Levante vs. Real Madrid: Score, Reaction from 2016 La Liga Match

It's unclear if Real Madrid were on the level of Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday. They were on a high enough level to defeat Levante, however, winning 3-1 away from home.

Ronaldo, who claimed that Real would be in first place in La Liga if his teammates were on his level after the squad lost 1-0 to Atletico Madrid on Saturday—though he later clarified he was only talking about the fitness level of his injured teammates, not anyone's skill, and cleared the air with the squad—scored the game's opening goal with a penalty and added a late assist.

The superstar had several chances to add to his goal tally but hit the post once and uncharacteristically missed the frame on several other occasions. Deyverson scored for Levante, while goalkeeper Diego Marino was charged with an own goal and Isco added a late goal for Los Blancos.

Real mostly dominated the key stats, as was to be expected, per WhoScored.com:

After a scoreless 33 minutes, things got a bit crazy before the close of the opening half.

Real opened the scoring in the 34th minute off the right foot of Ronaldo, as the star forward blasted his attempt from the spot into the bottom-left corner. The tally was set up by Lucas Vazquez, who was fouled in the box.

Madrid doubled the scoring just four minutes later, as Borja Mayoral ripped a shot from just outside the box that beat Marino but hit the left post. It ricocheted against Marino's leg and elbow, however, and trickled across the line for the cruelest of own goals.

Just a minute later, the home side pulled one back, as Deyverson's shot from the center of the box beat goalkeeper Keylor Navas. The Levante forward was freed by a brilliant pass from Giuseppe Rossi, who gained control of the ball at the edge of the box and took out two Madrid defenders with a deft touch and through ball to Deyverson.

ESPN's Dermot Corrigan summed up the end-to-end first half between the sides:

Football writer Sid Lowe was a bit more critical in his evaluation of Madrid in the first frame:

Both teams created opportunities in the second half, though Madrid seemed incapable of earning an insurance goal and Levante couldn't muster an equaliser. 

Ruben Garcia had the best chance for Levante, hitting a shot that forced a sprawling save from Navas, who pushed the ball out of play. On the ensuing corner, the ball took a deflection and skipped across the face of goal, but no Levante players could get on the end of it.

Madrid struck in the 92nd minute, however, as Ronaldo found himself free down the right side and played a perfect low cross to Isco, who one-timed his shot into the lower left corner.

That was a big goal for the Spaniard, as Corrigan noted:

But Madrid's injuries and young squad showed throughout the match, as the presence of players like Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Marcelo was clearly missed. While Vasquez played well, Casemiro, Mateo Kovacic, Mayoral and Jese left a bit to be desired in the contest.

Madrid will certainly take the three points after their week of turmoil. But it wasn't exactly a convincing win, especially against a Levante side that remains at the bottom of La Liga's table.

Up next for Real Madrid will be a La Liga match against Celta Vigo before a second-leg showdown against Roma in the UEFA Champions League.

Levante face Real Sociedad in league play next.

Post-Match Reaction

Alberto Saiz/Associated Press

After the match, Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane seemed pleased with the performance of his squad, as he told the club's website:

"

When there are a lot of changes you always think it may make things more difficult. I was aiming for the game they had. They ended up tired and I will take away the performance of the entire team. When a player doesn't play a lot, it is difficult but today you couldn't see that.

We have to give everything we have out on the pitch, and that doesn't just apply to academy players. We also want to perform at our top level but sometimes things go well and sometimes they don't. That is what we have to do: run and be committed.

"

He did single out a few players, however.

“He was committed," Zidane said of Vasquez. "We know what he can contribute: he is quick and makes the difference."

As for his young forward, Mayoral, Zidane noted: “The important thing is to have everyone available. We know what Borja can bring to the team. It is clear that he is the second nine. He is doing well, he is committed, he trains well and is very young. He plays with confidence and personality."

Ronaldo was pleased with the win, meanwhile:

For the time being, Real Madrid's primary concern will be getting healthy for their Champions League campaign. While catching Barcelona for a league title seems like the longest of longshots at this point—Barca still holds a nine-point advantage over Los Blancos with a game in hand—a second-place finish and Champions League title are still viable goals. 

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