Five things you may not know about the Valencia Derby

Valencia CF’s rivalry with Levante UD may be a relatively modern one, but it grows stronger with each passing year. Take a look at five interesting aspects of this fixture and why this derby is so unique.

Levante UD are actually older than their more famed rivals

Although Valencia CF use the name of the city, Levante UD are actually the older institution. They were founded in their original form in 1909, 10 years before Valencia CF came to into being. Both clubs are among the oldest in Spain and are already well into their second century of life.

Fittingly, Levante UD were the first guests at the Mestalla

Valencia CF’s home ground, Mestalla, is the oldest stadium among all of those currently used in LaLiga Santander, having opened on May 20^th, 1923. The rivals that day? City rivals Levante UD. Valencia CF won 1-0, setting the tone for the future dynamic of this derby.

Their first LaLiga Santander meeting was relatively recent

Although both clubs were formed within the first 20 years of the 20^th century and played a friendly to christen Mestalla, they didn’t actually meet in official LaLiga Santander competition until the 1963/64 season. That season was Levante UD’s first in the top division after decades of existence in the lower leagues. Although they lost this first league meeting with Valencia CF at Mestalla by a 5-3 scoreline, they won the return game at their own ground 1-0 to settle the scores.

Mista and the phantom goal

One derby in 2004/05 conjured up controversy for the ages. Valencia CF won the match 2-1, but their second goal never actually crossed the line. Striker Miguel Ángel Ferrer Martínez, better known as Mista, struck a powerful shot against the crossbar and the ball bounced on the goal line and away. The referee awarded the goal and Valencia CF went on to win the game in controversial fashion.

Levante UD have never finished above Valencia CF in the table

Levante UD may have enjoyed several derby day victories, but they’ve never won the derby in the sense of finishing higher up in the table. Not once have the Granotas finished above Valencia CF in the final standings of LaLiga Santander. The closest they’ve been to their neighbours in the final table was in 2020/21, when Valencia CF were 13^th and Levante UD 14^th.