Levante scored twice late on to come from behind for a 2-1 win over Granada in La Liga this evening.
Youssef El Arabi put the visitors ahead from the penalty spot in the opening 15 minutes, but he was sent off late on for a scuffle with Ivan Ramis, who was also dismissed, while Adrian Colunga was shown a red card for a separate incident, leaving Granada with just nine men on the pitch.
Levante used their numerical advantage to set up Roberto Camarasa for the equaliser just before full time, while David Barral netted the winner deep in stoppage time.
Read how all the action unfolded below.
Good evening! It's half an hour until kickoff in a relegation six-pointer between Levante and Granada. Neither side can climb out of the bottom three this evening, but defeat would leave the loser still four points from safety. Let's start with a look at the team news...
LEVANTE STARTING XI: Marino, Lopez, Tono, Navarro, Ramis, Morales, Xumetra, Diop, Camarasa, Uche, Barral
GRANADA STARTING XI: Olazabal, Nyom, Mainz, Babin, Foulquier, Marquez, Bangoura, Iturra, Carlos, El Arabi, Colunga
LEVANTE SUBSTITUTES: Fernandez, Vyntra, Juanfran, Garcia, Casadesus, Simaro, Jason
GRANADA SUBSTITUTES: Roberto, Cala, Candeias, Ibanez, Agbo, Riki, Isaac
Davis Barral continues to lead the Levante line, having netted a hat-trick in the side's 4-1 win over Levante earlier this month.
The visitors have a couple of absentees, as Insua is suspended for getting sent off last time out, while Piti is sidelined with a thigh strain. Adrian Colunga joins Youssef El Arabi up front.
Ahead of this match, Levante manager Lucas Alcaraz, who managed Granada last season, told reporters: "There are many cup finals to come, but we can certainly set a trend with the work we do in these next few matches. It's important that we generate some good feeling around the place, and get some good results. Granada are a special club to me. I do hope that both clubs have survived come the end of the season, but out on the pitch everyone has to look after their own interests."
His replacement at Granada, Abel Resino, said at his pre-match press conference: "We have to win this one because otherwise we will have a very difficult time. It's a crucial game for our future, not a definitive one, although it is very, very important. It is a key match and we have to be aware of how much there is at stake for Granada."
Levante's 4-1 win over Malaga ended a run of three straight defeats for tonight's hosts, but they were thrashed 5-0 by Barcelona last time out. In fact, Levante have won just once in their last 11 outings.
Granada's form has improved in recent weeks, with just one defeat in their last four outings. A 1-0 win over Elche at the end of January ended a 16-match run stretching back to September without a win.
PREDICTION! With just a few minutes until kickoff, let's make a quick prediction. Granada have had a slightly better run of form in recent weeks, but Piti and Insua's absence will surely be a hindrance this evening, so I'm going for a slender 1-0 home win.
The players make their way out of the tunnel ready for the action to get underway. It's a pretty empty stadium at Ciudad de Valencia this evening.
KICKOFF! Granada get the action underway.
CHANCE! Marino is forced into action just moments into the tie as the visitors win an early free kick. Carlos's curling delivery falls kindly for El Arabi, who just stays onside to get his header away, but the keeper makes the save.
Granada have been applying the pressure in the opening few minutes, but only the free kick has put Marino under pressure so far. The visitors are controlling possession, but they aren't converting it into chances.
CHANCE! David Barral gets involved for the first time as he tries to create something for the hosts, but his pull back is turned behind for a corner. Uche attempts to flick it in from the edge of the box moments later, but it's a comfortable take for Oier Olazabal in the Granada goal.
Granada are back on the attack, with Juan Carlos left unmarked on the left, leaving him to square the ball to El Arabi, but his flick on for Colunga is quickly cleared.
PENALTY TO GRANADA!
GOAL! Levante 0-1 Granada (Youssef El Arabi) PEN.
The visitors have a free kick, and El Arabi tries to flick it in, but his shot is turned away by the hand of Roberto Camarasa, giving Granada the spot kick. El Arabi steps up, and sends it the wrong way, slotting it into the bottom left corner. Granada have looked the stronger in the early stages, and they've been rewarded with a goal.
BOOKING! Mainz wins a free kick when he's caught in the face by Diop, but it's David Barral who gets the first yellow card of the night as he clumsily charges into the defender in a big to quickly clear the set piece.
Levante push down the other end as they try to get back on level terms, but a long throw in from Ivan Lopez is eventually claimed by Oier.
