Madrid are on top form at the moment, two 5-0 wins in La Liga either side of the international break mean they are closing in on Barca who are in top spot.
Carlo Ancelotti’s men strolled to victory against Levante. Another brace from Ronaldo takes his tally for La Liga this season to 15 goals, an incredible start which is almost unimaginable in the modern game.
Match facts
Levante 0 – 5 Real Madrid
Shots 11 – 21
On target 1-11
Possession 39% – 61%
Passing accuracy 83% – 91%
Corners 6 – 3
Offsides 1 – 3
Frenchmen Benzema and Varane missed the game because of flu so in came on-loan Manchester united striker Chicarito to replace Benzema upfront. Welsh winger Gareth Bale started on the bench due to a side strain picked up in the European qualifier games.
Madrid started brightly with Cristiano Ronaldo getting through one on one with the Levante keeper but he could only put it into the side netting from a tight angle, just 2 minutes into the game. Inevitably, Madrid found an opener not long after.
11 minutes in, two new signings combined to give real their first golden opportunity. James Rodriguez played a clever pass into the feet of Chicarito who sprinted past the Levante defender Juanfran.
A clumsy challenge brought the Mexican down inside the area giving the referee no choice but to award a penalty. Ronaldo then stepped up and put it in the top right hand corner to give Real the lead and to extend his tally this season to 18 goals in all competitions.
A bit of trickery from the Portuguese number 7 down the right hand side then led to the next chance for Los Blancos. He setup Modric who struck the moving ball nicely on the edge of the penalty area to force a fine save from Levante keeper Marino. The resulting corner was cleared but only to James Rodriguez, who curled the ball back into the 6 yard box where Javier Hernandez glanced it past the keeper to give Real a 2-0 in the 38th minute. They went into the break with a comfortable 2 goal lead.
On the hour mark, Levante were quickly closed down in the Madrid half and disco picked up the ball and ran. He carried it forward and then played a pass into the feet of Ronaldo who danced his way into the Levante box and calmly put the ball into the net. A moment of magic from a spectacular player who is on top form this season.
Just 5 minutes later, James makes a darting run through the middle and is picked out superbly by Toni Kroos. The Colombian takes the ball on his chest and without letting it bounce, volleys it into the net to put real 4-0 up.
8 minutes from time, Isco made it 5. Chicarito was once again involved as he played it in to the Spaniard from the left hand side. Isco carried on his run all the way into the box where he whipped the ball into the top left hand corner. A dominant display against a poor Levante side.
Ancelotti’s men now face a big week of football ahead. Firstly they travel to Merseyside to take on Liverpool in the Champion’s League on Wednesday.
Then on Saturday they take on Barcelona at the Bernabeu in the first El Classico of the season, with the formidable Luis Suarez returning from his ban to take on Los Blancos. It will be an exciting matchup. Not just because of the long running history of the two sides but Barcelona have not conceded a goal in the league this season whereas Madrid have already scored 30 in the Primera division.
Bale is confirmed to be out of the midweek fixture against Liverpool due to a hip injury, which will mean another start for former Malaga man Isco who was very influential against levante.
With Valencia and Sevilla both starting well this season, Barca and the two Madrid sides have tougher competition to try and win the Primer division this season.
