Levante vs Athletic Club La Liga match postponed after Valencia storm floods pitch
Synopsis
A fierce storm over Valencia's Orriols district turned the Ciutat de Valencia pitch into a flood zone on 17 September, forcing LaLiga to suspend Levante UD's clash with Athletic Club before a ball was kicked. With Levante 14th and Athletic's weekend schedule unchanged, the postponed fixture adds fixture congestion to both clubs' calendars.
Key Takeaways
The Levante UD vs Athletic Club La Liga fixture was postponed on 17 September 2026 due to heavy rain flooding the Ciutat de Valencia pitch.
The storm intensified from 9:15 PM local time , with LaLiga and match officials confirming conditions were unplayable.
Sporting director Hector Rodas addressed media, citing player and fan safety as the primary reason for suspension.
LaLiga will announce a rescheduled date once both clubs agree on a new slot.
Athletic Club 's Saturday home match against Deportivo Alavés at San Mamés remains on schedule.
Levante (14th) face Villarreal (19th) away on Sunday as their next confirmed fixture.
The La Liga fixture between Levante UD and Athletic Club was postponed on 17 September 2026 after a severe storm flooded the pitch at the Ciutat de Valencia, making conditions unfit for play. The suspension was confirmed following checks by LaLiga officials and the refereeing team, who determined the surface did not meet the minimum required standards.
How the Storm Unfolded
The storm intensified sharply from 9:15 PM local time (1:00 AM IST), battering the Orriols field area and rapidly flooding the pitch. As conditions worsened, spectators vacated the stands in an orderly fashion, taking shelter in the lower areas of the stadium before leaving the premises safely once the rain eased.
What the Club and Officials Said
'Levante UD deeply regrets any inconvenience this suspension may have caused to our season ticket holders and fans,' the club said in an official statement. Hector Rodas, Levante UD's sporting director, addressed the media in the mixed zone following the suspension, explaining the on-pitch situation and the factors that made playing football impossible, while emphasising that the safety of athletes and fans was the overriding priority.
Rescheduling and Next Steps
LaLiga confirmed it would announce a new date and kick-off time once Levante UD and Athletic Club reach a mutual agreement. Athletic Club's squad departed for Bilbao as originally planned, with their Saturday home fixture against Deportivo Alavés at San Mamés at 4:15 PM unaffected by the postponement.
League Context and Upcoming Fixtures
Levante, currently sitting 14th in the La Liga standings, will next travel to face 19th-placed Villarreal on Sunday. The postponed Valencia derby adds scheduling complexity for both clubs at a delicate stage of the season. This is not the first time extreme weather has disrupted Spanish football fixtures — Valencia's geography makes it particularly vulnerable to DANA-type storm systems that have historically caused flash flooding across the region.
Point of View
But Valencia's recurring vulnerability to extreme storm events is a structural concern LaLiga cannot keep treating as a weather anomaly. The Orriols flooding follows a broader pattern of DANA-driven deluges hitting the region, and the league's reactive posture — suspend first, reschedule later — does nothing to protect clubs from congested fixture lists. For Levante, already battling relegation proximity in 14th, every postponed home game erodes a potential points advantage. The rescheduling process will test whether LaLiga's calendar has any genuine flexibility or simply pushes the problem downstream.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the Levante vs Athletic Club La Liga match postponed?
The match was postponed on 17 September 2026 because heavy rain flooded the pitch at the Ciutat de Valencia, making it unfit for play. LaLiga officials and the refereeing team conducted checks and confirmed conditions did not meet the required standards.
When will the postponed Levante vs Athletic Club match be rescheduled?
LaLiga has said it will announce a new date and kick-off time once Levante UD and Athletic Club reach a mutual agreement on a suitable slot. No specific date has been confirmed yet.
Were fans safe during the Valencia storm?
Yes. Fans left the stands in an orderly manner and took shelter in the lower areas of the Ciutat de Valencia stadium, waiting for the rain to subside before leaving safely. Sporting director Hector Rodas confirmed that fan and player safety was the primary consideration.
Does the postponement affect Athletic Club's other fixtures?
No. Athletic Club's squad returned to Bilbao as planned, and their Saturday La Liga home match against Deportivo Alavés at San Mamés at 4:15 PM is unaffected by the postponement.
Where do Levante stand in La Liga and what is their next match?
Levante are 14th in the La Liga standings. Their next confirmed fixture is an away trip to face 19th-placed Villarreal on Sunday.
