Real Madrid drew (1-1) in the third week of the regular season against Levante at Santiago Bernabéu, in a tough game where Zidane decided to do a lot of rotations. This was the second draw in a row in La Liga after tying against Valencia in the last game of the regular season.
Zienedine Zidane did several changes in the line up with the goal of giving rest to the usual players, thinking in the Champions League game against APOEL. We can highlight the presence of Kiko Casilla between the sticks, Theo Hernández in the left back and Marcos Llorente playing as a stopper, instead of Casemiro, in his first official game with Real Madrid’s shirt.
Los Blancos started the game playing with a lot of intensity and having opportunities to open the score board. Levante are a promoted team and they defended quite good in the first minutes of the game looking for a counter attack because they didn’t want to have the ball possession. In the 12th minute Levante opened the scoreboard with a goal of Ivi in a big mistake of the defense in the fist chance of the tema managed by Juan Muñiz.
Real Madrid were attacking constantly looking for their first goal and in the 28th minute they received very bad news because Benzema had to leave the pitch because of muscular problems and Bale replaced the French player. Los Blancos don’t have any striker in the squad and the Welshman was the player who was going to be the No 9 of the team and the referent in the attack.
In the 35th minute Los Blancos tied the game in a corner kick in a reject of Raúl Fernández after a header of Sergio Ramos and Lucas only had to push into the net. The team managed by Zidane did the most difficult task and after Lucas goal it looked like Real Madrid were going to score another goal because they were controlling the game and they werehaving several opportunities, where we can highlight a ver clear chance of Gareth Bale in a one to one with Raúl Fernández.
The second half started with Real Madrid attacking but Levante were very focused in defense without letting any space and being very organized. In the 60th minute Zidane decided to introduce Isco in the pitch replacing Marcos Llorente who didn’t have his best debut in La Liga at Santiago Bernabéu. This was a very important change because Isco arrived to the game after having two great performances playing with his national team, showing that he is is his best moment of his career. In the equator of the second half, Real Madrid lowered the level because they were not having the control of the game and they were losing a lot of balls.
In the 71st minute Zidane did his third change replacing Lucas Vázquez by Kovacic. The Galician player did a very complete match but Zinedine Zidane wanted to recover the ball possession with another midfielder. After this change, Asensio and Bale almost scored the second one for Los Blancos but Raúl Fernández saved both opportunities with incredible blocks. There was not many minutes remaining when Marcelo was sent off after kicking out at Pedro Lopez in the injury time, and Kroos had the last chance of the game with a great shot from outside the box that finished in the bar.
Finally, Los Blancos couldn’t win against a promoted team as Levante and now they must focus in the Champions League game against APOEL. This was the second draw of Real Madrid in a row in the regular season and it seems Zidane’s rotations are not going as well as last year.
Without Ronaldo Madrid’s performance very bad so far i have ever seen.Ronaldo will be granted or not in ucl.