Sevilla welcomed Levante to the Estadio Ramon on Sunday evening with both sides in the picture for European football in the early stages of the season.
The home side dominated the opening half of football, but Levante's shape nullified their threat and the two teams entered the break level.
It was more of the same in the second period as Sevilla passed up a host of late chances to leave the score level at the end of the 90 minutes.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary below.
Evening all! Our final La Liga commentary of the weekend comes from Sevilla as they welcome Levante to the Estadio Ramon. Both sides harbour hopes of Europe this season and therefore this is a real six-pointer in the early stages of the campaign.
Teams:
Sevilla: Palop; Fazio, Navarro, Spahic, Cicinho; Luna, Maduro, Medel, Navas; Rakitic, Negredo
Levante: Munua; Navarro, Garcia, Ballesteros, Lopez; Barkero, Iborra, Rios, Lopez; Diop, Martins
Just a quick note that we will join this match within the next three minutes or so. But we will bring you up-to-date as soon as it begins. Stay with us!
Welcome! We join the action four minutes in with Sevilla making most of the early running in this one. Both of these sides are harbouring hopes of European football this season. Stay with us for the remainder of the action.
It's bright play from Navas down the Sevilla right as he beats one defender before being felled by Navarro. However, his free kick his cleared by Bakero. That was poor.
End-to-end stuff at the moment as Navas combines with Negredo for the home side, before Martins tests the palms of Palop down the other end. We have two good sides on display this evening.
Cicinho and Navas remain the clear threat for the home side as they combine down the right. However, the Levante defence has stood up to the danger well thus far on this rainy night in Sevilla.
Bit of a hairy moment for Palop as Rios whips a high corner towards Martins, but the Sevilla goalkeeper punches to good effect. Meanwhile, we have not seen much from Negredo in a white shirt thus far.
Half-chance for Negredo as he pounces on a loose ball inside the box, but his effort is straight at Munua. It has not been a match full of chances in the opening 14 minutes or so.
Navas remains the threat for the home side as he cuts inside before searching out Negredo in the box, but Munua comes to collect the danger. Meanwhile, the attacking threat from Levante has disappeared in the past few moments.
You can see why Levante have had success this season. Their defensive shape is so impressive. It may not be pretty, but who cares if they are performing? Sevilla are struggling to pick their pocket at the moment.
Half-chance for Navas as he whips a long-range effort towards goal, but it was always moving wide of the post. He has been the game's brightest spark thus far. But it has been a match of few chances.
Another chance comes and goes for the home side as Cicinho fires a low cross into the penalty area, but Ballesteros clears the danger. Still 0-0 with 22 minutes played.
Big penalty appeal for Sevilla as Medel strikes a powerful effort from outside the box. It appears to strike the hand of Garcia, but replays showed that the ball hit him in the face. That will hurt tomorrow!
Good news as Garcia returns to the action. Meanwhile, Sevilla continue to force the issue as the 30-minute mark approaches. It is simply all one-way traffic at the moment.
Chance! Sevilla come close to opening the scoring as Navas whips a dangerous cross towards the head of Negredo, but Navarro just clears the danger at the vital moment. Brilliant defending.
The match has just settled into a pattern of Sevilla dominating possession and launching attacks down each wing. Meanwhile, Levante are nice and compact and are refusing to be drawn out of position.
I could be wrong. But I do not think that Diop has touched the ball for Levante thus far. Martins has been seen in patches, but he has offered nothing in attack. However, the away side are so compact in defence.
Another half-chance for the home side as Navas attempts to find Negredo in the box, but Munua is on hand to collect the danger. This really is an example of attack versus defence. Such a contrast in styles.
A rare attack from the away side threatens to bring the opener as Lopez whips a dangerous corner into the box, but Navarro just beats Martins to the ball.
Sevilla have had six shots thus far to Levante's one. That tells you everything that you need to know about how this first period has gone. In truth, it has not been a classic.
Sevilla continue to threaten in the latter stages of the half with a host of corners. But still there is just no way through. Little under three minutes of the half remaining.
Meanwhile, the fourth official indicates that we will play an additional two minutes of football. Sevilla have possession in the latter stages of the half.
Sevilla 0-0 Levante
So there we have it. The referee blows his whistle and we end the half level at 0-0. In truth, it has not been a classic encounter.
