Levante 2-2 Real Madrid: Player Ratings

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Levante scored in the dying embers of the game to deny Madrid all 3 points

Real Madrid travelled to Ciutat de Valencia to face thirteenth placed Levante hoping for a positive result that could help change their fortunes.

The first half saw Real dominate the game but they lost the plot in the final five minutes of the second. Ramos opened the scoring for Los Blancos in the fourteenth minute. However, Boateng equalised with a fine finish into the bottom corner with two minutes to go in the half.

The second half had a lot more end to end stuff. It was Real who took the lead again, this time via Isco. However, their joy was short-lived as Pazzini slotted home on his Levante debut very late in the game.

Let's take a look at how the players fared for their respective teams:


Levante

Oier Olazabel: 7/10

Olazabel was a solid presence at the back. He was called into action quite often and did well on all occasions. He made excellent stops throughout the match to keep his team in the game.

Coke: 7/10

The full-back had a pretty solid game for his team. He did not allow anyone on his inside and did not let Theo to flourish on the overlap. In attack, he did not venture up much, but who can demand more after such a solid showing at the back?

Rober Pier: 8/10

Pier put in a good performance as he was constantly in the way of Benzema and company, keeping them at bay for the majority of the game. He made a string of important interceptions and tackles to keep Leganes in the game

Sergio Postiga: 7/10

The centre-back, like his defensive partners, was always alert to the dangers Real players posed to his goal and was ever-ready to deal with them. He never gave an inch of space to anyone in and around the penalty box.

Antonio Luna: 6/10

Luna defended his team's left flank quite diligently. He was tentative and always ready to go into a tackle. However, he was quite often overwhelmed by the overlapping Bale and Carvajal combo later in the game.

Jose Luis Morales: 6/10

Playing as a right-winger on the night, his attacking input during his time on the pitch was next to nothing. However, he more than made up for it by tracking back and covering the runs of Marcelo

Jefferson Lerma: 7/10

The nimble-footed midfielder had a quite different role to play tonight. He was asked to play inside his own half without seeing much of the ball. He did that very well while also using his ability to turn defence into attack quickly.

Sasa Lukic: 7.5/10

The defensive midfielder was quite combative in the middle of the park. He screened his defence well and never shied away from a tackle despite an apparent gulf in quality.

Cheick Doukoure: 6.5/10

Doukoure had a decent game. Though he was not much influential in the first half, he came out on top in the midfield battle against Madrid’s midfield during the final 45 minutes. His distribution was efficient, if not eye-catching.

Ivi: 6/10

The wide midfielder did not contribute much to his team's attacking fortunes. However, just like his counterpart on the other side of the pitch, his hard work in defence was absolutely crucial.

Emmanuel Boateng: 7/10

Boateng was absolutely phenomenal. He was at the centre of anything good that came for Levante in attack. His finish for the goal was amazing apart from the fact that he was the instigator for most of his side's counter attacks.

Substitutes

Jason: 6.5/10

He was brought on for the excellent John Guidetti, but could not quite continue his senior partner's good work. He did not see much of the ball in the time he was afforded on the pitch. However, he provided the assist for Pazzini's goal with an excellent through ball.

Roger Marti: 6/10

Brought on for Jefferson Lerma, Marti had a decent game. He helped his team deal with a host of attacks and then convert one of those moments into counter attacks. Though he was not very flashy, he was efficient.

Giampaolo Pazzini: 7.5/10

Pazzini came on for Ivi in the 78th minute. He was almost always a threat in and around the Madrid box. He equalised for his team late in the match.

Real Madrid

madrid players celebrating Ramos' goal
Madrid players celebrating Ramos' goal

Keylor Navas - 6.5/10

He had one of those busy days between the posts. Leganes were threatening and they did break his resolve twice, with two sweetly struck strikes into the bottom corners. He could have done little about the goals after being undone by his defence.

Dani Carvajal: 7/10

The full-back had a pretty solid game for his team and forayed into the attacking realms and provided width for his teammates.

Sergio Ramos: 5.5/10

This was a poor game for the Spaniard. He made important tackles and interceptions but also showed signs of rustiness, especially against runners. He scored Madrid's first goal.

Raphael Varane: 7/10

Varane had a decent game as he dominated and won everything that came his way in the air. He won headers, made blocks, and clearances while being a calm head in the heart of the Real Madrid's defence.

Marcelo: 7/10

He did fairly well against Morales and defended well in general and was probably the best Madrid defender of the night. Offensively, he provided some amazing crosses which on any other day might have been turned into goals.

Luka Modric: 7.5/10

The Croatian International was influential throughout the game. He broke plays and started attacks from his own half. This was a good commanding display from him in the middle of the park. His creativity will be important if Los Blancos want to turn around their current form.

Casemiro: 5/10

The Brazillian has seen his form dip considerably this season. Today was no different. He was often bypassed in midfield with ease as Levante countered. His performance is absolutely crucial for Real Madrid's fortune as is reflected in the result.

Toni Kroos: 6/10

Kroos looked sharp in possession and enjoyed having the ball at his feet. However, he just could not deliver the final ball quite as well as Madrid fans have been accustomed to. The X-factor was missing from his game and it did show in the final result.

Gareth Bale: 4.5/10

This was a game to forget for Bale. He struggled to cause too many problems and his final passes were poor. He failed to provide the end product as Zidane's side failed to outscore the opponents.

Bale had a game to forget
Bale had a game to forget

Karim Benzema: 7/10

The Frenchman was the sole star in the lacklustre Real Madrid attack. He often dropped deep to help his midfield and combined well with his teams mates. However, for a striker, he was found on the left wing more often than required.

Cristiano Ronaldo: 5/10

The Portuguese international had a game to forget. He was marshalled quite well by the Levante defence and almost never allowed a sniff at goal. He would like to improve his performance in the coming weeks.

Substitutes

Isco: 7/10

His introduction meant that Madrid were far more threatening in the attack as compared to the first half. He helped his side keep possession in tight spaces. he scored his side's second with a neat finish.

Asensio: N/A

Brought on in the 82nd minute, he did not have much time to affect the game.

Vazquez: N/A

Late Substitution, did not have much time to affect the game.

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