutat de València.