I raised 0 – 2 Real Madrid (Vinicius, Benzema). Here is our quick reaction. Still to come: player ratings, post-game podcasts, post-game quotes, and much more.
A slight departure from Zidane’s previous tactical schemes so far. The Real Madrid coach displayed a symmetrical 4-3-3, with Vinicius and Marco Asensio on the flanks, on either side of Karim Benzema. Luka Jovic went to the bench, Nacho occupied the position of right back in the absence of Dani Carvajal and Álvaro Odriozola.
It worked, as far as the scoreboard is concerned. The vision test has not been easy and Real Madrid are far from the level they need as the season progresses.
At half-time, Zidane’s men won 1 – 0. They didn’t create much offensive danger, but they did create enough to create chances. Ferland Mendy combined well with Vinicius on the left wing, and Real Madrid used the wings and mid-spaces to try to get into the area. Several fitted crosses (two of which went over Vinicius’s head) cried out for Jovic to be at the end.
Defensively, Real kept a high line. In the first half, that was generally not a problem. Levante’s opportunities came through rare draws or set pieces by Real Madrid (the most notable opportunity came from Nikola Vukčević who soared over Nacho at the far post and hit the crossbar from a corner).
Real Madrid’s first goal came through Vinicius, without scoring when the ball fell into a corner:
That’s a staple of him, even if he’s still not good at scoring goals in general.
The second half, despite the fact that the score did not move, was very different from the first.
For the first 10 minutes or so of the second frame, play continued as it did in the first half. But in a strange series of events, something changed: Real Madrid’s defense completely melted and Levante grew up in the game with waves (and waves) of attack. The cover faded and the defensive compactness dissolved. The Levante had whatever vertical option they wanted to build from behind. Thibaut Courtois stood out on several occasions and left for dead defending himself from multiple attacks from Levante almost single-handedly.
Things did not improve as the half progressed. Sergio Ramos had a goal disallowed and Vinicius missed two golden opportunities. But Real Madrid did not threaten Levante much outside of that. Zidane made two equal substitutions: Rodrygo and Lucas Vazques for Asensio and Vinicius, just a change that alters the game. Later in the half, Isco and Martin Odegaard came in for Fede Valverde and Luka Modric, with little time to make an impact.
Karim Benzema scored on a breakout in the final touch of the game to make it 2-0.
We’ll break down this game in much more detail in the next few hours. Stay tuned for tonight’s post-game podcast.