Neither side can keep possession at the minute as Granada look for a second, but Marino comes out to clear before El Arabi can get his shot away. Levante head straight down the other end, but a loose ball into the box is straight through to the keeper.
BOOKING! Juan Carlos is the first Granada player to get a yellow as he brings down Navarro while trying to get the ball back into play after Marquez had a long range effort blocked. It means he'll miss their next game against Barcelona.
Lass Bangoura makes a superb run in from out wide, rounding a couple of players before chipping it forward for El Arabi, and Navarro as to turn it behind for a corner. Granada are getting stronger the more their allowed to run at the Levante goal, it wouldn't be a shock if they increased their lead before the break if they can keep this up.
Barral uses his pace to beat Babin down the left and crosses it in, but Olazabal is ready to punch it clear. The hosts are certainly seeing a bit more of the ball, but they're not getting into the box often enough to threaten Granada's lead.
Granada have yet another free kick in a dangerous position, but Ramis nods Iturra's delivery clear. The visitors have looked dangerous from set pieces so far, but Levante were ready for that one.
Bangoura controls a long ball forward from Marquez with a superb first touch to win a corner for the visitors. The initially delivery is cleared to the edge of the box, allowing Marquez to attempt a low volley, but his effort is blocked with ease.
Bangoura is really dominating the right flank at the minute for Granada as he makes another stunning run, pulling it back for Colunga, but the striker is left stretching to get to it, and his weak finish is quickly dealt with.
CHANCE! Levante try to end Granada's spell with a run down the other end, led by Morales, but the finishing touch from Barral was straight at the keeper, leaving him with an easy save.
CHANCE! Morales tries to play it back in after picking it back up in midfield. He's lacking options in support so takes it on himself from the edge of the box, but it's another easy stop for Olazabal.
CHANCE! Olazabal is being made to work hard in the final minutes of this first half as Camarasa makes a break down the right before rifling a powerful cross in, but the keeper holds onto it.
Granada get another chance from a free kick with just moments to go before the break when Iturra is caught in the back of the head. Bangoura makes a superb run into the box to try to connect with Mainz's long ball forward, but Marino just beats him to it.
CHANCE! Marino has to make a stop again as Marquez carves out a chance from the edge of the box, but the keeper watches it all the way to stop the visitors doubling their lead on the cusp of half time.
HALF TIME: Levante 0-1 Granada
So Youssel El Arabi's early penalty separates the relegation-threatened sides at half time in their La Liga clash, but it's still all to play for. Granada have probably looked the more threatening so far, but Levante certainly showed potential in the final 10 minutes.
Let's take a look at some of the numbers from the opening 45 minutes. The home side dominated possession with 62%, but it was Granada who had more chances. The visitors recorded six shots in the opening 45 minutes, three of which were on target, while Levante had five, just two of which required action from the keeper.
Here's the moment El Arabi sent Marino the wrong way from the penalty spot to put the visitors ahead:
FOTO | @elarabiyoussef ha adelantado al @GranadaCdeF desde el punto de penalti http://t.co/ihw67iKRvj #SienteLaLiga pic.twitter.com/RCzLnIC2k4
— La Liga (@LaLiga) February 23, 2015
Should the score remain the same at full time, neither side would change places, but Granada would cut the gap between themselves and 17th-placed Elche to just a single point. Levante would remain four points adrif though, and just one above Cordoba at the foot of the table.
The players are starting to head back out ready for the second half.
RESTART! Levante get the action back underway.
Levante have started on the front foot in the second half, but Colunga mistimes his run into the box, stepping offside to give the visitors a free kick.
Levante look much sharper going forward than they did in the first 30 minutes of this match. Morales and Barral have it on the edge of the box before teeing up Tono for a shot, but it's claimed by Olazabal, who immediately launches Granada on the counter-attack, but their move stalls when Bangoura fouls Morales.
CHANCE! Olazabal has to make a diving stop to deny Uche as he attempts to flick a low shot from Barral, but the keeper just gets his fingers to it.
CHANCE! Levante force a corner, with Navarro unleashing a powerful effort from the edge of the box after a Barral shot was blocked, but it flew well high.
SUBS! The hosts are making a double change, with Morales and Xumetra making way for Ruben Garcia and Jason, giving Levante an extra striker to try to help them find an equaliser.
CHANCE! Ruben Garcia almost has an immediate impact for Levante as a through-ball from Camarasa finds the substitute, leaving him to fire a low shot, but Olazabal just manages to keep it out after spilling his initial stop.
