An increasingly exhausted Real Madrid, currently under intense scrutiny, was tasked with trying to relieve some of the pressure with another victory over Levante today. Anything other than the resounding 4-1 victory over Deportivo Alavés in the last game could have pushed things past the boiling point. That result only bottled up concerns in anticipation of this accessory. Although the lineup was strong, the bank incorporated four Castilla players and two goalkeepers – meaning that some of the reinforcements may have to go beyond your experience if things get worse. The opponent put former Castilla player Dani Gómez on the bench, but La Liga’s second best striker, Jorge De Frutos, was unavailable for the return to Alfredo Di Stéfano.
Real Madrid really came into this game. The players were fluid with their position and movement outside the ball. No one was shirking responsibility. Most importantly, they seemed dangerous at times. So, in the typical Real Madrid style, it is clear that somehow it had to go sour. Levante found themselves on target before ten minutes, and Eder Militão lowered the striker and received his running order in return. Real Madrid, with ten players, took the lead minutes later, with Asensio taking up a huge space on the counterattack, taking the ball into the goal before scoring the pass to the goalkeeper. Real Madrid remained sharp, with many of the players performing better than I had seen in a while, but Levante managed to make their advantage with a very good shot the first time inside the area after a cross. The visitors returned to play and Courtois was called in to make an excellent double save to keep the score tied at halftime.
Kroos with a dirty pass. Rui Costa’s tones -> Sheva vs Real Madrid 2003.
We don’t see Asensio – or anyone else – at such an interval often. Good finish.
– Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) January 30, 2021
The second half was still open and the opportunities missed by Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio could have made the hosts return to attack. However, Levante had a better chance of scoring again, when Vinícius Júnior caught his man right on the edge of the area to suffer a penalty. The resulting penalty kick was well defended by Courtois, but they still took the lead through a well-crafted corner just over ten minutes from the end. Mariano and Sergio Arribas were thrown into the mixer, but to no avail. The fresh legs seemed out of place with the weariness and mentality of the owners. The game ended 2-1, with Levante taking all three points at home. Stay tuned for player ratings, as well as the post-game podcast that will be released later today. What did you think of the game? And what does that mean for the season now?