Levante UD earned a hard-fought point on the road with a goalless draw against Málaga CF in La Liga. The match, Málaga's second home game of the season, was decided early by a important penalty save from visiting goalkeeper Ryan. The player ratings for the fixture were first reported by Sport.es. Sport.es first reported the story.
How did Ryan secure the point for Levante?
The most decisive moment came in the 10th minute. Málaga forward Chupe stepped up to take a penalty, but his shot was saved by Ryan. This early stop boosted the confidence of Levante's defence, which managed to withstand the home side's initial pressure. Although Málaga was the better team in the first half, Levante's defensive solidity was key to reaching halftime with the scoreline unchanged.
Málaga's own goalkeeper, Alfonso Herrero, was also busy. He made a great save in the very first minute and another good stop from a corner in the second half. Yet, the clearest chance to break the deadlock was the one Ryan denied from the spot. With this result, Levante registers its first draw of the 2026-27 campaign and sits 10th in the standings, with four points from three games.
How did Levante's midfield perform?
Levante found stability in the centre of the park. Pablo Martínez was an influential figure, taking set-pieces and dictating play. His influence was slightly curtailed after picking up a yellow card, but he maintained order. Alongside him, Recio was solid in duels and calm in possession.
The introduction of Izan Merino from the bench added composure to Levante's midfield in the closing stages. The player was accurate with short passes and attentive to defensive duties. This rotation proved important as Málaga lacked strength in the final stages, a weakness Levante couldn't exploit to claim all three points. The Valencian side has scored five goals and conceded five so far this season.
Who were the notable absentees from the match?
Levante faced this match without Etta Eyong, who is currently injured. In his absence, the defence was reorganised with Galilea, who performed well aerially and when stepping out of his zone. At right-back, Rafita delivered a performance on par with his usual level on the left, combining well at times with Larrubia.
For Málaga, a lack of cutting edge was evident. Chupe, besides missing the penalty, was isolated and lacked physical sharpness. Dani Lorenzo, closely marked, provided continuity in play but grew tired and was substituted. Larrubia had a clear chance in the first half and Juan Cruz delivered some good crosses from the left flank, though not fully comfortable.
What challenge awaits Levante next?
The La Liga schedule offers no respite for Levante. Their next fixture is one of the toughest of the season: a home clash against league leaders FC Barcelona. The match is scheduled for September 13, 2026, and will be a major test for the team's aspirations. Trailing Barça by five points, Levante needs to find more potency in attack. All the details on the team's upcoming matches are on our fixtures page.
Debutant Cajuste, who wore Málaga's white and blue for the first time, saw limited minutes where he made himself available. The draw leaves Levante with a record of one win, one draw, and one loss. The full Levante UD squad is listed on our squad page.
