Morales rocket condemns Real Madrid to second LaLiga defeat

Real Madrid fell to their second defeat of the 2019-20 LaLiga campaign in Valencia as a late left footed strike from Jose Luis Morales was enough to secure a 1-0 win for the home side.

Following Barcelona's earlier 5-0 home win over struggling Eibar, the Catalan side sit aloft the table with both top two sides coming face to face on March 1st.

Defeat to Levante as a prelude to a key spell of fixtures imminent with midweek Champions League (at home to Man City) action will come as a blow for Zinedine Zidane and this could be further compounded with Eden Hazard limping from the Ciutat de Valencia pitch with the medical staff immediately icing his ankle.  

That's it.... Levante hang on to condemn Real Madrid to their second league defeat of the season.

Ramos latches onto a Marcelo cross but heads tamely at Aitor.

Madrid win a free deep inside their own half... Courtois sends long

Madrid go long as Carvajal is carded ... just over a minute remain

Campaña goes to ground and the clock ticks down .....

Normal time is up and we'll have 4' of time added on. 

Final minute of normal time. As good as their first half performance was, things started to creak with Hazard's departure.

Levante fans raise the noise level sensing a famous win is just minutes away.

Mayoral off/Sergio Leon on for LUD.

Varane fouls Mayoral and Levante earn some more valuable time

Time ticking down for Real Madrid as Levante sit deep and Paco Lopez is set to shuffle his pack for the final time tonight.

This was not part of the script for Zidane as the club faces a pivotal week in the 2019-20 season ahead of the Man City Champions League Round of 16 tie and Sunday's El Clasico. 

Vinicius tears to the by-line and fails to connect with Benzema on the cut-back.

Are Madrid heading for their second LaLiga defeat of the season? Only Real Mallorca have defeated Zidane's men in the domestic campaign to date. 

Valverde on for Modric

Just over 10' here in Valencia. Barcelona lead the table by two points heading into Sunday's El Clasico as things stand

Morales subbed for his effort with Martinez on

El Commandante with a sweet left foot drive on the bounce to put the home side ahead. 

Many suggesting that Hazard's injury is ankle related ...

Postigo pulls up with an apparent knock. 

Just over 15' to go here in Valencia. Madrid have enjoyed the better of the action but it's Levante who are now sensing that Real Madrid are on the ropes.

Isco makes way for Vazquez

As 0-0 games go, this has been far from dull.... 

Levante pushing now sensing that Madrid are rattled as Casemiro is carded for a late challenge on Vukcevic. 

Morales almost finds Mayoral as Courtois intercepts with Madrid looking a little disjointed for the first time of the night.

Madrid medical team applying an ice pack to the calf 

First change of the night and worry for Madrid with the Belgian just coming back from a long term absence. 

Difficult to say what the problem was but at a glance it appeared to be a calf muscle pull

The Belgian makes way for Vinicius 

Hazard seems to be in trouble walking with a slight limp

Ball falls to Isco after good work from Modric but the former Malaga man leans back and gets under the ball, blazing over. 

A screen shot of the Campaña hand ball shout

Madrid still dominate possession

Constant pressure from Madrid as they forge and foray looking for a way past the wall of red and blue shirts. Roger breaks free for Levante and shoots wide as Benzema breaks free for Madrid but shoots wide. Game opening up now as the home fans find their voice.

Campaña has a long range effort, the ball takes a deflectyuomn but Courtois is called in to palm away.

Real Madrid fans far from happy on social media deeming that they've had two hand ball appeals/decisioons blatantly not awarded !

Toño did appear to touch the ball with his hand but once again the ref. waves the protest away. 

Marcelo flicks through to Hazard who fails to scoop the ball past Aitor as Madrid again shouit for a spot kick.

Levante win a corner as Courtois drives the ball out of play. Mayoral handles as the move breaks down. 

Delightful build-up play between Marcelo and Isco with the ball being crossed over with Aitor on hand to clutch. Madrid on top in this opening stage of the second half.

Isco calls for a handball deeming that Campaña touched the ball with his hand...nothing going for the match official who waves play on as Bardhi has a right footed effort but flashes the ball wide. 

As things stand, Madrid would stay in second place on 54 points, one behind Barça (55). Nicely poised ahead of El Clasico on March 1st.    

Both teams return to the pictch with Madrid starting the action. 

Real Madrid with 6 shots on target during the first 45 but no way past Aitor. Levante, despite their impressive play on the break yet to trouble Couirtois with 0 shots on target. 

Our Levante man of the first 45' with Marcelo possibly the bright spark for Madrid.  

Hazard gets a shot off after steady build up play from the visitors. Aitor on hand to smother the danger as the whistle sounds for the break.

Levante seem to have weathered the onslaught as they manages to control possession in the centre of the park. Madrid ahead on 'points' but it remains 0-0

Despite recent pressure and slipping behind Mendy in the pecking order, Marcelo has been solid tonight for Real Madrid.  

Modric goes close forcing Aitor to palm away. Total domination now from the visitors as they smell blood.  

Benzema slips into the box and tries to find a team-mate but over hits the ball. Madrid really turning the screw now as we hit the 40' mark. 

Toño chests home for Aitor and the Levante stopper almost fumbles with Benzema ready to pounce. 

