Levante v Real Madrid

Relegation threatened Levante, who find themselves bottom of the pile with just 20 points and only one win in their last five games, entertained the Galactico’s of Real Madrid in Valencia on Wednesday evening, in what, on paper at least, was a truly David versus Goliath encounter.

On a beautiful, 18 degree evening at the Estadi Ciutat de València, it was the home side who started the better of the two. Surprise signing of the January transfer window and Italian international, Giuseppe Rossi forced a world class save by ex-Levante stopper Keylor Navas after just 4 minutes with a sweet left footed volley.

Cristiano Ronaldo, constantly booed throughout by the home fans, and coincidentally is not too popular with his own fans at the moment after his almost blasphemous comments at the weekend, had Real’s only chance of note on 27 minutes when he looped a free header over the bar from a Toni Kroos corner.

The game finally exploded into life on the 31st minute when Lucas Vazquez, who surprisingly replaced fan favourite Isco in the starting 11, took on left back Lucas Orban. The Spanish winger cut inside the box, and with a clever step over, forced the Argentinian left back to dangle a leg which clipped the winger and resulted in a penalty.

The rapturous home support were very much aggrieved, not at just the decision itself by referee Ricardo De Burgos Bengoetxea, but the fact they had been quite comfortable up until that point.

Ronaldo, who showed no signs of nerves after missing his previous penalty against Malaga, stepped up and smashed the ball home to the bottom left corner to get his 35th goal of the season.

Just six minutes later, the visitors found themselves 2–0 up when Madrid wonderkid, Borja Mayoral, who was replaced the injured Karim Benzema swivelled on the edge of the box and hit a right footed shot that struck the post and rebounded off the helpless Mariño, in what will unfortunately for the 18 year old will go down as an own goal.

Amazingly, just over 100 seconds after tipping off, Joan Francesc Ferrer Sicilia (or Rubi as he’s more commonly known) side, found themselves back in the game. After some absolutely horrendous defending from Madrid’s makeshift defence, targetman Deyverson knocked down a long hopeful ball to strike partner Rossi, who then stumbled through three players “challenges” and easily return the ball to the big man to slot home. A classic case of little and large strike partnership combining well together.

Second Half

The second half started much like the first, pretty slow with both teams looking comfortable in possession with not much attacking threat.

But on the 65th minute lady luck smiled on Levante when, Columbian World Cup star James Rodriguez clipped a beautiful ball over the top to CR7, who’s first time side foot volley hit the inside of the near post and amazingly ran across the goal line without crossing the line.

The game opened up a little more after this chance, as the home side realised that time was running out and they had nothing to lose. The ball fell to club captain Verza who had a rasping effort from 25 yards touched just around the post. This was quickly followed by a glorious chance for goal scorer Deyverson after a whipped out swinging corner was flicked on at the near post and was just inches away from the outstretched Brazilian at the back.

Real Madrid were looking very nervous going into the final stages and dropped deeper and deeper allowing Levante to have the majority of the possession. But with the La Liga strugglers pushing for the equaliser, Los Blanco’s showed their quality once more. A swift counter attack down the right wing resulted with man of the moment Ronaldo cutting a ball back from the end line to substitute Isco who swept home and ensure that all three points went home to the Spanish capital.

Not a very convincing performance from Zidane’s side, but with big players injured and a mini crisis at the Santiago Bernabeau following last weekend defeat in the Madrid derby, Ronaldo and co. will be more than happy to get back to winning ways. As far Rubi’s side are concerned, as brave as they battled all night, they still find themselves languishing in last place with games running out fast.