Arriaga plays 79 minutes in Levante’s 1-1 draw vs Espanyol
Levante UD continued their run of gritty performances on Sunday afternoon, playing out a 1–1 draw against RCD Espanyol at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia. While the Granotas showed plenty of spirit to fight back immediately after conceding, the points were ultimately shared in a tactical battle that saw both managers utilize their benches late in the game.
Match recap
The first half was a cautious affair with neither side willing to overextend. However, the match exploded into life early in the second period. Espanyol broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute through Carlos Romero, who fired a left-footed strike into the top corner to give the visitors a brief lead.
Levante’s response was nearly instantaneous. Just two minutes later, Iker Losada leveled the score, slotting home a clinical finish after being played through by Adrián de la Fuente. The final half-hour became a midfield grind as both teams searched for a winner without leaving themselves exposed. Despite a late flurry of substitutions from both sides, the defenses held firm to ensure the points were split.
Arriaga’s performance
Kervin Arriaga was the engine of the Levante midfield for the majority of the afternoon, providing the physical edge required to handle Espanyol’s creative threats before being withdrawn for tactical reasons.
- Midfield dominance: Arriaga was a constant disruptor, leading the team in ball recoveries and successful aerial duels during his time on the pitch.
- Tactical substitution: “The Tank” was subbed off in the 79th minute, replaced by Unai Vencedor as manager Luís Castro looked for more fresh legs and ball retention to navigate the final ten minutes.
- Transition anchor: He was the primary link between the defense and attack, consistently moving the ball into wide areas to spring Levante’s counter-attacks.
- Defensive resilience: Before his exit, Arriaga made several crucial interceptions, particularly during a 10-minute stretch of sustained Espanyol pressure midway through the second half.
Stats
- Minutes played: 79
- Interceptions: 3
- Tackles won: 3
- Aerial duels won: 5
- Pass accuracy: 84%
With this result, Levante continues to pick up vital points in their quest to climb the table. For the former Loon, a 79-minute shift of this quality against a top-six side like Espanyol further cements his status as a key piece of the Levante project. Arriaga will look to contribute again next weekend as they travel to Mallorca on Jan. 18.
