Players confined to the stands through injury animated throughout Real Madrid loss to Levante

Real Madrid welcomed Levante to Valdebebas for their La Liga clash on Saturday with no margin for error, but err they did.

The visitors secured a sensational 2-1 victory that will have been celebrated by the red half of Madrid, one would imagine, although probably not by the ever-focused Diego Simeone.

Madrid didn’t start well. Eder Militao, starting at centre-back ahead of the injured Sergio Ramos, saw a straight red after just nine minutes to leave the field with his team reduced to ten men.

2 – @LevanteUDen captain José Luis Morales 🇪🇸 is one of the two players to have scored in different @LaLigaEN games against Real Madrid since the start of 2020, after Joselu Mato 🇪🇸 for Alavés. Major. pic.twitter.com/xwogl9xaW6

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) January 30, 2021

Marco Asensio scored four minutes later to put Madrid ahead only for Jose Luis Morales to get Levante back on level terms in the 32nd minute with a stunning half-volley indicative of his quality.

Levante almost took the lead just after the hour mark, when Vinicius Junior gave away a penalty kick. Thibaut Courtois was on hand to save Madrid’s skin, however, saving from Roger Marti.

Multiple injuries meant that the stands at Valdebebas were full of Madrid players. Ramos, Dani Carvajal, Rodrygo and Lucas Vazquez were all watching the game from up high, seated unless they were arguing with the referee according to Mundo Deportivo.

They were especially animated when Vinicius conceded the penalty. VAR intervened to decide whether the foul was inside or outside the area, and once the decision was given as a penalty the enraged players in the stand were up in arms.

Roger got another the bite of the apple in the 78th minute, however, and this time he didn’t disappoint. A short corner culminated in a flick-up and volley to put Levante ahead going into the final ten minutes.