Levante's extraordinary season continued when they thrashed second-division Alcorcon 4-0 on Wednesday to secure a 5-2 aggregate victory and advance to the King's Cup quarter-finals for the first time in more than 70 years. One of the poorest teams in the Spanish top flight and relying on one of the oldest squads, Levante are a surprising fourth in La Liga and briefly topped the standings for the first time in their history in October.
Wednesday's resounding Cup win set up a last-eight clash with their more illustrious city neighbours Valencia. The 2008 winners lost 2-1 at Sevilla, the 2010 champions, in their last-16 second leg at the Sanchez Pizjuan but went through on the away goals rule after Valencia won last week's first leg at the Mestalla 1-0.
"Our priority is the league but we are going to try to compete in the Cup too," Levante coach Juan Ignacio Martinez in his first top-flight coaching job, told a news conference. Jose Barkero set Levante on their way in the 23rd minute at their Ciutat de Valencia stadium, before Roger Marti and Vicente Iborra made it 3-0 with goals either side of the break.
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