Levante: Munúa; Javi Venta, Ballesteros,
Nano, Juanfran; Iborra (Pallardó 79'), Farinós; Valdo, Barkero
(Rubén Suárez 69'), Juanlu (El Zhar 65'); Koné. 4-2-3-1.
Málaga: Willy Caballero; Jesús Gámez,
Demichelis, Mathijsen, Monreal; Toulalan, Maresca (Rubén 29'); Cazorla
(Seba Fernández 46'), Joaquín, Isco; Van Nistelrooy
(Rondón 46'). 4-2-3-1.
Goals:
0-1. 14. Barkero. Shot from edge of area which
deflected in to net off Maresca.
2-0. 30. Juanlu. Poked shot past
Rubén after Barkero free kick came off wall.
3-0. 41. Koné.
Won ball off hesitant Rubén to score following long clearance.
Yellow cards: Barkero 16', Nano 20', Juanlu 38' / red cards: Caballero 28'.
Levante are surprising everyone this season, and they stay in joint first place with Barcelona after a 3-0 win over Málaga on Sunday evening. Barkero started things off early on after Juanfran's cross fell to him inside the area, his shot taking a deflection off Maresca to wrong-foot Will Caballero. And with just under half an hour gone, the visiting keeper was sent off for handling outside of the area, Juanlu getting ahead of replacement keeper Rubén to make it two after the resulting Barkero free kick came to him off the defensive wall. A few minutes later Demichelis had to clear from Valdo, and before the break Koné robbed Rubén's pocket book to score the third. Málaga's only reply up to then had been a couple of efforts from Cazorla and Gámez which Munúa kept out without too many problems, and after the restart Rubén Suárez and El Zhar could even have increased the scoreline. Seventeen points for Levante, two more than they picked up in all the first half of the season last year. This time they are here to stay!