Real Madrid badly needed a response. After a painful Spanish Super Cup defeat to arch-rivals Barcelona and the dismissal of Xabi Alonso, pressure was mounting at the Santiago Bernabeu. Enter a new chapter under head coach Alvaro Arbeloa — and a crucial victory to restore calm.

The task fell to Levante, one of the current strugglers in La Liga, who found themselves in the firing line. Yet despite dominating possession in the first half, Real Madrid struggled to turn control into clear-cut chances before the break.

The match shifted decisively after half-time — and the visitors played their part. In the 56th minute, Dela brought down an opponent inside the penalty area, leaving the referee with no choice. Kylian Mbappe stepped up and thundered his spot-kick straight down the middle to give Madrid a much-needed lead.

Confidence flowed almost immediately. Just nine minutes later, Arda Guler delivered a pinpoint corner, and Raul Asencio rose highest to power a header into the net, doubling the advantage and igniting the home crowd.

The scoreline could have been more emphatic. Highly-rated youngster Franco Mastantuono crashed an effort against the crossbar, while a stunning strike from Jude Bellingham was brilliantly kept out by the Levante goalkeeper.

The final numbers told a clear story: a 2–0 win for Real Madrid, 11 shots on target, and not a single effort on goal conceded. A clean sheet, a confident second-half display, and a sense that Los Blancos may finally be finding their balance again.

2025-26, Spain - La Liga

Real - Levante 2:0 (0:0)
Goals: Mbappé, 58 (penalty) (1:0); Asencio R., 65 (2:0)

Real: Courtois; Asencio R. (Alaba, 90); Fernandez Ál.; Huijsen (Dani Ceballos, 61); Camavinga (Güler A., 46); Tchouaméni; García G. (Mastantuono, 46); Bellingham; Valverde F.; Vinícius Júnior; Mbappé
Substitution: Güler A. (from 46); Mastantuono (from 46); Dani Ceballos (from 61); Alaba (from 90)
Bench: Gonzalez Fran; Mestre; Carvajal; García Fr.; Jimenez D.; Cestero
Yellow Cards: Tchouaméni 31; García G. 43

Levante: Ryan M.; Matturro; De la Fuente A.; Toljan; Sanchez M.; Martínez P.A.; Vencedor (Raghouber, 66); Eyong (Losada, 66); Alvarez C. (Cortés P., 83); Romero I. (Olasagasti, 83); Tunde K. (Espi, 82)
Substitution: Raghouber (from 66); Losada (from 66); Espi (from 82); Olasagasti (from 83); Cortés P. (from 83)
Bench: Campos; Krug M.; Arriaga; Morales J.; Koyalipou
Yellow Cards: Vencedor 17