Levante: Munúa; Javi Venta, Ballesteros,
Nano, Juanfran; Iborra, Xavi Torres; Valdo, Rubén Suárez (Xisco
Nadal 62'), Juanlu (Xisco Muñoz 73'); Stuani (Caicedo 67'). 4-2-3-1.
Hércules: Calatayud; David Cortés, Juanra,
Abraham Paz, Pulhac; Abel Aguilar, Fritzler; Kiko Femenía, Valdez
(Sendoa 68'), Drenthe (Thomert 82'); Portillo (Trézéguet 62').
4-2-3-1.
Goals:
1-0. 04. Rubén Suárez. Curled long free
kick over wall and wide of keeper.
2-0. 43. Juanlu. Beat Calatayud with
angled shot after Valdo laid ball back.
2-1. 82. Trézéguet.
Collected Kiko's headed pass and shot wide of keeper.
Yellow cards: Drenthe 41', Rubén Suárez 51', Pulhac 63', Juanlu 64', Javi Venta 67', Paz 84', Caicedo 90'.
Levante are without doubt the revelation side this season, and they are now in ninth spot, only three points behind Espanyol, after a 2-1 victory over local rivals Hércules. Rubén Suárez gave the Valencia based team the lead in the fourth minute with a well struck free kick, and he tested Calatayud again before Juanlu got the second, Valdo laying the ball back for the winger to score with an angled shot. A desperate Hércules pushed forward after the break, but the closest they came was when Munúa reacted well to keep out an effort from Juanra was deflected goalwards by Nano. Eventually substitute Trézéguet did get one back after Sendoa played through Kiko's headed pass, but it was already too late, and Caicedo could have increased the lead when he had a strike ruled out for a borderline offside near the end.