Levante vs Real Madrid summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 2021/22

FT in Valencia ...what a game ...100% entertainment !

Time running out now as Madrid still press looking for a valuable winner. Levante with ten men behind the ball now as Madrid win a corner.

Madrid pressing sensing that Levante are on the ropes

Levante now trying to run down the clock with the ten men happy at this point to take the draw

Rodrygo carded for dissent

6 minutes of time to be added on here at Orriols

What drama here at Orriols. Crazy game !

Aitor red carded for handling the ball outside his box. Vezo to man the sticks !

Goooooool. Vini Jr make it 3-3

Madrid almost draw level as Vezo saves on the goal line from Carvajal as Aitor spills a header.

Cantero strikes the post for Levante as Courtois commits

The ball hits Alaba and falls perfectly for the Levante player to slot home.

An absolute collectors edtion of a pass from Casemiro to set up his compatriot

Less than 20' on the clock and Levante still looking the more composed of the sides as Madrid now begin to enjoy more and more possession as they look for a way back.

Madrid dominate in terms of possession but trail on the score board (2-1)

Real Madrid have struggled in this second half and the balance of power has shifted the Levante way. Four changes now for Ancelotti as Melero and Roger make way for Martinez and Malsa.

Lucas off with Carvajal back in action for the first time since April

Bale, Hazard and Isco off for Madrid with Rodrygo, Asensio and Vini Jr on

Militao and Campana carded during the goal celebrations

Excellent strike from the No. 24 meeting the ball on the volley to turn things around here in Valencia.

Madrid getting Asensio ready...Madrid seem to have ridden out that brief storm after the Levante goal as Casemiro drives the ball right of the Levante goal.

A discreet 50 minutes or so from the Belgian tonight, a less accomplished performance from that we saw in Vitoria last weekend.

Hazard strikes from long range but easy for Aitor who gathers with no problems.

Roger goes for the spectacular but mis-cues, his second effort is straight at Courtois.

Levante totally fired up by the goal and playing with far more poise and purpose.

Hesitation from the Real Madrid defence to allow the Levante striker to steal in and poke the ball under Courtois.

Levante get the second half underway

Isco probably the stand-out player of the first 45'.

The sides are poised to return to the pitch. No apparent changes it would appear at the interval.

Real Madrid players celebrate Bale's 5th minute strike

The whistle sounds to herald the interval and it's the early Gareth Bale that divides the sides. Levante came out of the traps strongly but were reeling immediately from the Bale strike. Ancelotti's side look the better of the teams with Courtois yet to be really tested by the home side.

Benzema heads just wide but the French striker had strayed into an offside position. We'll have three minutes of added time.

Paco Lopez will be anxious to get to the interval as his team have lost their way in the past ten minutes or so.

Melero scythes down Isco and is the second Levante player to be carded

Double strike from Valverde and the midfielder wins another corner for Real Madrid. The ball falls to Isco and the man from Benalmadena sees Aitor off his line and tries a cheeky lob.

Three Madrid players over the ball but it looks like the Welshman who will strike. Decent hit and it glazed Roger's head on its way to goal.

Merlero trips Isco and this is a decent range for the likes of Bale.

Isco shoots and Clerc is forced to clear the deflection away for a corner.

Little for either keeper to do in this opening 30 minutes with just one shot in the entire game on target and that was the Bale goal.

Water break time

Isco to take the free and Levante unable to clear their line as the ball falls to Alaba and the Austrian drives the ball wide of Aitor's post.

Clerc carded for leading with the elbow

Militao needs to leave the pitch momentarily as the player is cut and need to dress the wound. In a fresh shirt, the defender returns to the action.

Campaña and Miramon have impressed for Levante tonight but the No. 24 was wasteful there as he attempted to lob the ball into the Real Madrid box.

Real Madrid ahead in terms of possession and more importantly on the score board with the early Bale goal the differnece between the sides.

Valverde tries his luck from long range but fails to hit the target after decent combination play from the men in white.

Bale and Benzema celebrate the opening goal

Levante's goal threat invariably comes from Jose Luis Morales but the captain for the home side has been somewhat wasteful this evening.

Levante enjoying the bulk of possession but lacking in the creative finesse to penetrate the Real Madrid defensive line. Madrid looking far more copmposed in possession.

