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Played
January 26, 2012 3:30 PM EST
Estadio Ciudad de Valencia — Valencia
Referee: Ignacio Iglesias
Attendance: 12100
January 26, 2012 3:30 PM EST
Estadio Ciudad de Valencia — Valencia
Referee: Ignacio Iglesias
Attendance: 12100
Copa del Rey Preview: Levante - Valencia
Unai Emery's side hold a comfortable advantage against their neighbors after the first leg, and can book a spot in the semifinals if they manage to contain the home attack
By Roger Gonzalez
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PROBABLE LINEUPS |
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LEVANTE
 Munua Venta, Ballesteros, Nano, Del Horno Torres, Farinos El Zhar, Barkero, Juanfran Kone |
VALENCIA
 Alves Bruno, Rami, Dealbert, Barragan Costa, Albelda Feghouli, Jonas, Alba Aduriz |
The hosts look fairly healthy entering the match, though Valdo and Juanlu are still suffering from injuries and look unlikely to feature.
For the visitors, the list of injuries is rather long. Aside from Sergio Canales and Hedwiges Maduro both being out, which has been the case since October, Victor Ruiz, Jeremy Mathieu, Pablo Hernandez and Miguel may also miss the match with minor knocks. It was believed that Pablo Piatti would lose his fitness battle, but after practising on Tuesday, he looks set to go.
In addition, Unai Emery will likely rest a few players with the three-goal advantage, with Aritz Aduriz a good bet to start in attack, replacing Roberto Soldado, who will likely be on the bench and come on if the visitors find themselves down early.
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DID YOU KNOW? |
- Levante faces a tough task if it hopes to make it to the semifinals of the cup. In the first leg, the side fell to Valencia 4-1, allowing three goals in the first half.
- The debate as to whether the club have ever won a Copa del Rey remains. In 1937, during the Spanish Civil War, which suspended the national competitions, clubs in the Republican area of Spain participated in the Copa de la España Libre, which included their opponents for Thursday, Espanyol and Girona. Levante won the cup, beating Valencia 1-0 in the final. In 2007, the Congress of Deputies urged the Royal Spanish Football Federation to accept the result as a Copa del Rey victory since the famous cup did not take place, but the governing body of Spanish football determined that it was not valid, though many Levante supporters feel it is.
- Valencia looks to have one foot in the semifinals after goals from Soldado, Piatti, Tino Costa and Jonas earned the thumping result in the first leg.
- The winner of the tie will face either Barcelona or Real Madrid in the next round.
- The visitors have won the Copa del Rey seven times, with the last time coming in 2008.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
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Levante 1-2 Valencia
- 20.88 %
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Levante 0-2 Valencia
- 13.25 %
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Levante 1-1 Valencia
- 9.24 %
| La Liga (LIGA) | Apr 1, 2012 | Valencia 1 - Levante 1 |
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| Copa del Rey (ESPC) | Jan 26, 2012 | Levante 0 - Valencia 3 |
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| Copa del Rey (ESPC) | Jan 19, 2012 | Valencia 4 - Levante 1 |
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| La Liga (LIGA) | Nov 5, 2011 | Levante 0 - Valencia 2 |
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| La Liga (LIGA) | May 15, 2011 | Valencia 0 - Levante 0 |
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Levante
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| May 13, 2012 | Levante 3 - Athletic Bilbao 0 | LIGA |
| May 5, 2012 | Mallorca 1 - Levante 0 | LIGA |
| May 2, 2012 | Zaragoza 1 - Levante 0 | LIGA |
| Apr 28, 2012 | Levante 3 - Ciudad de Murcia 1 | LIGA |
| Apr 21, 2012 | Sevilla 1 - Levante 1 | LIGA |
Valencia
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| May 12, 2012 | Real Sociedad 1 - Valencia 0 | LIGA |
| May 5, 2012 | Valencia 1 - Villarreal 0 | LIGA |
| May 2, 2012 | Valencia 4 - Osasuna 0 | LIGA |
| Apr 29, 2012 | Malaga 1 - Valencia 0 | LIGA |
| Apr 26, 2012 | Valencia 0 - Atletico Madrid 1 | EL |
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- Messi: Chelsea match will be more difficult than Levante
| 1 | Gustavo Adolfo Munúa | Goalkeeper |
| - | Iván López Mendoza | Defender |
| 22 | Gustavo Daniel Cabral | Defender |
| 18 | Ballesteros | Defender |
| 15 | Asier Del Horno | Defender |
| 6 | Pallardó | Defender |
| 10 | Iborra | Midfielder |
| - | Óscar Serrano | Midfielder |
| 22 | Pedro Botelho | Defender |
| 21 | Rubén Suárez | Striker |
| 11 | Rafa Jordá | Striker |
| - | Mario | Goalkeeper |
| 7 | Nano | Defender |
| 17 | Javier Rodríguez Venta | Defender |
| 12 | Juan García García | Defender |
| 14 | Xavi Torres | Midfielder |
| - | José Marco Higón | Midfielder |
| - | Roger Martí Salvador | Striker |
| 1 | Diego Alves | Goalkeeper |
| 12 | Barragán | Defender |
| 20 | Ricardo Costa | Defender |
| 18 | Víctor Ruiz | Defender |
| 17 | Jordi Alba | Midfielder |
| 6 | Albelda | Midfielder |
| 24 | Tino Costa | Midfielder |
| 21 | Parejo | Midfielder |
| 28 | Juan Bernat | Midfielder |
| 14 | Pablo Piatti | Striker |
| 11 | Aritz Aduriz Zubeldia | Striker |
| 13 | Guaita | Goalkeeper |
| 4 | Adil Rami | Defender |
| 2 | Bruno | Defender |
| 8 | Sofiane Feghouli | Midfielder |
| 10 | Ever Banega | Midfielder |
| 7 | Jonas | Striker |
| 9 | Roberto Soldado | Striker |
Results
Match News
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
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Pablo Infante
Striker Mirandés |
6 | 1 |
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Fernando Llorente Torres
Striker Bilbao |
5 | 0 |
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Álvaro
Striker Espanyol |
5 | 0 |
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Stuani
Striker Racing Santander |
4 | 1 |
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Pedro
Striker Barcelona |
4 | 1 |