Granada have barely had a chance since the restart as the hosts desperately push for an equaliser. They're on the attack again, but a poor touch from Diop allows the ball to go out.
BOOKING! Lass Bangoura picks up a booking as he clatters into Garcia just 20 yards out. However, the resulting free kick gets nowhere.
SUB! Granada take advantage of a break in play while Diop is treated for an apparent injury, as they take of Juan Carlos for Daniel Candeias.
It's an accidental clash of heads that has left Diop on the sideline with the physio. Levante are down to 10 men while their medical staff try to stem the bleeding from the midfielder's nose. He's desperate to get back on, but the officials won't allow it while he's still bleeding.
After a quiet couple of minutes with the ball being passed around in midfield, Lopez finally gets it into the box for Levante after a quick pass forward from Uche, but the effort was blocked by Nyom.
Granada get down the other end for the first time in a while, with Bangoura trying to lash it in for the visitors, forcing Tono to turn it behind for a corner, which is then quickly cleared.
RED CARD! Adrian Colunga The Granada strike is shown a straight red for clipping David Barral late and from behind. The striker is stunned, but has to make his way off.
The hosts are quickly looking to make the most of their numerical advantage, forcing a corner, but Camarasa's ball in is easily claimed by Olazabal in the goal.
It's all Levante now as they try to stretch 10-man Granada. However, Barral loses out to Iturra on the edge of the box, allowing the visitors to head down the other end.
CHANCE! Totally against the run of play, Granada almost double their lead as Bangoura makes a quick run down the other end before pulling it back it for El Arabi, but the striker's effort was pushed wide by the fingertips of Marino.
SUB! Bangoura's run to set up El Arabi will be his last action as he's replaced by Cala.
BOOKING! Barral continues to be something of a marked man as he's brought down by Dimitri Foulquier, earning the defender a yellow card.
BOOKING! The fouls are coming thick and fast now as Uche brings down Marquez to go in the book.
RED CARDS! Youssef El Arabi and Ivan Ramis The goalscorer and Ramis clash as El Arabi is subbed off, but he takes his time, frustrating Ramis and resulting in some shoving between the two players. The referee is having none of it, and sends them both off.
So the 10 men of Levante are still pushing for an equaliser against the now nine-man Granada. The hosts have a corner as Cala turns a Barral effort behind, but the keeper is fouled as it's played back in, wasting the opportunity for the home side.
PENALTY APPEAL! Barral takes a tumble in the box, but there was no contact from Babin. It's a dangerous move from the striker, as he has already been booked, and the referee obviously isn't afraid to get his cards out.
BOOKING! It's another card, this time just a yellow though as Tono trips Candeias near the sideline while Granada try to just run down the remaining minutes.
SUB! The visitors make a final change, replacing Javier Marquez, who I didn't get chance to tell you was also booked in the aftermath of the El Arabi/ Ramis clash, with Uche Henry Agbo.
Levante haven't given up on a late equaliser, although there should be a decent chunk of stoppage time to come. Lopez plays it through for Jason, but there's too much on the ball for the substitute striker to control.
GOAL! Levante 1-1 Granada (Roberto Camarasa)
Oier Olazabal is livid at himself as he fails to stop a long-range effort from Roberto Camarasa. The winger collects it 25 yards out after a poor clearance from the visitors, and he scuffs his shot in. The keeper was expecting more pace and dives too soon before watching it trickle into the back of the net.
Levante haven't given up on this match as they push for a winner in four minutes of stoppage time. Tono blasts it into the box, but Uche can't quite reach it at the far post.
Granada try to keep possession in midfield, but they lose it, allowing Tono to make another superb run down the left flank, but it's blocked.
GOAL! Levante 2-1 Granada (David Barral)
David Barral has surely won it at the death for the hosts as Tono cuts it back to Uche, who cheekily chips it on to the striker to blast in from close range. The visitors want an offside against the forward, but Babin was slow to return from marking Tono, playing him on.
FULL TIME: Levante 2-1 Granada
What a frantic finish! Levante score two late goals, including one deep in stoppage time to complete a remarkable turnaround against Granada, who were down to nine men for the final 10 minutes. Both sets of players look physically and emotionally drained as the referee brings the action-packed encounter to an end.
Despite the victory, Levante are still in the relegation zone, but the win moves them up to 18th, just a point behind Elche and Almeria.
Well that's all from this match, but if you want more action from the La Liga sides, why not join us again tomorrow to see how Barcelona get on in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 clash with Manchester City. Until then, thanks for joining me this evening. Goodbye!
Written by
Sian Cowper
Sian Cowper
