Real Madrid returned to the top of the La Liga table with a 3-0 win over 10-man Levante on Sunday.
The home side led 1-0 at the interval following a powerful header from Cristiano Ronaldo, before Marcelo doubled their lead in the early stages of the second period.
Levante's task got harder after 64 minutes when Fernando Navarro was sent from the field for a late challenge on Ronaldo, and Madrid added their third in the latter stages when Nikos Karabelas turned into his own net from close range.
Here, Sports Mole dissects the 90 minutes of action between the two La Liga rivals.
Match statistics
Real Madrid
Shots: 25
On target: 10
Possession: 71%
Corners: 12
Fouls: 12
Levante
Shots: 6
On target: 1
Possession: 29%
Corners: 2
Fouls: 12
Was the result fair?
In truth, Levante were fortunate to escape with just a three-goal defeat this evening. The visitors entered the match having not been beaten in the league since January, but they were utterly outclassed by Madrid in the capital. Had their goalkeeper Keylor Navas not been in such fine form and the woodwork not come to their aid on three separate occasions, it would have been six or seven, which would not have flattered a slick and impressive Los Blancos outfit.
Real Madrid's performance
Few will argue that Carlo Ancelotti's side took some time to get going in the early part of the season, but since losing to Barcelona at the end of October, the capital outfit have been simply sensational. From the very first minute, Madrid controlled the tempo of the match and did not really need to come out of second gear to secure a comfortable three victory. If one of their attacking talents is having an off-day, as was the case for Karim Benzema, another steps forward. Worryingly for their rivals, it was also another clean sheet for the home side, who now look like the complete package.
Levante's performance
Despite struggling for possession in the first 45 minutes, Levante were certainly in the match at just 1-0 behind. However, they never really offered the impression that they were capable of hurting the hosts in the final third. They lined up with the sole purpose of containing Ancelotti's side, but struggled to keep the same intensity when the match started to drift away from them. Where they finish this season is not going to depend on their results at places such as the Bernabeu, but for long periods they made it easy for Madrid, which was the biggest disappointment.
Sports Mole's man of the match
Marcelo: The Brazilian netted his first league goal since January 2012 this evening when he curled one into the bottom corner after combining with Ronaldo in the second half. It was also the left-back's dangerous cross that led to Karabelas turning into his own net in the latter stages. The 25-year-old was always a threat in the final third, while he was prepared to perform his defensive duties when called upon.
Biggest gaffe
With Levante trailing 2-0 in the second period and coming under increasing pressure, the last thing they needed was to have a man sent off. That occurred after 64 minutes when Navarro dived into the back of Ronaldo. Some might have considered the decision harsh, but the Spanish defender gave the referee a decision to make with a poor piece of defending. From that moment forward, it was backs-against-the-wall defending from the visitors as Los Blancos increased the pressure.
Referee performance
It was a relatively quiet first period for Ignacio Iglesias, with the Spaniard not issuing a single card in the opening 45 minutes. That changed in the second half as he produced a yellow on four separate occasions, in addition to sending Navarro from the field for a late challenge on Ronaldo. Despite his involvement after the interval, neither manager will have had too many complaints about the Spaniard's performance. Levante's bench did not agree with Navarro's red at the time, but it was a late and dangerous challenge from the defender.
What next?
Real Madrid: Los Blancos will attempt to continue their long unbeaten run when they travel to relegation-threatened Malaga next weekend.
Levante: Next up for Levante, who have their sights firmly set on a top-half finish, is a home match against Celta Vigo on March 15.
Matt Law
