La Liga: Cracking derby in store between in-form Levante and Valencia

Saturdayrsquos Valencia city derby 1100PM IST should be a cracker with both teams firing so far this season and the huge local pride and global ambitions on each sideExpectations will be high around the city ahead of the game with Valencia and Levante coming into the game separated by just three points and three places in the LaLiga Santander table This follows Los Ches gutsy 21 victory in another regional derby at home to Villarreal while Los Granotas will want to bounce back from their 04 defeat at inform GetafeLevante have been really strong at their Ciutat de Valencia stadium this season with just one loss through seven LaLiga games which have brought four victories including the famous 31 win over reigning champions Barcelona in early NovemberValencia meanwhile have had some excellent results on the road winning at Athletic Clubrsquos daunting San Mames stadium and picking up an impressive draw away at Atletico de Madrid in recent weeksFormer RC Celta striker Maxi Gomez has made a strong start at the club scoring six times already in LaLiga this season Club captain Dani Parejo also has six so far five penalties and his superb late free kick equaliser at Atletico Emerging teenage star Ferran Torres again underlined his quality with the winner against Villarreal last weekend while fellow youngster Lee KangIn also scored a fine goal against Getafe recentlyLevante have also had many excellent performers throughout their team over the first four months of 201920 Jose Campana has again been a driving force in the centre of the park while another former RC Celta player Nemanja Radoja has settled really well both midfielders scored against Barccedila Goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez has also been in spectacular form between the posts while forwards Borja Mayoral and Roger Marti have also been among the goals recentlyAmong many extra twists adding an edge to Saturdayrsquos derby is home coach Paco Lopez having represented both Levante and Valencia during his playing career Lopez stepped up from the reserve side to save the senior team from relegation in 201718 and easily kept them safe again last year while playing really entertaining attacking football Valencia coach Albert Celades has also had a positive influence since taking his first job in senior club management in September drawing on his experience as a LaLiga winner with both Barcelona and Real Madrid as a playerFurther connections include Celades knowing Levantersquos Mayoral from their spell together with Spains Under21 international team as coach and player Meanwhile Levante defender Ruben Vezo played for Valencia from 2014 before in January 2019 becoming one of the few players recently to move across the cityRecent seasons have seen the home side dominate this derby Valencia have won the last five meetings at their Mestalla home with Levante victorious in four of the last six in front of their own fans Last season at the Ciutat de Valencia saw Roger Marti twice put the home side ahead Denis Cheryshev and Parejo equalise both times and Levante defender Coke sent off late onFurther excitement is likely in Saturdayrsquos game and both teams will see the three points as pushing them closer to the European places Bragging rights around the city will also be at stake meaning many reasons for supporters and neutrals all over the world to tune inWatch Levante UD vs Valencia CF live this Saturday on Facebook Watch at 1100 PMCatch up on all the latest sports news and updates here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates