Honestly, if you looked at the league table before the latest Levante vs Real Madrid clash, you probably thought you knew exactly how it would go. On one side, you have the "Granotes," struggling down in 19th place, gasping for air in a relegation scrap that feels like a slow-motion car crash. On the other, the behemoth that is Real Madrid, currently 2nd in La Liga and chasing Barcelona with the kind of relentless focus that usually ends in silverware.
But football in Spain is never that simple. Not even close.
When Levante vs Real Madrid kicked off at the Bernabéu on January 17, 2026, the atmosphere was weirdly tense. It wasn’t just the cold Madrid air. Real Madrid was coming off a bruising 3-2 loss to Albacete in the Copa del Rey—a result that basically cost Xabi Alonso his job. Yeah, you heard that right. The club legend was out, and Álvaro Arbeloa was suddenly the man in the hot seat.
Talk about a baptism by fire.
The Real Madrid Chaos and the Levante Hope
You've got to feel for Arbeloa. Taking over mid-season is a nightmare, especially when the fans are already restless and the local press is sharpening their knives. The Bernabéu crowd actually booed the team during the early stages of the match. It was a strange sound for a team sitting second in the league. But that's Madrid for you. Excellence isn't a goal; it's the bare minimum.
Levante, managed by Julián Calero, knew this. They arrived with a plan to sit deep, frustrate, and maybe snatch something on the break. Karl Etta Eyong, their top scorer this season with six goals, was the outlet they were betting on. For nearly an hour, it actually worked. Real Madrid had 84% possession at one point but looked like they were trying to run through a brick wall.
Kylian Mbappé looked frustrated. Jude Bellingham was getting hacked every time he turned.
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Then, the 58th minute happened. A penalty.
Mbappe stepped up and hammered it home. You could almost feel the collective sigh of relief from the 78,000 people in the stands. It was his 30th goal of the season across all competitions. Think about that for a second—30 goals by mid-January. The guy isn't human. Shortly after, Raúl Asencio, the young defender who has been a revelation this year, headed in a second to make it 2-0.
Game over? Technically, yes. But the scoreline doesn't tell the whole story of the Levante vs Real Madrid dynamic.
Why This Rivalry Is So Historically Annoying for Madrid
If you’re a casual fan, you might think Madrid always bashes Levante. Nope. While the overall record favors Los Blancos (28 wins in 38 games), Levante has this annoying habit of being the ultimate "banana skin" team.
Remember October 2018? Levante went into the Bernabéu and walked out with a 2-1 win. Or January 2021, when they did the exact same thing? Even in their most recent high-scoring draw—a 3-3 thriller in August 2021—Vinicius Jr. had to pull a miracle out of his hat late in the game to rescue a point.
Levante plays with a specific kind of "anti-Madrid" energy. They don't fear the white shirt. While they failed to register a single shot on target in this latest 2-0 loss, their history suggests they usually find a way to make Madridistas sweat.
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The Statistical Reality of 2026
- Real Madrid's Home Dominance: They’ve won 8 out of their last 9 home league matches.
- Levante’s Road Woes: They are sitting 19th for a reason, having failed to win 10 of their last 11 league matches.
- Mbappé's Charge: With 19 league goals, he’s currently the frontrunner for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Tactical Breakdown: The Arbeloa Effect
So, what changed under Arbeloa for this Levante vs Real Madrid match? Honestly, not much yet, but there was a shift in the backline. With Trent Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal both providing different looks on the right, Arbeloa seems to be leaning toward a more stable, defensive structure.
He brought back Raúl Asencio, who had been a bit of a fringe player under Alonso recently. Scoring that goal was a huge "told you so" moment for the new manager. Arbeloa’s post-match comments were pretty telling: "I understand people look for culprits, but I work to find solutions."
He knows the shadow of Barcelona is long. Flick's Barça is currently a point ahead with a game in hand, and they are playing some of the most ridiculous football in Europe. Madrid can't afford to drop points against teams like Levante if they want the title.
What Most People Get Wrong About Levante
It’s easy to dismiss a team in 19th place as "bad." But Levante’s underlying numbers are actually weird. They’ve scored 13 goals away from home this season, which is actually 4th best in the league. They can score. Their problem is a defense that allows 16.3 goal attempts per match—the worst in La Liga.
They are basically a glass cannon. They can hurt you, but they break if you hit them back. In the September 2025 meeting, Madrid exploited this perfectly, winning 4-1 with goals from Vini Jr. and Franco Mastantuono.
Mastantuono is the name you need to watch, by the way. The kid is only 18 and already looking like the next big thing in the Madrid midfield. He’s taking some of the creative burden off Bellingham, which is vital because Jude looks like he needs a vacation.
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Looking Ahead: Actionable Insights for Fans and Bettors
If you’re following this rivalry or looking toward the next fixtures, here is the ground truth.
1. Watch the Injury Report for Mbappe
Kylian came back from a knee issue for this game. While he scored, he wasn't sprinting at 100% for the full 90. If he sits out a game, Madrid’s goal production drops significantly. They are becoming dangerously reliant on his individual brilliance.
2. Levante's "Away" Trap
Don't let their 19th-place ranking fool you when they play away from home against mid-table teams. They score more goals on the road than they do at the Ciutat de València. They are a much better counter-attacking side than a "control the game" side.
3. The Arbeloa Honeymoon
Madrid has a tendency to surge right after a coaching change. The "new manager bounce" is real. With matches against Sevilla and Villarreal coming up, expect a very aggressive Madrid side trying to prove themselves to the new boss.
4. The 2-0 Curse?
Interestingly, 2-0 is becoming the most common scoreline in this fixture. It’s enough for Madrid to win without exerted effort, but it keeps Levante fans hopeful that they weren't completely blown out.
The title race is far from over. With 18 matches left in the season, every single "routine" win like this one against Levante is a brick in the wall for Real Madrid. For Levante, the path to survival is getting steeper. They need to figure out how to stop conceding 16 shots a game, or they’ll be playing in the Segunda before May.
Actionable Next Steps:
Keep an eye on the La Liga disciplinary charts; Madrid’s midfield (specifically Tchouaméni) is racking up yellow cards that might lead to a suspension during the crucial El Clásico return leg. If you're tracking Levante, watch the fitness of Unai Vencedor. He’s the engine that keeps their transition game moving, and without him, they look lost.