Levante UD secured a spectacular and much-needed victory on Saturday, August 29, thrashing a defensively disastrous Real Betis 5-2 at their Valencia stadium. The result marks the first win of the season for the Granotes, who before this match were 17th in La Liga with just one point and a record of zero goals scored and three conceded.
How did the match unfold?
The game, officiated by Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea, was a festival of defensive errors and goals from the outset. Levante, who had failed to score in their first two matchdays, came out hungry. Iván Romero had the first two clear chances for the hosts, but it was De la Fuente who opened the scoring in the 23rd minute. Betis, who arrived with six points and a clean sheet record, responded with a goal from Bartra ten minutes later. However, just before halftime, Enzo Bardeli put Levante back in front.
The second half was even more chaotic. Riquelme equalized for the visitors just three minutes after the restart, but the match definitively turned against Betis following the substitutions of Isco and Parrott. Levante captain Roger Brugué became the local hero by scoring two goals, in the 55th and 69th minutes, capitalizing on grave errors from the Betis defense, including a mistake from Bellerín. Jon Ander Olasagasti sealed the emphatic win in stoppage time (94') for a final 5-2 scoreline. DAZN España highlighted the moment, stating: "Doblete de capitán de Roger Brugué 🔵🔴#LALIGAenDAZN⚽️".
Why did Betis's defense collapse?
Betis's defensive performance was described as disastrous in the original report from El País Deportes. Manuel Pellegrini's side, who will compete in the Champions League next week, showed unexpected fragility. Midfielders Facundo Bernal and Marc Roca failed to control the game in the center of the park, which exposed a defensive line that made serious individual mistakes. Furthermore, Parrott wasted a clear chance in the 49th minute that could have changed the course of the match. The exits of Isco and Parrott from the pitch coincided with the team's definitive collapse, going from being in the game to suffering a heavy defeat.
What does this win mean for Levante?
This victory is a massive boost for a Levante side that started with serious offensive doubts. It not only breaks the poor streak of not scoring but also allows them to add three vital points to climb away from the relegation places. With this win, the team cuts the gap to the leaders, Alavés, to six points, a recoverable margin with the confidence generated by such a result. The double from their captain, Roger Brugué, is the best sign that the team has firepower when presented with chances. The challenge now is to maintain this consistency.
What is the next step for the team?
Levante's schedule does not stop. The next fixture is a trip to La Rosaleda to face Málaga on Sunday, September 6. The Málaga team currently occupies 16th place, making it another direct clash in the lower part of the standings. To prepare for this match, the coaching staff will need to work on consolidating the positive aspects seen against Betis and correcting defensive details, as the team also showed some cracks. Fans can follow the team's progress and check player data on our stats page. This victory must be the starting point for a more stable season.
