An increasingly exhausted Real Madrid currently under scrutiny has had the task of trying to lift the pressure with a new win against Levante today. Anything other than the resounding 4-1 win over Deportivo Alavés in the last game could have tipped things off at boiling point. The result is simply bottled worries in anticipation of this match. While the lineup was strong, there were four Castilla players and two goalkeepers on the bench, meaning some of the reinforcements may have to rise more when their things sour. The opposition indicated former Castilla man Dani Gómez on the bench, but La Liga’s second top assistant Jorge De Frutos was not available for a return to Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Real Madrid actually showed up for this match. Players were fluent with their positioning and movement off the ball. No one shies away from responsibility. And it is important that they sometimes looked dangerous. So in a typical Real Madrid way, of course, it had to sour somehow. Levante penetrated before the ten minute mark, and Eder Militão brought down the forward and in return gave his order. Tienman Madrid then took the lead minutes later, as Asensio found himself in a hectare of space on the counter and carried the ball to goal before choosing his place past the goalkeeper. Madrid still looked sharp, with many of the players performing better than I saw from them at the time, but Levante managed to let their advantage count with a very nice first time in a cross inside the box. The visitors pushed themselves back into the game and Courtois had to deliver an excellent double save to keep the score level at half-time.
Brood with a nasty pass. Shades of Rui Costa -> Sheva vs Real Madrid 2003.
We often get Asensio – or no one – like that during an interruption. Nice finish.
– Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) 30 January 2021
The second half made another open play, and the chance of Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio could have seen the hosts up front. Levante, however, had a better chance to score again as Vinícius Júnior caught his man right on the line from the area to concede a penalty kick. The resulting putt was well saved by Courtois, but they will still take the lead through a well-worked corner with just over ten minutes left. Mariano and Sergio Arribas were thrown into the mixer, but few. Their fresh bones look apart with the fatigue and mentality of the entrees. The match ends 2-1, with Levante taking all three points home. Keep an eye on the player ratings as well as the podcast that will appear later in the game. What did you think of the game? And what does that mean for the season now?