Decent response from the home side with Miramon and Roger combining well as the injured Roberto Soldado watches on from the stand.

Levante win their second corner of the night and it does appear that the pitch has been over watered with the ball holding up just that bit too much in certain areas of the pitch.

Levante look to find a quick answer to the goal as Morales runs out of space. A half hearted appeal for a spot kick from El Commandante but nothing doing for the ref.

Way, way too easy for Madrid with Bale not being picked up by the home side. First break for Ancelotti's men and first goal.

First ovation of the night goes to Campaña for exquisite control as Levante win the first corner of the night.

Off we go, Madrid start the action with referee Cuadra Fernandez in charge tonight.

Frog fan

This well known fan is a regular fixture at all home games and is back tonight for the Madrid game

The Ciutat de Levante stadium has undergone a major redevelopment exercise and looks stunning tonight. The return of 11,000 fans also goes some way in improving the impression of the Valencia stadium. The Levante anthem rings out. The frog mascots (Levante are known as Els Granotes (the frogs) in the local Valencian language) greet their men in burgundy and navy.

The sides emerge from the tunnel at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium. A warm round of applause greets both sides. Levante have won two of their last three meetings against 'Los Blancos' but the corresponding fixture last season ended with a solid 0-4 win for the side from the capital.

A great chance tonight for Isco to impress Ancelotti and cement his place as a regular starter in the Real Madrid XI

A spot of "The Final Countdown" to accompany the Levante squad onto the pitch as they prepare for the 2200 kick off

A reminder of the team news for those joining us late. Both managers set to employ a 4-3-3 formation. Roger, De Frutos and Morales lead the Levante line and Ancelotti will look to Bale, Benzema and Hazard to get among the goals for Madrid.

Courtois being put to the test with the Belgian warming-up as kick-off looms.

Obviously very, very early days in the season but as things stand Real Madrid occupy fifth place

Atletco have just beaten Elche to record 2 wins from their opening two games. A strong start to the new season for the reigning champions.

Real Madrid will be in their iconic all white kit this evening with Levante wearing their claret and navy striped shirts, blue shorts and socks.

Levante fans return

It's an emotional night for supporters in LaLiga as for the first time this season, fans will be back at the 25,000 capacity Cutat de Valencia ground for the Real Madrid game. Approximately 12,000 fans will be observing social distancing and wearing facemasks as the world of football adapts to our new covid reality. 

Weather in Valencia

It's a muggy evening in the Mediterranean city tonight with a current temperature of 32C/90F and should the mercury remain over 30C, an obligatory cooling break will be used by the match official after 30 and 75 minutes of the game.

A Real Madrid win in Orriols would see Real Madrid move to the top of the LaLiga table and join reigning champions Atletico Madrid with Simeone's men currently beating Elche 1-0.

Madrid beat Alaves last week (1-4) in Vitoria with Levante registering a 1-1 draw away to Cadiz.

The corresponding fixture two seasons ago saw Levante claim a 1-0 win with this tremendous late effort from 'El Commandante' Morales

The pitch at Levante's Ciutat de Valencia stadium looking immaculate with just less than an hour to kick-off.

Levante XI confirmed

Bernzema captain's the side and the French striker will be augmented by Hazard and Bale to lead the line for the side from the capital. Carvajal will sit on the bench for the first time since his injury on 27 April.

Real Madrid starting XI

A big night for the Belgian as Eden Hazard returns to scene of injury hell

Having given an encouraging display in the win at Alavés, Eden Hazard now returns to the scene of his toughest injury as a Real Madrid player.

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Real Madrid go into the game looking to maintain their run of 19 games in LaLiga unbeaten and Levante boss Lopez will look to Roger and Morales to provide the attacking threat with new signing and former Real Madrid player Soldado injured.

Luka Modric is Real Madrid's key absentee with the Croatian veteran sustaining a abductor problem earlier in the week. The midfielder maestro joins Toni Kroos in the sick bay.

A big night for Levante fans with approximately 12,000 supporters set to be allowed attend tonight's game as Spain starts to put the worst of the covid pandemic in the past with fans to wear face masks and observe social distancing regulations.

The action in Valencia gets underway at 2200 CEST/1600 ET.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage from the Ciutat de Valencia stadium as Levante face Real Madrid in matchday 2 of the 2021/22 season.