Levante vs Athletic Bilbao Postponed After Torrential Rain Floods Stadium

Athletic Bilbao’s La Liga matchday six trip to Levante was called off shortly before the scheduled 9:30pm kick-off after severe rain left the Ciutat de Valencia pitch unfit for play. Athletic returned to Bilbao on Thursday morning and will now turn immediately towards Saturday’s derby meeting with Deportivo Alaves at San Mames.

What changed for Athletic Bilbao

The decision followed inspections involving LaLiga officials and referee Alejandro Quintero, who concluded that the waterlogged surface could not host the fixture. An official statement confirmed that the pitch failed to satisfy the conditions required to stage the match.

Rain intensified while Levante and Athletic players were completing their warm-ups. Water was lying across the field, stopping the ball from moving properly, while the tunnel between the dressing rooms and the pitch was also flooded. Quintero sent both squads back inside before the postponement was formally confirmed.

Valencia had been placed under an orange alert for heavy rainfall by the State Meteorological Agency, AEMET, earlier in the day.

Competition context

The postponed game is expected to be comparatively simple to rearrange because neither Levante nor Athletic are involved in European competition this season. Athletic director of football Mikel Gonzalez indicated that there are available midweek windows after the coming international break and before the Copa del Rey begins in late October.

A Thursday staging was discounted immediately because of the demands on both clubs’ schedules. LaLiga will set a new date and kick-off time once Levante and Athletic have agreed on a suitable slot.

• Levante’s next league fixture is away to Villarreal on Sunday.
• Athletic will host Deportivo Alaves on Saturday afternoon.
• The Levante match remains to be rescheduled by LaLiga.

What is scheduled next

Athletic’s players face a busy run before the forthcoming two-week international break, beginning with the Alaves derby after their early return from Valencia.

During the break, Athletic are due to meet Real Sociedad in the Euskal Herria Kopa final on Friday, 2 October. The club will then await confirmation of when the unfinished league trip to Levante can be played.