In A Coruña, where the Atlantic light had long gone by the time Riazor opened LaLiga EA Sports matchday nine, Deportivo and Levante found no clean way out of their recent frustrations. Both arrived having gone four league matches without a victory, and their 1-1 draw left that wait intact: a night in which Deportivo’s greater share of the ball briefly seemed enough, before Levante’s late reply carried the visitors home with a point.
Antonio Hidalgo’s side were without the injured Aubameyang, Marc Casadó and Zakaria Eddahchourri, while Amatucci was suspended. Yet Deportivo began with encouragement from Yeremay, lively on the right and capable of unsettling his marker. Luismi Cruz sent an early free kick into the wall, and Yeremay nearly punished Ryan when the Levante goalkeeper hesitated over a clearance. Nsongo also threatened after Leo Román’s long pass, though Ryan reached the loose control first.
The first half had little of the urgency the circumstances might have suggested. Iván Romero received the game’s first yellow card for using his hand to halt a Deportivo counterattack. Levante had moments, notably when Thiago Fernández’s cross towards the far post had to be turned away by Quagliata, while Román saved after a mistake by Giménez created danger in the Deportivo area. At the other end, Quagliata’s awkward but inventive effort looped towards Ryan, and Dela lifted a free kick over the bar shortly before the interval.
A breakthrough, then a response
Deportivo returned with much the same territorial control, although the match remained short on clear openings. Yeremay again made ground down the right and supplied a cross that Nsongo could not properly meet. Hidalgo then introduced Nsongo and Adama Traoré for X. Navarro and Luismi Cruz on 62 minutes, and the change had an immediate effect.
A minute later, Yeremay drove towards goal, twice cutting back before a defender blocked his shot. Nsongo reacted quickest to the rebound, finishing from close range to put Deportivo ahead. Adama soon had a chance to extend the advantage after Yeremay’s through ball, but his attempt was too close to Ryan.
Levante reshaped their side as the match entered its last quarter. Ratkov and Olasagasti replaced O. Rey and Bardeli in the 69th minute, with Toljan coming on for N. Pérez seven minutes later. Deportivo answered by sending on Asp Jensen and Angeliño for Yeremay and Riki Rodríguez, while Loureiro later replaced Ede.
The visitors’ persistence was rewarded in the 82nd minute. A long ball found Ratkov, who set up Requena to score the equaliser. Román might have dealt better with the finish, but Levante had restored parity and altered the mood inside Riazor.
Deportivo still came closest to taking all three points. Villares won possession as Levante played out from the back and fed Asp Jensen, whose attempt struck the crossbar in the 87th minute. In seven added minutes, Adama continued to trouble Levante’s defence, while Villares fired over from distance. Levante’s final set piece was punched clear by Román, and the draw was confirmed soon afterwards.
Levante’s road wait continues
Levante came to Galicia carrying a difficult sequence under Luís Castro, their second-worst run since he took charge midway through last season. They had drawn with Málaga, lost to Barcelona and Villarreal, then recovered a point in a 3-3 meeting with Sevilla. Requena’s goal ensured they avoided another defeat, but it did not end their wait for a first away win of the campaign.
Deportivo’s starting side was Leo Román; X. Navarro, Giménez, Ede, Quagliata; Luismi Cruz, Riki Rodríguez, Villares, M. Soriano; Yeremay and Nsongo. Levante began with Ryan; N. Pérez, De la Fuente, Ndukwe, Manu Sánchez; O. Rey, Requena, Bardeli; Brugué, Iván Romero and Thiago Fernández.
For the hosts, the evening offered another indication that their performances have improved despite the shortage of points over the previous month. For Levante, the return journey east brings a similar mixture of relief and unfinished business: a late equaliser, but still no win beyond their own stadium.
