Levante's LaLiga fixture against Athletic Club was postponed on Monday night due to heavy rain flooding the pitch at the Ciutat de València stadium. The official decision was confirmed at 21:35, just five minutes after the scheduled kick-off time, as the playing surface was deemed unplayable and almost completely covered in water.

Stadium announcers had already informed the fans present of the suspension at 21:32, with rain continuing to fall. The match, which was set to be broadcast on Movistar+, will be rescheduled, disrupting the plans of a Levante side coming off a 2-4 defeat to Barcelona last Friday.

Pre-match comments

Both managers had given their thoughts before the weather intervened. Levante coach Luis Castro had expressed his dissatisfaction with performance despite external praise after the Barcelona game. "After the Barça match I was not happy with the result," Castro explained. "I know many people were happy with the game we played, but I was not happy and the players weren't either."

Athletic Club boss Edin Terzic had acknowledged the challenge of visiting Valencia. "I see a team that plays very intense football, that presses from a good structure and is very dangerous from set-pieces," the German said. "It will be difficult for us, but it is time to show we want to improve."

Season context

The postponement leaves Levante with five points from five games, sitting 14th in the league table. Castro's team has a record of one win, two draws and two defeats, having scored seven goals and conceded nine. Their next assignment is a trip to face Villarreal next Sunday, an opponent currently in the relegation zone. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.

The forced break also affects the team's momentum as they sought to react after the setback against the leaders. In that match, second-half goals from Iván Romero and Roger Brugué were not enough to mount a comeback. Brugué is among the team's current absentees, along with Etta Eyong and Hugo Sotelo, with their status detailed in our injuries section.

Historically, home games against Athletic have not been easy for Levante. In their last fifteen league meetings at home, the Granotes have managed only three wins, with eight victories for the Basque side and four draws. The referee appointed for the suspended match was Alejandro Quintero, with Luis Mario Milla on VAR duties. The club and the league must now find a new date for this sixth-round clash, while Levante turns its focus to preparing for the trip to the Cerámica.

Background and full detail: Mundo Deportivo