Real Madrid 1-2 Levante - Julen Lopetegui's side suffer third loss in a row as fans wave white handkerchiefs
Relive all the action from the La Liga fixture
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Your support makes all the difference.Julen Lopetegui looked forlornly to the floor as the final whistle blew. In the stands too they whistled and whirled white handkerchiefs. AS The Spanish manager, who arrived at the club under such controversial circumstances, anxiously chewed his bottom-lip even his thoughts were surely in parallel with those angry supporters - it's over.
As the 54th minute passed, Real Madrid officially surpassed the 465 minute tally which had previously been their all -time longest goal drought. Eventually, even when they did find an oasis, their performance was lacklustre and often lifless. It seems the only way Madrid can recover post-Ronaldo is to become post-Lopetegui too.
Madrid's decline could be characterised by the ease with which Levante scored their first goal. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane allowed a simple through ball from counterpart centre-back Sergio Postigo to drift between them which Jose Morales gleefully pounced on, rounded the helpless Thibaut Courtois and prodded home for his fourth goal of the season after just six minutes.
And again, it was Varane at fault for Levante's second just minutes later. The ball bounced on the edge of the area and hit his flailing arm and although the referee initially awarded a free-kick on the edge of the box, it was then overturned by VAR.
Morales' strike partner Roger calmly converted from the spot and Madrid were two down after the opening fifteen minutes of a match for the first time since February 2017.
Feeling the remnants of his Real career ebb away, Lopetegui had made all three of his substitutions by the 60th minute. Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale came on and immediately offered a predatorial instinct in the final third which for a while threatened to overturn the deficit, espefcially after the former's trickery teed up Marcelo's thrash into the roof of the net on 72 minutes to claw one back.
However, it wasn't to be. Even as Bale half-heartedly attempted to gee up the crowd, they are a side who seem to have lost their soul. This was their third loss in a row. They have won just one of their last five. And as the Levante players celebrated their historic win in the centre-circle at the full-time whistle, they were the happy ending in a tragic Madrid story for Lopetegui.
Relive all the action below.
Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
21': Real Madrid have finally regained a foothold in this game. Marcelo plays a one-two, dribbles in on the byline, zips a ball across the face of goal which is toe-poked virtually off the line by the Levante keeper.
Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
28': Real Madrid are so sloppy in possession and Antonio Conte is surely reconvening with his tailor for a fresh line of suits.
Modric has barely had a touch, Mariano has been invisible and Casemiro keeps giving the ball away too easily.
Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
31': Finally it's an effort on goal, albeit a tame one from Lucas Vasquez after a nice piece of trickery cutting in off the right flank. There were flashes of the quick-passing side we've come to expect there but at this point it may well just be remnants.
Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
33': Sergio Ramos hits the bar for the second time this match. It's another header off a nicely floated ball in from the right but nothing will seem to give for the Galacticos.
Then almost immediately an almost identical ball finds Mariano from who forces a brilliant save out of Oier with the ball bouncing awkwardly and headed into the top corner.
Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
37': In Madrid's attempts to throw men forward they are invariably leaving gaps in behind and Morales makes a mockery of Ramos on the breakaway with a sharp turn. It's the same type of through ball which created the opener but Marcelo does well to tackle.
Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
39': And again Morales gets away from Ramos and Varane. He's completely free in the six yard box and if only the cut back was better it would have been a certain third.
Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
42': How on earth has Lucas Vasquez not scored? The ball lands at his feet fortuitously and sits up perfectly to be lashed home from nothing more than five yards. Oier spreads himself bravely and Vasquez smacks it straight at the goalkeeper who pokes out a toe to turn it away. A huge waste.
Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
44': Goal disallowed
Levante think they have their third, again on the breakaway but a late offside call rules it out. They got to VAR to confirm. Free-kick Real Madrid.
HT: Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
This has been a wrecking ball of a first half for Julen Lopetegui. He can't have envisioned anything this poor even in his nightmares. Fans are booing and waving white handkerchiefs, although Sergio Ramos will consider himself very unlucky after heading twice against the bar.
Morales has played so well up front for Levante and they could easily have added to their lead.
HT: Real Madrid 0-2 Levante
Morales took his first goal so well on the breakaway after latching on to a lovely through ball from Postigo in defence.
The second came from the spot after a freak handball against Varane in the box was given by VAR. Morales' strike partner, Roger, calmy converted past Courtois. Hellfire is currently being unleashed in the home side's dressing room.
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