In the Spanish football landscape, the Mediterranean coastal city of Valencia is home to two professional football clubs: Valencia CF and Levante UD. Many newcomers to Spain might wonder why the same city has two teams and what exactly is their relationship? Let’s explore this topic today.
Historical Origins and Status Differences
Valencia CF, founded in 1919, is one of Spain’s traditional football powerhouses, having won 6 La Liga titles and 8 Copa del Rey trophies. Levante UD, although established earlier, spent most of its history languishing in lower divisions and only began appearing regularly in La Liga from the 2000s onwards. This vast difference in historical status is similar to Barcelona’s Barça and Espanyol, or Madrid’s Real Madrid and Getafe.
Here’s a comparison table of the two clubs:
| Category | Valencia CF | Levante UD |
|---|
| Founded | 1919 | 1909 |
| Home Stadium | Mestalla Stadium | Ciutat de Valencia Stadium |
| La Liga Titles | 6 | 0 |
| Fan Base | 40,000-50,000 | 10,000-20,000 |
The Nuanced Fan Culture Relationship
Honestly, the relationship between the two clubs’ fans is quite complex. Valencia supporters typically view Levante as their little brother, with a certain sense of superiority. Levante fans, on the other hand, exist more in the cracks, wanting to prove themselves while having to acknowledge the gap in strength. Interestingly though, when Levante wins a derby, the entire eastern part of the city erupts in celebration. This underdog victory sensation is particularly precious to them.
In daily life, you’ll find bat symbols (Valencia’s emblem) everywhere in Valencia’s city center, while Levante’s frog logo is mainly concentrated in the working-class neighborhoods of the eastern and southern parts of the city. This geographical distribution also reflects the different social bases of the two teams.
The Unique Derby Day Atmosphere
Every city derby sees either Mestalla or Ciutat de Valencia Stadium packed to capacity. Although there’s a clear gap in strength between the two teams, derbies are always full of surprises. I remember that 2020 match when Levante defeated Valencia 1-0 away, and afterwards, bars throughout the city buzzed with discussions about the game—Levante fans could finally hold their heads high among colleagues.
Some say Levante will forever live in Valencia’s shadow, but it’s precisely this asymmetrical relationship, like the Valencia Barcelona relationship, that makes the derby more dramatic. Valencia gets ridiculed for losing to the smaller club, while Levante can boast about a victory for months.
The relationship between Valencia and Levante is like two brothers under the same roof—while the elder brother’s position is secure, the younger one’s occasional rebellion adds spice to life. For those living in Valencia, which team you support often depends on which part of the city you live in, your family tradition, and which club culture you identify with more, whether it’s Celta Valencia or Valencia and Getafe. This is the charm of Spanish football—even within the same city, football can create completely different identity affiliations.
