Levante, the illustrious visitors to San Mamés | OneFootball

Athletic and Levante are bound by milestones, from a 2007 survival scrap to the 2013 farewell to the old San Mamés. They meet today with both chasing safety, Athletic sliding and Levante revived under Luís Castro.

In 2007 Athletic won 2-0 to secure survival, and Levante later prompted Eduardo Berizzo’s December 2018 sacking.

On 26 May 2013 Levante closed the old San Mamés with a 1-0 win, Juanlu converting a Valdo cross. "I remember it as if it were today. It was the farewell to a historic ground", he told Radio Bilbao.

Since the move, Levante have lost four straight at the new San Mamés and have not taken a point there in almost eight years. Their last result was a 3-1 comeback on 23 April 2018, Bardhi scored twice and Morales struck after Raúl García’s opener.

A pandemic Copa del Rey semi-final also left a scar, Álex Berenguer’s extra-time shot deflecting in off Vukcevic and, without knowing it, beginning Levante’s fall. In Bilbao, victory at Mestalla and progress to a semi-final against Real Sociedad have eased the strain.

President Jon Uriarte has set 17 points as the safety target, but Athletic have only 2 from the last 18, and their cushion is down from 11 to 3. They will be without Vivian and Berenguer, plus Sancet, Sannadi, Prados and Egiluz, while Yeray is out until 2 April. Castro could match Julián Calero’s haul with a draw and travels without Unai Vencedor, under a fear clause, and Matías Moreno.

Source: as.com