Mbappe shines as Real Madrid comfortably defeats Levante to keep close to Barcelona

With a standout performance from Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid secured a convincing 2-0 victory over Levante, maintaining their intense pursuit in the La Liga standings.

Real Madrid entered the match against Levante with nothing less than a win in mind to keep the pressure on Barcelona in the title race. Facing a lower-ranked opponent, the Santiago Bernabeu side quickly took control, dominating possession and launching attacks from both wings and through the center.

From the opening minutes, Real Madrid applied clear pressure. In the 3rd minute, Harry Maguire rose high to head a corner, but the ball struck the crossbar, much to the disappointment of the home fans. Levante played a low block, defending in numbers and looking for counterattack chances. However, their rare forward moves posed little threat to Real Madrid’s defense.

The first half proceeded at a moderate pace, with Real Madrid repeatedly shooting but unable to break through Levante’s tight defense. Tchouameni and Jude Bellingham each had notable long-range attempts, yet lacked precision. The teams went into halftime scoreless, despite Real Madrid’s dominance.

The turning point came early in the second half. In the 56th minute, referee Miguel Sesma awarded Real Madrid a penalty following a foul inside Levante’s box. After VAR confirmation, Kylian Mbappe calmly converted the spot-kick in the 58th minute, beating goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to open the scoring. This goal boosted Real Madrid’s confidence and fluidity.

Levante was forced to push forward, which only exposed more gaps. In the 65th minute, from a perfectly delivered corner by Arda Guler, Raul Asencio rose to head a precise goal, doubling the lead amid Levante’s defense’s helplessness.

In the remaining minutes, Real Madrid slowed the tempo, maintained possession, and protected their advantage. Levante made a few distant attempts but lacked the sharpness to change the outcome. The match ended with a full 2-0 victory for the Royal Club.

With this result, Real Madrid stands at 48 points after 20 matches, just one point behind Barcelona in the La Liga table. The title race heats up as Mbappe and his teammates demonstrate their readiness to chase down the leaders in the remaining season.

Team news Real Madrid vs Levante

• Real Madrid:Alexander-Arnold, Eder Militao, Mendy, Rudiger are injured.
• Levante:Elgezabal, Garcia are injured. Arriaga and Tunde’s participation is uncertain.

Expected lineups for Real Madrid vs Levante

• Real Madrid:Courtois, Federico Valverde, Raul Asencio, Dean Huijsen, Alvaro Carreras, Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga, Arda Guler, Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe.
• Levante:Ryan, Toljan, Dela, Moreno, Sanchez, Alvarez, Vencedor, Martinez, Brugue, Koyalipou, Eyong.

Form & Head-to-head record

• Real Madrid form:In their last 5 games, Real Madrid won 3 and lost 2, scoring 13 goals and conceding 8.
• Levante form:In their last 5 matches, Levante won 1, drew 2, and lost 2, scoring 5 goals and conceding 5.
• Head-to-head record:In the last 5 encounters, Real Madrid won 3, drew 1, and lost 1. Levante won 1, drew 1, and lost 3.