Isco fed through from a sublime long range effort pass from Ramos but the Costa del Sol born player was flagged for offiside. 

Ramos (Madrid ) and now Roger in the match official's book  

Roger carded for a barge on Casemiro

Campaña the standout player for the home side this evening to date. 

Hazard looks so sharp after his recent injury (sustained in November 2019) ...lean, pacy and covering plenty of grass in Valencia tonight. 

Madrid still enjoying the better of the possession as we hit the half hour mark. 

A quiet evening for Madrid keeper Courtois so far with Levante registering 0 shots on target so far after 28' of action.  

Isco is definitely a player you'd want on your five-a-side team!

Morales has swapped wings, moving from the right to the left flank. Early tactical move from Paco Lopez.

Great play from Levante with neat triangles cutting Real Madrid open. No end product but they found a way through the white shirts with incredible ease.   

Varane clips Morales and escapes without a caution. It's been a decent opening 20 so far with Madrid enjoying the better of the chances and Levante looking incisive on the break.

Vukcevic with 60% pass completion / Casemiro on 80%

Campaña drives a fierce effort on target and Ramos does well to deflect out for a corner. Levante enjoying a better spell of possession now. 

15' possession stats: 

15' gone here in Valencia as Madrid win the first corner of the night as Casemiro sees as a looping header go inches wide after a dreadful fist away from Aitor.

Morales through and looks for support with his pass over-hit as Mayoral loomed to strike. Good counter from the home side.

Benzema through on the Levante goal but fires the ball straight at Aitor. Good opening for the French striker as Modric now has an effort but drives his volley straight at the keeper. Levante looking ragged defensively as the visitors enjoy more continued possession now. 

Ramos carded after catching Miramon.

Marcelo caught by Vukcevic with Courtois driving the free-kick out for a throw for the home side. Neither side yet to establish clear domination on proceedings in the opening stage of the contest. Hazard does look lively tonight too !

Benzema with the first danger of the evening, unleashing a right footed effort from an acute angle which was easy for Aitor to gather in the Levante goal.

Ramos already involved in talks with match official Hernandez Hernandez as Hazard gets involved in the action for the first time tonight.  

A reminder of the teams for late arrivals. 

It's the home side enjoying the early possession here in Valencia as both sides ease their way into the match.

Plenty of focus on under pressure Marcelo tonight with the general consensus being that the Brazilian is very much behind Ferland Mendy in the pecking order in the left back slot for Zidane. 

26.354 the capacity of the stadium as Levante win a throw in on their left hand side.  A slip up from the home side almost lets Isco through but Aitor was alert to clear.

Off we go, the home side get us underway

Pêrfectly observed by the sold out crowd here as Levante hold their pre match huddle. 

A minutes silence held pre game to mark the passing of former Levante player Juan Alfonso Gil.  

The teams emerge from the tunnel as the sides are greeted with a navy and claret flag reception from the home fans. There is a small pocket of white clad supporters with approximately 500 travelling fans located in the away sector of the Ciutat de Valencia ground.

Conclude 100% with Kitro here .... If ever in Valencia, do try and make it to a Levante game!  

Roger (7) and Borja Mayoral (5) are Levante's top scorers this season in LaLiga and despite not finding the net this term with the same regularity as the 18-19 campaign, Jose Luis Morales will provide a constant threat for "Els Granotes"    

A mild evening in the Mediterranean city of Valencia tonight with 0% chance of precipitation during the match. Currently a temp. of 14C/58 F.  

Real Madrid too wear their iconic all white kit tonight. 

Levante will wear their classic navy and claret stripes this evening, navy shorts and socks.

When both sides met earlier on in the current campaign at the Bernabéu, Madrid avoided a late scare to secure maximum points with a 3-2 win. 

The game saw Belgian winger Eden Hazard make his debut in LaLiga.

Relive the action from that balmy September day here: 

This fixture ended 1-2 last season with Real Madrid requiring two goals from the spot (executed by Benzema ands Bale) to edge past the home side. 

Ahead of El Clásico, Ferland Mendy (on the bench tonight) is the only player carrying four yellow cards for Madrid and I'd be surprised to see the Frenchman in action here tonight. A fifth card would rule him out of the game vs. Barcelona.

Copa del Rey exit apart, Real Madrid have enjoyed a solid spell in recent times in LaLiga with the home draw to Celta last Sunday the only blot on the copybook for the side from the capital.  

The home side have enjoyed an erratic run in recent times with just a win over Leganes in their last six LaLiga fixtures and the other games ending in defeat for Paco Lopez's men.

Maximum points and no injuries will be the key for Zinedine Zidane's men in Valencia tonight with a big, big week forthcoming with UCL action midweek (vs Man City) and El Clásico on March 1st.

Levante's stadium earlier with a full house anticipated in the Ciutat de Valencia stadium tonight.

Levante XI confirmed too

Official Real Madrid XI just confirmed:

Barcelona currently top the LaLiga table after their 5-0 demolition over struggling Eibar earlier today so a degree of pressure on Zidane's men to ensure there are no slip ups.  

Hello and welcome to our live coverage from Valencia as Levante welcome table topping Real Madrid for the match-day 25 LaLiga 2019-20 fixture.