Let's take a look at some statistics from the opening period. Sevilla have dominated possession with 71%, while they have had four shots to Levante's two.
However, the away side will be the happier as it stands. It is easy to see how they have secured results this season. They are just so compact in defence. Wouldn't it be just football if they nicked one on the counter in the second period?
Sevilla certainly need to get Navas on the ball in wide areas. Meanwhile, Negredo has struggled to get into the game for large periods. What will the second half bring? Join us again in around three minutes for the action.
Here we go then. Sevilla get us underway in the second period. Will we have a winner in the second 45 minutes? Stay with us for the action.
Not a great start to the second half for Negredo as he is clattered by Diop. However, the Spanish striker returns to his feet and will continue. I expect to see a similar pattern to the first period in this half.
Just a reminder that neither goalkeeper has had a proper save to make in the entire match thus far. That tells you everything that you need to know. Levante are enjoying a spell of possession at the moment.
Half-chance for Sevilla as Medel drives down the right before finding Cicinho on the edge of the box, but his effort is blocked by Ballesteros. Levante are just so compact in defence.
The home supporters do their best to raise the tempo with a series of songs. I must admit that I am not too familiar with the one being sung at the moment. I think I hard 'Navas' in there somewhere.
Attack after attack continues to break down for Sevilla as Levante close the door on the edge of their own box. Make no mistake about it, the away side are playing for a point here.
Half-chance for the home side as Navarro strikes an effort from outside the box, but Munua collects the danger with ease. Levante have all 11 players in their own half when Sevilla attack. Incredible.
Change for the home side as Maduro is replaced by Jose Antonio Reyes. Blast from the past there. Former Arsenal, Real Madrid and Benfica player. He has much to prove this season.
The match remains in the regular pattern it has been throughout. Sevilla attacking, but Levante constantly clearing the danger. Meanwhile, Palop has not touched the ball for the home side in this half.
It is almost like I have had this match stuck on the same minute for the entire 64 minutes. Sevilla attack, Levante defend. And there we are up-to-date.
Chance! Finally a bit of quality from the home side as Negredo strikes a free kick from outside the box, but Munua beats the ball away. Hopefully that will raise the tempo.
Credit to the home support, they have stayed with their team this evening. But the must be getting frustrated as Navas fires high and wide. Meanwhile, change for Levante as Ruben Garcia replaces Rios.
It might have been a half-chance for the away side as Iborra attempted to feed Martins, but the striker just could not collect. Meanwhile, Medel picks up the first booking of the evening.
Levante's formation remains 9-1 at the moment. I mean that as well. They have absolutely no interest in winning this match. Can Sevilla find that one elusive pass?
Meanwhile, change for the away side as Diop is replaced by Michel. Little under 15 minutes of normal time remaining at the Estadio Ramon.
Meanwhile, change for the home side as Luna is replaced by Geoffrey Kondogbia. I must say that I did not have this match down as a 0-0 draw. Surely there will be one clear chance in the remaining stages of the match.
Half-chance for Sevilla as Kondogbia strikes a powerful effort from outside the box, but Munua makes a smart save. Levante have around 10 minutes of normal time to defend.
Sevilla are getting closer as Medel strikes one from outside the box, but it just drifts over the crossbar. They really deserve all the points here. But you have to praise the Levante defence.
I know I am repeating myself here, but Sevilla continue to attack. And Levante continue to defend. It has been that way for the entire match.
Meanwhile, final change for Sevila as Jose Campana replaces Rakitic. CHANCE! Oh my word! Chance for the home side as Baba Diawara is presented with the ball inside the box, but he fires over the crossbar.
Levante wind down the clock with a spell of possession in the remaining moments of the match. Meanwhile, Sevilla continue to waste half-chances as Barkero is replaced by Miguel Pallardo for the away side.
Navas and Cicinho combine down the right to force a corner in the final minute of normal time. However, the danger is cleared. And the atmosphere inside the ground has disappeared.
CHANCE! So close for Sevilla as Medel pounces on a loose ball inside the box, but he fires over the crossbar. Meanwhile, we will play an additional three minutes of time.
Sevilla attack for the final time as Navas fires a high cross into the penalty area, but once more the danger is cleared. Little over one minute remaining and Levante continue to defend.
Sevilla 0-0 Levante
So there we have it. Sevilla and Levante share the points in a 0-0 draw at the Estadio Ramon. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for the action. Goodnight!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
