Football news - Controversial late Gareth Bale penalty rescues Real at Levante
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 24/02/2019 at 22:14 GMT
La Liga, Ciudad de Valencia - Levante 1 (Roger 60') Real Madrid 2 (Benzema P 43', Bale P 78')
Gareth Bale of Real Madrid CF scores his team's second goal from the penalty spot during the La Liga match between Levante UD and Real Madrid CF at Ciutat de Valencia on February 24, 2019 in Valencia, Spain.
Image credit: Getty Images
A little bit of help from VAR followed by a little bit of help from the referee was all Real Madrid needed to close the gap on league leaders Barcelona to nine points. Levante, though, can take heart too - they played very well indeed, and should avoid relegation with plenty to spare.
There was little goalmouth action in the early stages but Levante were the more dangerous side, hitting the post through Rober Pier. But then on 43 minutes, Enis Bardhi decided to protect his face from Luka Modric's potentially fatal cross. The ref consulted with VAR, a penalty ensued, and Karim Benzema dispatched it with ease.
Just two minutes later, Roger Marti hit the post, but Levante were not disheartened, maintaining their level at the start of the second half. And, on the hour, it was Roger who pulled them level, applying a fine finish to Jose Morales' cross.
As time ticked on, Levante looked the more likely winners, but then with just 12 minutes left, they failed to clear a corner first time, Cheick Doukoure took a swipe, Casemiro made sure to fall over, and the ref pointed to the spot. There appeared to be little if any contact, and little if any foul, but the video review could see no clear error, so Gareth Bale, on as sub, clipped home Madrid's second penalty, angrily avoiding celebration - presumably because he had been dropped following a poor performance last weekend.
His goal took it out of Levante, who did not threaten again - though there was still plenty of excitement, first when Nacho was sent-off for a second yellow card, and then when Ruben Rochina was too ... though he had already been subbed.
So Madrid are still in the title race, just, and if they can beat Barcelona next Sunday - whom they also play the second leg of the Cope del Rey semi-final in midweek - they will fancy their chances of potentially reeling their rivals in. But they will have to play a lot better than they did tonight.
TALKING POINT
Should Bale be starting for Madrid? His team's midfield are beautiful technicians, but their legs aren't what they were, so the running of Lucas Vazquez is important. But he offers nothing like the same attacking threat as Bale, so perhaps a change of approach is in order: defend deep and in numbers, then rely on counters and occasional moments of quality to settle things.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2019/02/24/2530846-52515630-2560-1440.jpg)
Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale (L) celebrates with Real Madrid's Spanish midfielder Lucas Vazquez after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Levante UD and Real Madrid CF at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia on
Image credit: Getty Images
MAN OF THE MATCH
Roger (Levante) Easily the most threatening and creative forward on the pitch, scoring a fine goal and doing plenty else besides.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2019/02/24/2530823-52515170-2560-1440.jpg)
Levante's Spanish forward Roger Marti (L) celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal during the Spanish league football match between Levante UD and Real Madrid CF at the Ciutat de Valencia stadium in Valencia on February 24, 2019
Image credit: Getty Images
PLAYER RATINGS
Levante: Fernandez 5, Rober 6, Vezo 6, Cabaco 6, Luna 5, Bardhi 5, Campana 7, Rochina 6, Simon 6, Morales 6, Roger 8. Subs: Doukoure 5, Raphael 6, Vukcevic 6.
Real Madrid: Courtois 6, Carvajal 6, Varane 6, Nacho 5, Reguilon 6, Casemiro 6, Kroos 5, Modric 6, Lucas Vazquez 5, Benzema 5, Vinicius Jr 6. Subs: Valverde 5, Bale 6, Asensio 6.
KEY MOMENTS
42’ - Modric crosses and, five yards away, Bardhi raises an arm to protect his face. Calling VAR!
43’ - PENALTY TO MADRID! The ref comes over to check the screen, sees a frankly playgrounds piece of defending - just wear it on your coupon, man - and points to the spot. Here comes Benzema...
43’ - GOAL! Levante 0-1 Real Madrid (Benzema pen) Fernandez goes right, Benzema goes middle-left. Easy.
60’ - GOAL! Levante 1-1 Real Madrid (Roger) This is so well-earned. Morales goes down the left and crosses low to the near post, where Roger is so sharp, sliding in ahead of Varane and poke-flicking a gorgeous finish high inside the far post. Brilliant!
77’ - PENALTY TO MADRID! Levante can't clear the ball first time, and then when it bobbles about and Doucoure has a swipe, he apparently gets a piece of Casemiro, who collapses! I'm not at all sure about that, but VAR allows the call to stand!
78’ - GOAL! Levante 1-2 Real Madrid (Bale pen) Bale pauses, pauses again, and as Fernandez goes right, rolls left. Then as Lucas comes to celebrate, he shakes him off, presumably in vex at his lack of starting time.
86’ - RED CARD NACHO! With all these bookings, that was coming. Cabaco looks to move the ball down the line to Simon and Nacho is already sprung into action, pulling him down and trudging off after an inevitable second yellow. Madrid have four minutes plus injury-time to survive.
88’ - RED CARD RUBEN ROCHINA! He gobs off from the bench, and the ref shows him a second yellow. Imagine having to go home, have your missus ask how the game went, and then be forced to tell her that.
KEY STATS
Roger is the first player to score in two separate games against Madrid this season.
Madrid won a game thanks to two penalties for the first time since 2013-14.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article