Meeting of extremes at the end of the 36th day of La Liga this Thursday at 9:30 p.m. At the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid, leader and already crowned champion of Spain, welcomed Levante, red lantern. Defeated at the Wanda Metropolitano last weekend against Atlético de Madrid (0-1), the Merengues had to raise their heads to best prepare for the Champions League final scheduled against Liverpool on May 28. Opposite, the Granotes, almost condemned despite their recent victory against Real Sociedad (2-1), were obliged to bring back three points to continue to believe in maintaining them at the end of the season. For this meeting, Carlo Ancelotti opted for a 4-3-3 with Benzema, Rodrygo and Vinicius, aligned on the front of the attack and well supported by Camavinga, established in midfield. For his part, Alessio Lisci started with a 5-3-2 where Morales and Gomez formed the attacking duo.
Under the eyes of the Casa Blanca supporters, the level difference, symbolized in the classification, would however logically materialize on the ground. If Benzema lit the first fuse (2nd), Mendy, superbly launched by Modric, finally found the fault shortly before the end of the first quarter of an hour of play (1-0, 13th). Carried by this opener, the Merengues quickly went on the attack but neither Benzema (16th), nor Valverde (16th), nor Mendy (19th) found the break. Master of the debates and in total control in the midfield, Real ended up taking off despite everything. On a well-worked cross from Vinicius, Benzema, well placed at six meters, placed a victorious header (2-0, 20th). Overwhelmed and guilty of another loss of ball in midfield, Levante cracked again a few moments later…
Karim Benzema joins Raul, Vinicius Jr is enjoying himself!
On a perfect serve from Modric, Rodrygo, hero of the Champions League semi-final against Manchester City, tripled the lead (3-0, 34th). Just before the break, Valverde thought he was going to make the score worse but his overpowering recovery from twenty meters, repelled by Cardenas, ended his race on the bar (42nd). It was only a postponement since a few seconds later, Vinicius, found by Modric (author of his third assist of the evening), offered his 15th goal of the season with a beautiful curled shot (4-0, 45th). Without pity, Real strolled against the reckless opponents of Levante. Author of his 323rd goal in the Madrid tunic, “KB9” took the opportunity to become the second best scorer in the history of the club, tied with a certain Raul.
Upon returning from the locker room, the physiognomy of the meeting hardly changed. From the first moments of the second act, Valverde sent a 25-meter missile which barely flirted with the crossbar of Cardenas (48th). In the process, it was Modric, sparkling in this meeting, who shone the last bastion of Levante on a superb curled strike (50th). And if Rodrygo then Vinicius thought to add to the bill, it was finally Vinicius, well served by Benzema, who offered himself a double (5-0, 68th). Untenable in this meeting, the Brazilian, launched by Peter, even signed a hat-trick by perfectly adjusting the doorman of Granotes (6-0, 83rd). With this big victory not suffering any challenge (6-0), Real Madrid, already crowned, are preparing their Champions League final against the Reds on May 28 as well as possible. For its part, Levante, red lantern, is officially relegated to the second division.
The official line-ups at kick-off
Real Madrid starting XI
📋✅ ¡Nuestro inicial 🆚 @LevanteUD! @UnicajaBanco | #RealMadridLevante pic.twitter.com/ZVLmxoM85l
— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) May 12, 2022
Levante XI
ALIGNMENT | 1️⃣1️⃣ para medirnos al @real Madrid #OrgullGranota 🐸 pic.twitter.com/5Ilf8qlaqu
— Levante UD 🐸 (@LevanteUD) May 12, 2022