La Liga: Real Madrid settles for a 3-3 draw against 10-men Levante; stays 2nd in the league – Real Madrid had to settle for a draw against Levante at the Estadio Ciudad de Valencia in the 2nd game week of La Liga. Levante did really well to come back and lead twice in the game but Real Madrid just did not let go.
The first goal of the match came early as Gareth Bale put the ball past Fernandez with a left-footed finish in the 5th minute. Karim Benzema darted down the left-hand flank to burst the ball into the net and Bale finished without fail to give Real Madrid the lead early.
Levante switched to a 4-4-2 as Morales pushed up alongside Marti. It did not help much but it certainly curtailed Real Madrid’s counter-attacks. The teams went into half-time with Real Madrid leading 1-0.
🏁 FP: @LevanteUD 3-3 @realmadrid
⚽ Roger Martí 46′, Campaña 57′, Rober Pier 79′; @GarethBale11 5′, @vinijr 73′, 85′#Emirates | #LevanteRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/nNBijpCTKz— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 22, 2021
However, it was Levante who scored early in the 2nd half to tie the game. Melero slipped Marti into the box who shot the ball towards the goal. Courtois made the save but the ball wriggled past him and the ball rolled into the net in the 46th minute.
Levante took the lead 9 minutes later as Jose Campana scored a venomous volley to complete the comeback. de Frutos darted down the right flank and sent a high cross into the box. Campana slotted home the volley in the 57th minute and there was nothing that Courtois could do about it.
💧 76′ | 2-2 | Pausa para la hidratación.#LevanteRealMadrid pic.twitter.com/xSZUCLhCtu
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) August 22, 2021
Real Madrid brought on Vinicius Jr in place of Eden Hazard in the 59th minute. The Brazilian then went onto equalize for Real Madrid in the 73rd minute. He raced on the goal after Casemiro played him through and clinically finished it past Fernandez into the bottom corner.
Levante did not give up and came back one more time. This time, it was Rober Pier who restored Levante’s lead in the 79th minute. Bardi floated a free-kick into the box. The ball fell kindly towards Pier and the Madrid defenders were nowhere near as he bundled home from very close range.
Super-sub Vinicius Jr equalized again for Real Madrid with 5 minutes left on the clock. They were awarded a corner. They took it short as Karim Benzema laid it off to Vinicius who was running towards the byline. Somehow, the Brazilian fizzed a shot across the goal with a tight angle. The ball hit the post and went in.
Levante goalkeeper Aitor received a red card in the 87th minute for a handball. He rushed out of his goal to stop a Real Madrid counter and handled the ball while doing so. It was an accidental but obvious red card.
Real Madrid will face Real Betis in their next match while Levante will lock horns with Real Sociedad.
