Xàtiva relives this Friday the promotion of Levante UD from 1976

Xàtiva will commemorate one of the most significant chapters in Levante's history in an event that will take place this Friday at the Casa de Cultura. Half a century after that decisive match played at La Murta, Levante UD will symbolically return to the venue that marked their return to the Second Division.

The Noble Hall of the Casa de Cultura in Xàtiva will host, starting at 7:30 PM on Friday, the event "Two Crests, One History: 50 Years of Levante UD in the Second Division", an initiative promoted by the Associació Esportiva Murta in collaboration with Levante UD, the Levante UD Footballers Association, CD Olímpic de Xàtiva, and the Xàtiva City Council.

Sports journalist Pepe Guitiérrez will host an event that will honor players from both teams as well as individuals from Xàtiva connected to Levante who have helped keep the memory of that historic day alive. The event will also feature a roundtable discussion with journalists familiar with Levante's history, as well as the club's Historical Heritage Manager, Emilio Nadal. Additionally, Pablo Sánchez, president of Levante UD, Paco Fenollosa, honorary president, David Gómez Blasco, board member, and Puri Naya, Director of Communication and External Relations, have confirmed their attendance.

The event will have a charitable aspect, as proceeds from a charity raffle, in which Levante UD will participate with a jersey, will be donated to local animal protection organizations. Admission will be free with prior reservation.

The day Levante played it all at La Murta

On Sunday, June 6, 1976, Levante arrived at La Murta knowing that their goal was within reach. The granota team faced the final matchday of the Third Division championship, depending on themselves to secure promotion to the Second Division. The standings placed Levante as the leader with a one-point advantage over Huesca. Huesca was visiting Ibiza, while the Balearic team needed a win to avoid direct relegation. The Levante team arrived in Xàtiva with a mix of pressure and conviction. A victory was enough to ensure they depended on no one else.

Balciscueta paved the way

The match began in the best possible way. Balciscueta struck early in the game and put Levante ahead with a goal that would go down in history. Reports from the time, especially those by the late Valencian journalist José Vicente Aleixandre, described a strong start by Levante, showcasing elegant and dominant football; at times, even “princely.”

However, as the minutes passed, the script changed. Levante began to lose offensive presence, and the match entered a much more demanding phase. At that point, Febrer emerged as a key figure, making decisive saves to maintain the lead and protect an advantage that was worth promotion.

Meanwhile, favorable news arrived from Ibiza: the Balearic team was defeating Huesca. Levante didn’t need to look beyond their own performance. They won at La Murta and ended up extending their lead over the second-placed team to three points.

A season of twists before success

That promotion was even more valuable because of the challenges faced along the way. Levante had started the 1975-76 season as the main favorite to return to the Second Division. By late December, they were leading the standings, but a series of poor results shook the project. And in an era when only the champion earned direct promotion, any misstep had significant consequences, potentially leading to the dreaded playoffs.

The season was also marked by changes in the coaching staff. Daucik left his position early in the campaign. Moll, his replacement, lasted until February 1976. Álvaro took over for the decisive stretch of the competition. Under his leadership, the team regained its form at the right time, reclaimed the top spot, and arrived in Xàtiva fully in control of their destiny.

Grau Torral's second promotion

The triumph at La Murta also marked the second promotion achieved by Manuel Grau Torralba as president of Levante. Paradoxically, that success coincided with the final phase of his tenure as the granota club's top leader. Half a century later, the memory remains intact.

Now, fifty years later, Xàtiva and Levante will come together again to celebrate an afternoon that remains forever etched in the memory of Levante fans.