Bottom-ranked Levante began their match with Espanyol knowing they would have some better chances of taking three points from it.
Espanyol have won only once this season against Levante's neighbors Valencia away from home. Equally, he may have seen this as his best opportunity to add to that record.
Naturally, this led to a tight first half in the Ciutat de Valencia, with Levante enjoying the ball more. The only clear opportunity to impress the scoreline came from Levante youngster Mark Pubil, who could not convert from inside the six-yard box after excellent work from Ennis Bardhi.
Espanyol was comfortable defending and doubted that the counter might be enough to settle the match. In just five minutes of the second half, that tactic paid off as Javi Puado ended Levante's goalkeeper in the corner.
Sadly, it will be pubil again in Levante's next best effort that hit the post. This was a symptom of the increased tempo from the Levante and Espanyol began to creak. Minutes after taking Pabil's place, Dani Gomez jumped to the back post to equalize. Veteran 'keeper Diego López was injured after a double-save from Jorge de Frutos. Now it was Espanyol's young Joan GarcÃa under the microscope, as he mistook the flight of the cross for Gomez's equalizer.
This set up the final ten minutes for Levante's attack, which, in the interest of honesty, always lacked the punch needed to find a winner.
The match ended 1-1, with both teams feeling somewhat annoyed. A point is too low for Levante's survival bid (six points now a deficit), nor for Espanyol's self-esteem.