Levante vs Real Madrid

Levante welcome high-flying Real Madrid to the Estadi Ciutat de València for their first home La Liga fixture of 2021/22.

Levante wasted a narrow 1-0 HT lead away to Cadiz on Matchday 1, being pegged back in the seventh minute of the stoppage time to share the spoils. Despite a frustrating opening weekend, the ‘Granotes’ remain hopeful of maintaining an unbeaten start to the season after avoiding defeat in two of their last four top-flight H2Hs on home soil (W1, D1). Current manager Paco Lopez carries a good omen into this encounter, as he has picked up at least one victory in the first two matches of a new La Liga campaign in all three full seasons in charge. However, a run of nine consecutive La Liga fixtures without winning (D4, L5) might raise a few concerns in the home camp, as could the fact they failed to keep a clean sheet during that sequence.

On the other hand, Real Madrid’s rampant second-half display away to Deportivo Alaves on the opening weekend saw them claim a comprehensive 4-1 victory following a goalless HT scoreline. Returning ‘Los Blancos’ boss Carlo Ancelotti must be relishing the prospect of taking on Levante in his first La Liga trip since the re-appointment, having won all four top-flight clashes against this opposition during his previous stint at the club. The 2020/21 La Liga runners-up are enjoying an eye-catching 19-match unbeaten top-flight streak (W14, D5) – the longest ongoing such run of any team currently in the division. Accident or fate, but Madrid’s last La Liga defeat came at the hands of Levante back in January. But the visitors have won each of their last four La Liga trips, three of which yielded a three-goal margin.