Nsongo Strikes First, but Depor and Levante Stall Again in Riazor Stalemate
Bil Nsongo's first top-flight goal wasn't enough as Dani Requena's late equaliser extended both sides' winless runs in a 1-1 draw on matchday 9.
Deportivo La Coruña and Levante opened La Liga's ninth matchday with a 1-1 draw at Riazor on Friday night — a result that kept two winless runs alive and left both sides wondering how a season resets from here.
A cagey first act
The opening 45 minutes were goalless and congested, with both teams struggling to carve out clear chances. Levante's best early look was a Luismi Cruz free kick that was comfortably held; Deportivo answered with a Yeremay Hernández volley turned behind for a corner, and an Iván Romero breakaway for the visitors was saved just before the interval.
Nsongo breaks through
The home side finally landed a blow in the 63rd minute. Yeremay drove into the box and had his shot blocked, and Bil Nsongo pounced on the rebound to finish — his first goal in the top flight, according to Galiciapress. But rather than push for a second, Deportivo dropped deep to protect the lead, handing Levante possession and territory.
Requena answers
The pressure told in the 82nd minute, when Dani Requena swept a low finish home after a move involving Jon Ander Olasagasti and Petar Ratkov. There was still time for real drama: Diego Villares won the ball high up and teed up substitute Jonathan Asp Jensen — on for Yeremay in the 80th — but his shot cannoned off the crossbar with the winner there for the taking.
What it means
Deportivo shaded the underlying numbers, edging expected goals 1.06 to 0.83, with Yeremay the match's top-rated player (7.7, four key passes), per Sofascore. But the table doesn't pay out on xG: Depor has now taken just three points from its last 15 available, and Levante stretched a winless run of its own, as COPE noted. A point apiece, and the same questions for both coaches on Monday morning.