A violent brawl between Levante and Sevilla ultras marred the build-up to today's La Liga match. Several dozen radicals clashed near the Ciutat de Valencia stadium this midday, near the Avenida bar, leading to a heavy police response.
Around fifty Levante ultras, dressed in black and wearing balaclavas, arrived carrying sticks. The group attacked Sevilla radicals, who also numbered about fifty and were on a street adjacent to the stadium. The visitors responded by throwing chairs, bottles and pyrotechnic material. One witness described the scene as "five minutes of high tension where chairs and sticks were flying and they confronted each other with punches, kicks and blows with sticks".
Police response and security
Local residents alerted the authorities after seeing initial insults escalate into an aggressive fight. However, when police vans arrived at the scene minutes later, the participants had already dispersed. Authorities have confirmed police presence will be reinforced for tonight's match, scheduled for 21:00 and corresponding to matchday 8 of the Primera División. The incident occurred as several Levante players were making their way to the stadium in private cars, passing by the disturbances.
Sporting context
This violent episode precedes a key match for a Levante side sitting 17th in La Liga, with just six points from seven games. The team is looking to improve its recent form, which includes two defeats and two draws in the last four matches. Looking ahead, the club has a clear goal of reaching 50 points this season, a target that seems distant right now. Also, the team has struggled to keep clean sheets, having managed only 270 minutes of unbeaten goalkeeping so far this campaign, a statistic that underlines their defensive issues. Their next fixture is a tough away trip to eighth-placed Deportivo La Coruna on October 16. Security in and around the Ciutat de Valencia will be at its highest over the coming hours.
Background and full detail: Marca - Primera
