Real Madrid 2-0 Levante: Mbappe and Asencio's goals secure Arbeloa's first win

Game is over and the final score is Real Madrid 2-0 Levante. After a disappointed Copa del Rey performance, Real Madrid, with Mbappe's penalty and Asencio's header, clinch 3 pts at their home ground.

Match Report:

Real Madrid ended a turbulent week with a much-needed 2-0 win over relegation-threatened Levante on Saturday, courtesy of second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Raul Asencio, after being met with boos from a restless Bernabeu crowd before the breakthrough arrived.

The win snapped Real's two-match losing run and offered brief respite after a bruising week. They looked flat in the first half, still carrying the scars of Sunday's 3-2 Spanish Super Cup final defeat to rivals Barcelona, followed by the departure of manager Xabi Alonso the next day and a shock 3-2 Copa del Rey exit to second-division Albacete on Wednesday.

Boos greeted the players at kick-off, with sections of the crowd also directing chants at club president Florentino Perez. Real finally eased the tension when Dela tripped Mbappe in the box, and the French forward converted the penalty in the 58th minute to extend his league-leading tally to 19 goals.

Seven minutes later, Real doubled their advantage through centre-back Asencio, who rose to meet Arda Guler's corner with a powerful header to make it 2-0 in the 65th minute, giving new coach Alvaro Arbeloa a crucial cushion and settling the mood inside the stadium.

The win keeps Real second in LaLiga on 48 points from 20 matches, one behind leaders Barcelona, who have a game in hand and visit Real Sociedad on Sunday. Levante are 19th with 14 points.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

0' Half-time: Camera cuts to frustrated fans in the stands

14' Bellingham concedes free-kick, Pablo Martinez shot blocked

22' Levante break quickly, Eyong miscontrols

28' Real Madrid attack, Mbappe puts ball out

31' Yellow Card! Tchouameni booked

33' Mbappe bursts forward, first-time shot goes wide

38' Levante attack, second effort shot misses post

42' Pablo Martinez's free-kick goes just wide

46' Real Madrid make changes as Mastantuono and Güler come on

59' Penalty Goal! Mbappé wins penalty and converts. Real Madrid 1-0 Levante

67' GOAL! Raúl Asencio heads home from close range. Real Madrid 2-0 Levante

75' Mastantuono long-range effort hits woodwork

78' Valverde sets up Bellingham whose header is saved

88' Match Event for Real Madrid vs Levante

90' Highlight from Real Madrid vs Levante

92' Highlight from Real Madrid vs Levante

94' Match Event for Real Madrid vs Levante

Line-ups

Real Madrid XI: Courtois, Mbappe, Valverde, Tchouameni, Vinicius, Camavinga, Bellingham, Álvaro Carreras, Gonzalo García, Raúl Asencio, Dean Huijsen

Subs: Alaba, Carvajal, Ceballos, Fran García, Güler, David Jiménez, Álvaro Leiva, César Palacios, Fran González, Sergio Mestre, Franco Mastantuono, Jorge Cestero

Levante XI: Ryan, Toljan, Pablo Martínez, De la Fuente, Unai Vencedor, Manu Sanchez, Carlos Álvarez, Iván Romero, Alan Matturro, Karl Etta Eyong, Kareem Tunde

Subs: Morales, Goduine Koyalipou, Jon Ander Olasagasti, Losada, Kervin Arriaga, Ugo Raghouber, Pablo Campos, Álex Primo, Martín Krug, Paco Cortés, Carlos Espí, Nacho Pérez