Levante UD earned a point from a goalless draw in their away match at Málaga's La Rosaleda stadium on Tuesday. The fixture, reported by Diario AS, was defined by the goalkeepers, with Mathew Ryan making a decisive first-half penalty save.
The Granotes enter this international break sitting 11th in La Liga, with five points from four games and a record of one win, two draws, and one loss. Their next challenge is a high-stakes home match against league leaders Barcelona on September 13. The squad is also managing the absence of Etta Eyong, who is currently sidelined with injury.
How did the match unfold?
The first half produced the clearest chances. Thiago almost capitalized on a mistake in the home side's defensive clearance to score an early opener. Shortly after, the referee awarded a penalty to Málaga. Chupe stepped up to take it, but 27-year-old Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan read his intentions and made a important stop. "I had a feeling he would go down the middle," Ryan said post-match. "I like to study beforehand to get information, but all opponents know they are being watched. It's a psychological game that went well today."
At the other end, Málaga's 32-year-old goalkeeper Alfonso Herrero was equally key. He produced a spectacular save to deny a shot from Nacho Pérez and keep the score level. Other opportunities, including a missed cross from Larrubia and a nearby free-kick from Dela, rounded out a first half of local dominance without reward.
What changed after halftime?
Levante improved their performance significantly in the second period and posed a greater threat to Herrero's goal. The Málaga keeper was key again with a sharp reflex save from another effort by Nacho Pérez, who tried to make amends for his penalty miss by setting up Juan Cruz. Despite the improvement and four minutes of added time, the scoreboard remained unchanged. The final statistics reflected greater offensive dominance from the hosts, with 1.35 expected goals (xG) for Málaga compared to Levante's 0.59.
Who were the key performers?
The goalkeepers were undoubtedly the protagonists. Mathew Ryan, with his penalty save, was fundamental in securing a point for Levante away from home. His performance boosts confidence in a defense that has conceded five goals so far this season. On the visitors' bench, the manager had options like Marc Santos, Axel Tape, Yanis Musuayi, and striker Petar Ratkov to call upon for more firepower in upcoming games. You can check the full lineup and squad status on our dedicated squad page.
What is Levante's league context?
This draw leaves Levante with five points and a goal difference of zero, having scored and conceded five goals each. They now sit seven points behind Barcelona at the top of the table. The immediate schedule is demanding, with the aforementioned clash against the Catalan giants next. Planning for that match and the rest of the season can be followed on our fixtures calendar. The team needs to find more consistency and cutting edge to climb the standings.
Málaga manager Sensación valued the point but was left wanting more. "It feels like too little, we were superior in the first half." he stated. Levante now faces a week of preparation to host Barcelona on September 13 in a match that will be the ultimate test.
