Real Madrid v Levante: Line-ups, stats and preview
Real Madrid face Levante with their new coach already under huge pressure.
Table of Contents
Match Preview
Real Madrid will look to bounce back from their humiliating Copa del Rey loss to Albacete in midweek when they host struggling Levante in LaLiga.
Alvaro Arbeloa’s first game in charge of Los Blancos proved a nightmare as they slumped to a 3-2 defeat at the hands of a side 17th in the Segunda.
The result has placed Arbeloa under instant pressure, with Xabi Alonso’s replacement fielding criticism for resting several star players for the Copa clash and fielding a younger side.
Levante are second-bottom in LaLiga following promotion last season and Madrid have a likely tougher assignment against Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday. Despite the kind nature of the fixture and the eye Madrid may have on their European commitments, the likes of Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappe and Aurélien Tchouaméni will be expected to return to the line-up.
Madrid can, at least temporarily, move within one point of LaLiga leaders Barcelona with a victory, but for Arbeloa, it is just as important for his team to produce a performance that gets the Santiago Bernabeu on side.
“I’m not oblivious to what’s being said. If anyone wants to twist my words into criticism of Xabi Alonso and his staff, they won’t find a way to do so,” Arbeloa told his pre-match press conference. They’d be very wrong.
“What happened in Albacete was a lack of ideas, of play, of fitness… many things, and the person responsible is me. As long as I’m in this chair, I’ll keep being the one responsible. There’s only one person accountable: the current Real Madrid coach. Working with [performance manager] Antonio Pintus is a privilege, and we’ll work to get the players back to their best in every aspect.
“We’ll have to make adjustments, but I always try to be a calm coach, keep a cool head, and not get carried away by emotions because that’s the best way to make decisions. In the first half, I need to know what adjustments to make at halftime, and then what changes to make in the second half.
“I want to see a Real Madrid that goes out to win from the first minute, full of desire, energy, and motivation.
“No doubts: our goal is to attack from the start. I want the Bernabeu to feel that we want it and will win the game. Beyond having footballing ideas that we’ll work on over time, I want to see a team with character, personality, and passion — one that transmits ambition and makes the Bernabeu crowd feel represented.”
Team news for Real Madrid v Levante
Madrid remain without Trent Alexander-Arnold (thigh), Eder Militao (hamstring) and Ferland Mendy (hamstring).
Antonio Rudiger (knee) misses out, as does Rodrygo, who is still recovering from the knee injury he suffered in the Supercopa de Espana clash with Atletico Madrid. Brahim Diaz is still on Africa Cup of Nations duty with hosts Morocco, who face Senegal in Sunday’s final.
Roger Brugue (knee), Unai Elgezabal (knee) and Victor Garcia (hamstring) are all unavailable for Levante.
Predicted line-ups for Real Madrid v Levante
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Valverde, Tchouameni, Bellingham; Guler, Mbappe, Vinicius
Levante: Ryan; Toljan, De la Fuente, Moreno, Pampin; Martinez, Arriaga; Eyong, Alvarez, Losada; Romero
How to watch Real Madrid v Levante: TV and online stream
Real Madrid v Levante kicks off at 1:00pm UK time on Saturday. It is available to stream via LaLiga TV and the Premier Sports Player (subscribers only). Bet365 customers with funds in their account can also watch the game via the website or the Bet365 app.
Stats for Real Madrid v Levante
- Madrid have lost just twice at home to Levante, who last prevailed away at Los Blancos in January, 2021.
- Los Blancos haven’t failed to score against Levante since a 1-0 defeat at the Ciudad de Valencia in September 2011.
- Vinicius Junior has scored seven goals in his last five games for Madrid against Levante.
- All three of Levante’s victories in LaLiga this season have come away from home.
Prediction
Real Madrid
Levante
Madrid paid the price for resting players in midweek, but a more familiar line-up should ease to victory this time around.
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