Levante Secures Vital 4-2 Win Over Oviedo in La Liga Clash

Levante breathed fresh life into their survival bid with a rousing 4-2 comeback win over bottom side Oviedo at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, overturning a two-goal lead squandered before half-time to overpower their fellow strugglers in this La Liga Regular Season - 29 clash.

The hosts could hardly have scripted a better start. On 4 minutes, Levante’s lone striker made the early breakthrough as Carlos Espí struck to put his side in front, capitalising on Oviedo’s hesitancy at the back to beat Aarón Escandell. Confident and direct, Levante continued to target the visitors’ central defence and doubled their lead in the 25th minute when Carlos Espí scored again, this time finishing another incisive move to leave Oviedo reeling at 2-0.

The game’s tone briefly shifted on 38 minutes when Eric Bailly was booked for a foul, a sign of Oviedo’s growing frustration as they struggled to turn their 62% possession into clear chances. Yet just before the interval, the visitors found a lifeline. In the 44th minute, Ilyas Chaira scored, assisted by Javi López, arriving to finish a well-worked move from the left and halve the deficit.

The first half turned dramatically in stoppage time. After sustained pressure, Oviedo won a penalty and, in the 45th minute, Federico Viñas scored from the spot, coolly sending Mathew Ryan the wrong way to level the match at 2-2. Deep into added time, at 45+6', Alberto Reina went into the book for a foul, but Oviedo nonetheless headed to the dressing room buoyed by their comeback.

Levante, however, refused to let the setback derail them. Early in the second half, they reasserted control. In the 52nd minute, Iker Losada scored, assisted by Kareem Tunde, restoring the home side’s lead at 3-2 with a composed finish after clever link-up play on the edge of the box.

Shortly after, Felipe Miñambres turned to his bench to refresh the midfield. In the 61st minute, Pablo Martínez came on for Iker Losada, a like-for-like switch aimed at preserving Levante’s attacking threat while adding fresh legs.

Oviedo responded with a triple change on 64 minutes, seeking to tilt the momentum. Santi Cazorla came on for Nicolas Fonseca, Haissem Hassan came on for Thiago Fernández, and Abdel Rahim came on for Javi López. The visitors added further energy in midfield on 70 minutes when Santiago Colombatto came on for Kwasi Sibo, underlining their intent to chase another equaliser.

The game’s edge sharpened as the fouls mounted. Kareem Tunde was booked for a foul in the 71st minute, followed three minutes later by Oriol Rey, also cautioned for a foul on 74 minutes as Levante fought to disrupt Oviedo’s rhythm.

In the 75th minute, Levante made a double attacking change that would prove decisive. Paco Cortés came on for Kareem Tunde, and Iván Romero came on for Carlos Espí, with the two-goal hero making way to a deserved ovation. Oviedo’s Santi Cazorla then picked up a yellow card for a foul in the 76th minute, another sign of the visitors’ growing frustration as they struggled to break Levante down.

Oviedo’s final attacking roll of the dice came on 80 minutes when Álex Forés came on for Alberto Reina. Levante, meanwhile, continued to manage the game smartly. In the 84th minute, Tai Abed came on for Víctor García, while Oviedo introduced Pablo Agudín for Nacho Vidal in the same minute, adding yet more midfield craft but little penetration.

As the clock ticked down, Levante shored up the centre of the pitch. At 89 minutes, Kervin Arriaga came on for Jon Ander Olasagasti, and Ugo Raghouber came on for Oriol Rey, ensuring fresh legs to see out the contest.

Any lingering nerves in the home stands were finally eased in the 90th minute. Iván Romero scored, latching onto a loose ball in the area to make it 4-2 and seal a vital three points for Levante.

Statistically, Oviedo’s dominance of the ball – 62% possession and 472 total passes at 82% accuracy – contrasted starkly with the scoreline. Levante, with just 38% of the ball and 283 passes at 72%, were far more incisive, registering 20 total shots to Oviedo’s 10 and hitting the target 8 times to the visitors’ 2. Levante also produced 6 blocked shots, reflecting their sustained attacking intent, while Oviedo managed only 2. Expected goals underlined the hosts’ efficiency and volume of chances: Levante’s xG of 1.82 edged Oviedo’s 1.34, and with Mathew Ryan not required to make a single save, the visitors’ threat was largely limited despite their territorial control. At the other end, Escandell made 4 saves but could not prevent Levante from striking four times.

In the standings, Levante’s victory lifts them from 26 to 29 points, improving their overall record to 7 wins, 8 draws and 15 defeats, with goals for rising from 34 to 38 and goals against from 48 to 50 (goal difference now -12). Their home tally moves to 4 wins, 5 draws and 7 losses, with 22 goals scored and 28 conceded. For Oviedo, the defeat leaves them rooted to the bottom on 21 points, their record now 4 wins, 9 draws and 17 defeats. Their goals for increase from 20 to 22, but goals against climb from 48 to 52, worsening their goal difference to -30; away from home they now stand at 1 win, 4 draws and 11 losses, with 16 goals scored and 38 conceded.

On a tense evening in Valencia, Levante’s ruthlessness in both boxes, embodied by Carlos Espí’s brace and Iván Romero’s late strike, may yet prove a turning point in their fight to stay in La Liga – and a damaging blow to Oviedo’s own fading hopes of survival.