La Liga: Real Madrid drop to second spot after Levante loss
FC Barcelona will head into El Clasico as LaLiga leaders after Real Madrid suffered a shock 1-0 loss to Levante on Saturday night.
Los Blancos manager Zinedine Zidane made only two changes for the tie, with Luka Modric being recalled at the expense of Federico Valverde while Isco took the place of Gareth Bale, who missed out due to illness.
Karim Benzema had a great chance to give Madrid an early lead in the 11th minute after he went clear on goal from Isco’s through ball but the Frenchman’s strike was saved by Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez.
Zidane’s charges had another great chance to grab the lead five minutes later after Fernandez punched Toni Kroos’ corner into the path of Casemiro inside the box but the Brazilian’s header missed the bottom corner by a whisker with the net gaping.
Modric had a chance to break the deadlock for Madrid five minutes before half-time after he was picked out unmarked by Isco in the centre of the box but his strike was parried away by Fernandez as the first stanza ended goalless.
Eden Hazard had an opportunity to finally get the breakthrough for Los Blancos eight minutes from the break after going clear on goal but Fernandez came off his line to make a crucial save.
That proved to be Hazard’s final involvement as the Belgian was taken off after 67 minutes played for Vinicius Junior and was seen applying ice to his ankle.
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However, the hosts eventually snatched the lead with 11 minutes remaining after Jose Luis Morales hit a stunning first-time volley over Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois after latching onto Nikola Vukcevic’s through ball.
Madrid pressurised Levante in the tail end of the encounter but Paco Lopez’s charges held on to victory to move up to 10th while Los Blancos have dropped to second spot.