A sodden Santiago Bernabeu witnessed a curious 3-2 victory for a zestful Real Madrid against Levante.
In the absence from the start of any summer signings, although €100 million Belgium winger Eden Hazard was fit enough to finally debut off the bench, several familiar faces came to the fore. The unplayable Karim Benzema – a post denied him a magnificent hat-trick before the hour-mark – headed in the 25th-minute opener and then soon slotted home the second after a one-two with the recalled James Rodriguez, moving onto four goals in four La Liga games this term.
A high-energy first-half display in their 4-3-3 formation was symbolised with the third. New Brazil cap Vinicius Junior was played into space on the counter and supplied a perfect centre for rampaging compatriot Casemiro to convert from close range on 40 minutes.
Madrid loanee Borja Mayoral provided hope with a tap-in just after the interval and Castilla youth product Gonzalo Melero’s 75th-minute header at the back post increased the threat of a third-successive unbeaten trip to the Bernabeu. Portuguese centre-back Ruben Vezo then directed a point-blank header at Thibaut Courtois during injury time as Madrid, just, held on.
Here are the talking points:
PICKING UP THE PACE
Incessant late summer rain was not the only dampener present.
An unfamiliar 13:00 (UAE 15:00) kick-off, patchy attendance, consecutive dropped points, presence of six pre-season additions in the dugout, an early injury crisis and Wednesday’s looming trip to Paris Saint-Germain combined to generate a subdued build-up. This maudlin mood was not aided by the fact unfancied visitors Levante came in one point, and one place, above their vaunted hosts, while only last October they’d won 2-1 on the same turf.
But this negativity was swiftly blown away by Los Blancos’ best sustained period since the first half of the opening day 3-1 triumph at Celta Vigo.
The forced break-up of the Toni Kroos/Luka Modric axis in centre midfield handed opportunity to Rodriguez. Wales forward Gareth Bale’s suspension also granted the exuberant Vinicius fresh chance to impress.
📸😀 Back from the international break with 3⃣ points! #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/Gg4e2UrCHq
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 14, 2019
Rodriguez’s dynamism highlighted the worth of a proper No10 in a 4-3-3. Vinicius’ first assist of 2019/20 and luminous display showed why he should not, necessarily, make way when Bale and Hazard are ready for launch.
Lively Madrid had 17 more attempts (25/8), made 308 more passes (632/324) and enjoyed 66 per cent of possession. It really should not have been this close…
LESS IS MORE FOR LEVANTE
Levante are hindered by finance and history.
The budget for 2018/19 was €500m less than Saturday’s opposition and their return to La Liga from 2017/18 has delivered successive 15th-placed finishes.
Paco Lopez’s men, however, embrace their limitations. They roll with the punches offered up by a – hopefully, for them, profligate – attack and prepare counter strikes of their own.
Evergreen skipper Jose Luis Morales was a threat and almost caught out Belgium No1 Courtois at his near post in the 94th minute, while three attempts on target from seven produced an economical two goals. The spurned third of these, Vezo’s header, was, in truth, the easiest.
7 - Levante’s Borja Mayoral has scored seven LaLiga goals, three for Real Madrid and four as a Levante player, six of them away from home. Guest. pic.twitter.com/FKkNRmHYKf
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) September 14, 2019
Minus a nervy second-half injury time, they were distinctly second best to Madrid. Preceding victories against Villarreal and Valladolid were similarly fraught.
Yet their durability and contentment with hanging on the ropes evidences why they could survive, while greater-resourced rivals flounder.
HAZARD WARNING?
This was the moment the Madrid faithful had been waiting for.
Hazard’s recovery from a pre-season thigh injury was rewarded by a 30-minute cameo. Attacking menace was, naturally, exuded by the ex-Chelsea magician.
A trademark dart towards the edge of the penalty box and firm low shot required Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez to be alert. He also helped win the ball back in the build-up to Vinicius’ disallowed goal.
60' | 3-1 | @realmadrid substitution. @Casemiro off, @hazardeden10 on. #RMLiga | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/YgBNdVdPyF
— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) September 14, 2019
Hazard also, impressively, completed all 18 passes and was fouled a joint-most three times.
Head coach Zinedine Zidane now has a bold call to make. Does he throw his latest superstar straight into the Champions League fray this midweek and alleviate a growing injury pandemic, or take a patient approach?
