This afternoon, on the 17th of January 2026, on a very rainy and cold day in Madrid, Real Madrid hosted Levante at the Bernabéu. The streets seemed quieter than normal; whether that was due to the weather or the recent change of coaches was hard to tell. This was the first home game under the new coach, Álvaro Arbeloa, and after the dramatic loss against Albacete, it was highly important for the team to take home a win.
Real Madrid came into the match second in the league with 45 points, while Levante sat in 19th place with just 14 points, three points behind fellow Valencian side Valencia.
First Half
The match kicked off at exactly 14:00, with a noticeable wave of frustration already present in the stands. Madrid fans were clearly unhappy with both the team and recent performances. Whistles echoed around the stadium, particularly every time Vinícius, Bellingham, or Valverde touched the ball.
Despite the tension, the opening possession belonged almost entirely to Real Madrid. In the 10th minute, Bellingham attempted a shot on goal but couldn’t get it past Levante’s defence. Three minutes later, Levante earned a dangerously positioned free kick, taken by Martínez, though it resulted in nothing, aside from Valverde taking the ball to the face. After brief medical attention, he was able to continue.
In the 17th minute, Venecedor received the first yellow card after a foul on Vinícius. As the first half progressed, Levante began to enjoy more possession, applying pressure and making life uncomfortable for Madrid. The constant whistling from the stands didn’t help the home side find rhythm or confidence during their ball possession.
Tchouaméni was booked for a foul on Venecedor, and after another shot over the bar by Martínez, the unease among Madrid fans only grew. Valverde stepped up for a free kick in the 36th minute, briefly silencing the stadium. However, frustration returned when it once again led to nothing.
Levante continued to threaten, winning a free kick in a perfect position shortly before halftime. Martínez’s effort came dangerously close, forcing Courtois into full focus. As impatience grew among the Madridistas, Levante’s supporters grew louder and more confident.
After a quick counterattack, Gonzalo picked up a yellow card for stopping Romero. A minute later, Romero was brought down again near the box by Camavinga, but the resulting free kick led to nothing. With two minutes of added time, Madrid had one last chance from a Valverde corner, but it was immediately intercepted by Levante’s defence.
As the players headed into the dressing room, the Bernabéu made no effort to hide its frustration.
Second Half
After a much-needed 15-minute break, Real Madrid returned with two changes: Gonzalo and Camavinga made way for Mastantuono and Güler.
Levante started the second half strongly, controlling possession and winning an early free kick, though they failed to convert it into a goal. Their slow goal kicks only fueled further frustration among the Madridistas, with whistles growing louder by the minute.
In the 55th minute, Mbappé was fouled inside the box by De La Fuente, resulting in a penalty for Real Madrid. Two minutes later, Mbappé calmly converted it to make it 1–0.
Madrid made another substitution in the 60th minute, with Huijsen leaving the pitch and Ceballos coming on. Güler soon delivered a corner following a quick counterattack, but again it came to nothing. Still, Madrid seemed to have found their rhythm, and the tension in the stands eased slightly.
Seconds later, Güler took another corner, this time with success. Asencio rose highest and headed the ball in with conviction to make it 2–0.
Levante responded with a triple substitution, resting Venecedor and Eyong while Raghouber and Losada entered for the final 20 minutes. In the 70th minute, Levante created a serious chance due to a lapse in Madrid’s defence, but the shot went just over the bar.
Güler continued to be a constant threat from set pieces, delivering yet another corner that Asencio headed wide. Mastantuono came close to making it 3–0 but struck the crossbar, briefly handing possession back to Levante.
In the 82nd minute, Levante made further changes, with Romero, Tunde, and Álvarez leaving the pitch and Espí Cortés and Olasagasti coming on with fresh energy. Despite this, Real Madrid remained calm, circulating the ball confidently.
Bellingham nearly added a third, but his effort was blocked by Ryan. In the final minutes, Asencio left the pitch to a standing ovation, with Alaba coming on to see out the game. After five minutes of added time, the final whistle confirmed the result: a home win for Los Blancos and a successful first home outing for their new manager.
