Real Madrid supporters voiced their anger loudly at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday, jeering their own players before the team eventually secured a 2-0 victory over Levante in La Liga. The win marked the first league success for new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who has endured a turbulent start to life on the Madrid bench.
It was a tense and emotionally charged evening in the Spanish capital. Madrid entered the match under heavy scrutiny following a disastrous week that saw them lose the Spanish Super Cup final to arch-rivals Barcelona, part ways with head coach Xabi Alonso, and suffer an embarrassing Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of second-division Albacete. The pressure surrounding the club was evident long before kickoff.
Arbeloa, appointed earlier this month after Alonso’s departure, had endured a nightmare debut in midweek. That defeat intensified frustration among fans, many of whom made their feelings clear even before the Levante match began. Whistles and boos rang around the Bernabeu as Madrid struggled to find rhythm in a lifeless first half.
Despite the hostile atmosphere, second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Raul Asencio ultimately earned Madrid three crucial points. The victory lifted Los Blancos closer to the top of the table, reducing the gap to leaders Barcelona to just one point ahead of the champions’ away clash with Real Sociedad.
Several of Madrid’s biggest names were targeted by unhappy supporters. Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham bore the brunt of the criticism, while Mbappe, although starting the match, escaped the worst of the jeers. The French star had been expected to return next week in the Champions League as he continues his recovery from a knee injury.
Arbeloa addressed the reaction from the stands after the match, defending the right of the fans to express their dissatisfaction. He explained that the demanding nature of the Bernabeu crowd has always been part of Real Madrid’s identity and insisted that such pressure is what defines the club’s greatness.
The evening coincided with Arbeloa’s 43rd birthday, and while the result gave him reason to celebrate, the performance highlighted ongoing issues. Madrid looked short of confidence and creativity in the opening half, failing to impose themselves against a Levante side sitting 19th in the league.
The lack of intensity on the pitch contrasted sharply with the energy in the stands, where supporters vented their anger following a week of setbacks. Some sections of the crowd even directed chants at club president Florentino Perez, demanding his resignation amid growing dissatisfaction with the club’s direction.
Mbappe provided Madrid’s clearest chance before the break, latching onto a long ball and striking a first-time volley that drifted wide. The miss summed up a frustrating half that ended with more boos as the players headed for the dressing rooms.
Madrid returned after halftime with renewed urgency. Arbeloa made tactical changes, introducing young talents Franco Mastantuono and Arda Guler to inject pace and creativity into the side. The substitutions helped shift momentum in Madrid’s favor.
Mbappe soon made the difference, winning a penalty after being fouled by Adrian de la Fuente inside the area. The French forward calmly converted the spot-kick to score his 19th league goal of the season. The strike further underlined Mbappe’s remarkable impact in Spain, as he reached 50 La Liga goals in just 53 appearances, only slightly slower than Cristiano Ronaldo’s historic record.
The goal lifted the tension inside the stadium, and Madrid began to play with greater confidence. Raul Asencio doubled the lead with a powerful header from Guler’s corner, finding the top corner and effectively sealing the contest.
Jude Bellingham came close to adding a third, but Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan denied him with a fine save. Ryan also thwarted Vinicius Junior moments later, preventing the scoreline from becoming more emphatic.
As the final whistle approached, the mood inside the Bernabeu softened. While the crowd’s frustrations had not disappeared, the victory provided temporary relief. However, there remains a sense that unless Madrid build momentum quickly, the whistles and criticism will soon return.
Asencio acknowledged the importance of the result in his post-match interview, stating that the players were determined to make amends for the cup defeat earlier in the week. He admitted the loss to Albacete had been unacceptable and emphasized the squad’s desire to restore pride and confidence.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Vedat Muriqi stole the headlines with a stunning hat-trick as Mallorca edged Athletic Bilbao 3-2 in a thrilling encounter. The Kosovo international’s goals proved decisive in a match filled with attacking quality.
Villarreal, meanwhile, suffered a significant setback in their title ambitions after losing 2-0 to Real Betis at La Cartuja. The defeat left Villarreal eight points behind leaders Barcelona, dealing a blow to their hopes of mounting a serious challenge for their first-ever La Liga crown.
Betis controlled much of the first half and took the lead shortly after the break when Aitor Ruibal volleyed home in the 57th minute. Villarreal’s task became even harder when Santi Comesana was sent off for a reckless challenge on Giovani Lo Celso.
Pablo Fornals sealed the win late on with a precise long-range strike, ensuring Betis claimed an impressive victory. Villarreal midfielder Dani Parejo later reflected on the match, suggesting a draw might have been a fairer result, but conceded his team lacked sharpness in both penalty areas.
The weekend’s results once again highlighted the volatility of the La Liga title race. While Barcelona remain in control, Real Madrid’s win keeps the pressure firmly on, despite lingering questions over consistency, leadership, and squad balance.
As Arbeloa looks to steady the ship, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining whether Madrid can rediscover stability or whether unrest among supporters will continue to grow. For now, the result offers a brief respite, but expectations at the Bernabeu remain unforgiving.
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