Match ends, Real Madrid 1, Levante 2.
Real Madrid suffered their fourth loss in five games and set an unwanted record with a defeat by Levante at the Bernabeu.
The result put further pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui, whose side remain fifth in La Liga, three points behind leaders Alaves and a point behind Barcelona, who have yet to play.
"Right now that is the last thing that I'm thinking about," said Lopetegui when asked if he was worried about losing his job.
"I feel more encouraged than ever to continue because the team gave their heart and soul on the pitch. Sooner or later we will come out of this.
"The dressing room was sad but the players are keen to lift themselves up and look to the next game. The players gave everything and we will get out of this situation."
Lopetegui's side were stung twice inside 13 minutes when first Jose Luis Morales and then Roger Marti, from the spot, scored.
Real produced several great chances, with the woodwork and great saves from Oier Olazabal coming to the rescue for the visitors.
The final line of defence was finally breached in the 72nd minute when Marcelo fired a rocket past the Levante stopper - that ended a run of 482 minutes of scoring, although it came 17 minutes too late to prevent them from breaking the mark set back in 1985.
Real Madrid director Emilio Butragueno backed coach Lopetegui in the lead-up to the match, but with an important game in the Champions League coming up and El Clasico next weekend, there could be renewed pressure for the Los Blancos chiefs to act.
Mid-table Levante seemed the perfect opponent to face, but with a front-line led by the precocious Jose Luis Morales, the visitors had no intention of playing for a point.
Varane at fault for both Levante goals
They attacked from the first whistle and took the lead with only six minutes on the clock. Morales kept his eyes on Sergio Postigo's long ball, as Raphael Varane failed to, took the ball around keeper Thibaut Courtois and slotted in.
It was soon 2-0. Frenchman Varane was at fault again, when he handled inside the area. The referee initially gave a free-kick before VAR ruled the defender had handled in the area. Marti fired in the penalty to leave the home support stunned and Lopetegui crestfallen.
VAR also ruled out goals scored by Real's Marco Asensio and Mariano.
And when Levante's attack was not causing problems for Real, their keeper Oier was frustrating them at the other end.
Oier, who conceded nine goals playing for Granada at the Bernabeu in 2015, pushed a Casemiro header on to the bar, blocked Lucas Vasquez's point-blank shot with his foot and pushed away Gareth Bale's free-kick.
Both Bale and striker Karim Benzema had been brought on in the second half, but it was veteran full-back Marcelo who made the breakthrough when he smacked an effort past Oier 18 minutes from time.
Real tried their utmost to find a second, but Levante's impressive defence held out for a memorable win.
Line-ups
Real Madrid
Formation 4-3-3
- 25Courtois
- 19OdriozolaSubstituted forBaleat 45'minutes
- 5Varane
- 4Ramos
- 12MarceloBooked at 90mins
- 10Modric
- 14Casemiro
- 22IscoSubstituted forBenzemaat 60'minutes
- 17Vázquez
- 7Mariano
- 20AsensioSubstituted forCeballosat 60'minutes
Substitutes
- 1Navas
- 6Nacho
- 8Kroos
- 9Benzema
- 11Bale
- 23Reguilón
- 24Ceballos
Levante
Formation 3-1-4-2
- 13Olazábal
- 18CabacoBooked at 53mins
- 15PostigoSubstituted forChemaat 75'minutes
- 4Suárez Pier
- 24Campaña
- 23Remeseiro SalgueiroBooked at 89mins
- 16RochinaSubstituted forDoukouréat 67'minutes
- 10Bardhi
- 3García Aranda
- 11Morales
- 9MartíSubstituted forBoatengat 79'minutes
Substitutes
- 5Doukouré
- 6Chema
- 7Simon
- 19López
- 20Dwamena
- 21Boateng
- 25Fernández
- Referee:
- Guillermo Cuadra Fernández
- Attendance:
- 63,762
Match Stats
- Possession
- Home70%
- Away30%
- Shots
- Home33
- Away6
- Shots on Target
- Home12
- Away2
- Corners
- Home15
- Away1
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away19
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Real Madrid 1, Levante 2.
Booking
Marcelo (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Attempt missed. José Luis Morales (Levante) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right following a fast break.
Post update
Attempt missed. Casemiro (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right.
Post update
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Chema Rodríguez.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Marcelo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Casemiro.
Post update
Attempt missed. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Mariano.
Booking
Jason (Levante) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Jason (Levante).
Post update
Offside, Real Madrid. Karim Benzema tries a through ball, but Mariano is caught offside.
Post update
Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) header from the left side of the six yard box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Lucas Vázquez with a cross.
Post update
Attempt saved. Mariano (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Post update
Offside, Levante. Toño tries a through ball, but Emmanuel Boateng is caught offside.
Post update
Foul by Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid).
Post update
José Luis Morales (Levante) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Karim Benzema (Real Madrid).
Post update
Erick Cabaco (Levante) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Attempt missed. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Marcelo with a cross following a set piece situation.
Comments
Join the conversation
KARMA is a....
I love it.
*Come on folks - it is time for them to feel some hard times now!
If you dislike the Premier League tiny little Jay don’t troll on it, enjoy your weekend 😂😂😂😂😂
Credit to Levante (especially their goalkeeper today)
Real Madrid struggling in such an uncompetitive league!
Couldn't have happened to a nicer club. Even if Real Madrid start winning again now then the league is over for this season.
Might as well give the trophy to Barcelona now.
This is why the Premier League is the worlds most popular league it is genuinely competitive not the poor mans version that is La liga
⚽️⚽️😂😂
Well done Levante 😎