Levante vs Atlético Madrid ends 0-0 as points slip in LaLiga race
Levante vs Atlético Madrid finished scoreless on Saturday, Jan. 31, leaving both sides with a point that felt more consequential than celebratory. Atlético controlled more of the ball and produced the clearer late chance, but Levante’s defense and goalkeeper held firm, a result that keeps the hosts alive in a relegation fight while slowing Atlético’s attempt to keep pace near the top of the table.
Kickoff was at 12:30 p.m. ET, with the match concluding shortly after 2:25 p.m. ET following added time.
Levante vs Atlético Madrid ends 0-0 in Valencia
The stalemate was defined by tight spacing in central areas and a lack of clean looks inside the penalty area. Levante kept their defensive line compact and forced Atlético wide, while Atlético’s possession spells did not consistently translate into high-quality finishing opportunities. The best moment arrived deep in stoppage time when a right-footed attempt by Julián Alvarez was saved by Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan, preserving the clean sheet.
Match stats at a glance
A quick snapshot shows why the match felt balanced even with Atlético seeing more of the ball: both teams finished with the same number of total attempts, and the difference in shots on target was modest.
Match snapshot
Stat Levante Atlético
Possession 45.2% 54.8%
Shots on target 2 4
Total shot attempts 10 10
Yellow cards 2 1
What the draw means in the table
In LaLiga, three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. Over a long season, draws can be either valuable stabilizers or missed opportunities, depending on context.
For Levante, the point is the kind that can matter at the bottom: it slows the damage against an elite opponent and can help build momentum in a survival push. The club entered the match in 19th place, and any home point gained without conceding is a tangible boost, especially against teams chasing European places.
For Atlético, the draw is more frustrating. Sitting in third before kickoff, the club needed maximum points to keep pressure on the teams above them. Dropping two points in a low-scoring road match does not end a title chase, but it narrows the margin for error as the schedule intensifies in February.
How games like this get decided
Scoreless draws often come down to a few repeatable mechanics rather than a single dramatic moment. When one team holds more possession, the defending side typically tries to do three things: deny passes into the striker’s feet, block the central lanes that lead to cutbacks, and force shots from outside the most dangerous zones. On the other side, the attacking team must either create overloads wide to deliver quality service, or find quick combinations between the lines to trigger a shot before the defense resets.
Levante executed the defensive script well, and Atlético did not consistently find the last pass that turns control into goals. The late save by Ryan fit the pattern: a moment of danger, handled cleanly, and the game ends with the same tension it carried throughout.
What comes next for both clubs
The calendar now turns quickly. Atlético’s next listed match is a Copa del Rey trip to Real Betis on Thursday, Feb. 5, scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET, followed by a league meeting with Real Betis on Sunday, Feb. 8, scheduled for 11:30 a.m. ET. Atlético also have a Champions League tie against Club Brujas later in February, adding pressure to manage minutes and recover sharpness in front of goal.
Levante’s next league match is away to Athletic Club on Sunday, Feb. 8, listed for 9:15 a.m. ET. With the relegation battle likely to be decided by fine margins, the priority after a clean sheet against a top-three side is to turn defensive stability into enough goals to convert more draws into wins.
