Levante 0 : 0 Sporting de Gijon - Bore draw helps both sides

Posted Sunday, May 01, 2011 by PA

Levante and Sporting Gijon played out an uninspiring goalless draw at the Ciutat de Valencia that sees both teams take a step closer to Primera Division safety.

The result means Levante move up to 43 points while Sporting remain just a point behind them on 42, and if history is anything to go by they may have already done enough to stay up.

Only twice in the last 10 seasons has a team been relegated from the top flight with 42 points, while the last time a side reached 43 points and still went down was Compostela in 1998.

In a match of few chances, Levante looked to have taken the lead when Felipe Caicedo turned Juanfran's left-wing cross past sporting goalkeeper Juan Pablo Colinas. However, the strike was ruled out for a marginal offside.

Soon after that Levante went close again when Xavi Torres fired in a thumping 25-yard drive which Colinas did well to parry diving away to his right.

Sporting's best attempt of the opening period saw Sebastian Eguren try his luck from distance, and although his effort was well-struck, it was comfortable enough for Levante goalkeeper Gustavo Munua to save.

The second half produced even less goalmouth incident, although Caicedo almost pounced on a bad backpass only to see his effort blocked by a covering Sporting defender.

The match may not have been the most exciting of affairs but the result could help both clubs' hopes of playing Primera Division football again next season.