Levante 1-0 Real Madrid: Title hopefuls fall to first league defeat since October

Real Madrid spurned the chance to go back above Barcelona at the top of La Liga as mid-table Levante inflicted their first league loss since October.

Barca, who visit Real next Sunday, went two points clear with a 5-0 win over Eibar earlier in the day.

But Real responded with a lacklustre display before Wednesday’s Champions League game with Manchester City.

The visitors missed a host of chances before Jose Luis Morales claimed a late winner with a superb volley.

Eden Hazard missed Real’s best chance midway through the second half before the Belgian forward hobbled off injured.

The Spanish giants were then stunned as Nikola Vukcevic played a speculative ball over their defence and winger Morales raced on to it before unleashing a first-time strike from the left side of the Real box.

Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois actually pulled his hands away from the ball as Morales’ shot flashed past the Belgian at his near post.

The long-serving Levante captain, 32, was then substituted immediately after scoring just his second goal of the season and his team-mates survived some late pressure by Real to earn just their second win in seven league games.

Gareth Bale and fellow forward Luka Jovic were absent through illness, with Isco and Luka Modric the two changes for Real after last week’s draw at Celta Vigo.

Isco and Karim Benzema were denied as Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez made a double save early on before Casemiro headed wide after a poor punch clear by Fernandez.

Enis Bardhi tested Courtois as Real lost control of the game in the second half, before Morales broke the deadlock.

And the closest Real went to salvaging a point before Wednesday’s last-16 first leg (20:00 GMT) was when Sergio Ramos’ header was saved in stoppage time.

Line-ups

Levante

Substitutes

Real Madrid

Substitutes

Match Stats

Live Text

Match ends, Levante 1, Real Madrid 0.

Full Time

Second Half ends, Levante 1, Real Madrid 0.

Attempt saved. Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marcelo with a cross.

Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Gonzalo Melero (Levante).

Foul by Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid).

Bruno González (Levante) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Sergio Postigo.

Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Pablo Martínez (Levante).

Substitution

Substitution, Levante. Sergio León replaces Borja Mayoral.

Foul by Raphael Varane (Real Madrid).

Borja Mayoral (Levante) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

Corner, Levante. Conceded by Raphael Varane.

Attempt blocked. Borja Mayoral (Levante) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gonzalo Melero.

Attempt blocked. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) left footed shot from very close range is blocked. Assisted by Vinícius Júnior.

Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Sergio Postigo.

Substitution

Substitution, Real Madrid. Federico Valverde replaces Luka Modric.

Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left.

Substitution

Substitution, Levante. Pablo Martínez replaces José Luis Morales.

Goal!

Goal! Levante 1, Real Madrid 0. José Luis Morales (Levante) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Nikola Vukcevic.

Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Nikola Vukcevic.

Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Sergio Postigo (Levante).

Corner, Levante. Conceded by Vinícius Júnior.

Substitution

Substitution, Real Madrid. Lucas Vázquez replaces Isco.

Daniel Carvajal (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by José Luis Morales (Levante).

Booking

Casemiro (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

Attempt blocked. Borja Mayoral (Levante) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is blocked. Assisted by Enis Bardhi.

Substitution

Substitution, Levante. Gonzalo Melero replaces Roger Martí.

Substitution

Substitution, Real Madrid. Vinícius Júnior replaces Eden Hazard because of an injury.

Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).

Enis Bardhi (Levante) wins a free kick on the left wing.

Attempt missed. Isco (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Luka Modric.

Offside, Real Madrid. Marcelo tries a through ball, but Karim Benzema is caught offside.

Eden Hazard (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

Foul by Jorge Miramón (Levante).

Offside, Real Madrid. Casemiro tries a through ball, but Karim Benzema is caught offside.

Attempt saved. Roger Martí (Levante) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Nikola Vukcevic.

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