Valencia edged past city rivals Levante in a tense Valencian derby, with the decisive moment arriving in the 79th minute. The hero of the night was striker Hugo Duro, who produced a spectacular overhead kick to guide the ball into the net after a well-placed cross — a moment of pure brilliance that lit up Mestalla.

Levante, sitting 19th in the table, failed to register a single shot on target throughout the match and never truly threatened. The visitors also finished without winning a single corner, underlining their struggles in a fixture dominated by Valencia’s energy and control.

A sold-out Mestalla created a fiery derby atmosphere, reminding the league of Valencia’s ambitions. Sitting 15th, Valencia view this season as an opportunity to stabilise and push toward the upper half of the La Liga table.

2025-26, Spain - La Liga

Valencia - Levante 1:0 (0:0)
Goals: Duro, 79 (1:0)

Valencia: Agirrezabala; Copete; Tarrega; Correia Th. (Foulquier, 85); Javi Guerra (Santamaria, 85); Almeida D.A. (Raba, 85); Gaya; Pepelu; Beltran L. (Duro, 54); Danjuma (Rioja L., 73); López D.
Substitution: Duro (from 54); Rioja L. (from 73); Foulquier (from 85); Santamaria (from 85); Raba (from 85)
Bench: Dimitrievski; Rivero C.; Vázquez Je.; Iranzo; Ugrinic; Otorbi
Yellow Cards: Copete 45; Correia Th. 49; Gaya 81

Levante: Ryan M.; Moreno M-s; De la Fuente A.; Elgezabal (Olasagasti, 84); Toljan; Sanchez M.; Vencedor (Morales J., 84); Rey O. (Arriaga, 70); Eyong (Koyalipou, 70); Alvarez C.; Romero I. (Brugue, 70)
Substitution: Arriaga (from 70); Brugue (from 70); Koyalipou (from 70); Olasagasti (from 84); Morales J. (from 84)
Bench: Campos; Matturro; Pampin; Cabello; García V.; Losada
Yellow Cards: Alvarez C. 31; Rey O. 34