Iván Romero's double secured a vital 2-0 victory for Levante over Sevilla, lifting the hosts away from the relegation zone with a commanding display at Estadio Ciudad de Valencia.
Levante claimed three crucial points on April 23rd with a performance that belied their league position. The hosts entered the match ranked 19th with 32 points, while Sevilla sat 17th with 34 points. Both teams needed the win desperately to distance themselves from the drop zone.
Romero opened the scoring in the 38th minute with a clinical finish. The forward showed composure in front of goal to give Levante a deserved lead at the break. His early strike set the tone for a dominant first-half display by the home side.
Levante controlled possession in the opening 45 minutes despite Sevilla's territorial advantage. The visitors struggled to create clear chances, managing just one shot on target in the first half. Levante's defensive shape remained solid throughout.
Yellow cards flew early and often. Adams received a booking for Sevilla in the 10th minute, while Rey picked up a caution for Levante in the 23rd minute. The match developed an edge as both teams fought for every ball.
The second half saw Sevilla push for an equalizer but failed to break down Levante's resolute defense. Despite dominating possession with 57% of the ball, Sevilla managed zero shots on target. Their expected goals figure of just 0.27 reflected their toothless attacking display.
Levante remained dangerous on the counter-attack. The hosts created more clear-cut opportunities despite holding just 43% possession. Romero's movement in the box proved consistently troublesome for the Sevilla backline.
More bookings arrived as the match intensified. Raghouber, Agoume, and Sow all received yellows between the 59th and 77th minutes. The physical battle never subsided as both teams competed fiercely for possession.
Romero sealed the result in stoppage time with his second goal in the 90+3rd minute. The forward's composure in front of goal proved the difference. Levante's victory was fully deserved based on their clinical finishing.
The statistics underlined Levante's efficiency. Romero fired two shots on target and converted both into goals. Levante created an expected goals value of 1.5 compared to Sevilla's 0.27, showing the gap in quality chances created.
Levante's win moves them to 35 points from 33 matches. The three points provide breathing room in their battle against relegation. Sevilla remains on 34 points and faces mounting pressure as the season approaches its conclusion.
Romero's performance earned him an 8.6 rating, the highest of the match. His two-goal haul showcased his importance to Levante's survival hopes. The forward's clinical finishing proved decisive in a tightly contested La Liga battle.
