The common denominator

I vaguely remember the school lessons when we tackled the term 'common denominator'. Now I know the answer to the question posed by my teachers is... Levante.

I've worked it all out and can reveal that the humble club from the eastern peninsula of Spain is central to the outcome of all the big football competitions in the country.

As we talk about averages, Levante are the most middling club in La Liga. They sit right in the heart of the table, have won as many as they have lost, and no top-half team has drawn as many games. They have scored one more goal than they have conceded. They are Joe Average (or should we say José Promedio?).

The dictionary definition of common denominator is 'a feature shared by all members of a group.' For Athletic Bilbao to reach their second successive Copa del Rey final they needed to beat Levante in the semi-final. When Atlético appeared to be cruising to the title a month ago, they met Levante twice in a week. In the first game the teams drew but Atlético remained six points ahead of their nearest challengers. The following week, a 94th-minute winner from the halfway line meant Diego Simeone and his players experienced a home defeat for the first time in a year. "Hay Liga" declared the sports papers.

Real Madrid haven't lost in any of their last nine games. Guess the last club to beat them? Yes, it was Levante at the Bernabéu.

Many have pinpointed El Clásico on 10 April as the most important game of the season and it's safe to conclude that the defeated team will be eliminated from the chase to be champions. However, there will still be eight games to go.

Let me pinpoint round 36. Barcelona will have clashed with Atlético the previous week; it will be tight at the top of the table. Real Madrid head to Granada, the surprise team of the season; meanwhile at Estadi Ciutat de Valencia, Levante will be hosting Barcelona.

It's highly likely that Barcelona's Liga revival will continue now they don't have the distraction of the Champions League to contend with. So, if my calculations are correct, they will need to win to keep the dream alive.

Unlike Atlético and Real Madrid, Barça haven't dropped points to Levante this season. A single Lionel Messi goal won the game with fourteen minutes remaining at the Camp Nou.

By my reckoning, if Barcelona do the double over Levante, they fully deserve to be the Champions of Spain. The 'Levante factor' is the deciding factor. A club with no chance of qualifying for Europe and totally safe from relegation holds the key to success.

What's the reckoning? Ask your typical Levante fan how they are doing, and you won't get a 'fine' or 'not so good'. I'm sure they'd shrug their shoulders, smile and say they are 'pretty average'. It should be the club motto.