After defending champion Atletico Madrid edged Elche so as to add to its profitable begin within the Spanish league, Real Madrid couldn’t overcome a Levante facet that was pressured to complete the match with a defender as its goalkeeper.
Atletico gained 1-0 at residence within the return of followers to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium on Sunday, turning into the one group with two wins to start the league. Then Madrid couldn’t handle greater than a 3-3 draw though Levante performed almost 10 minutes and not using a true goalkeeper.
Madrid did not get a shot on track after Levante goalkeeper Aitor Fernandez was despatched off within the 87th minute for utilizing his fingers outdoors the world to cease a breakaway. Defender Ruben Vezo took over as goalkeeper as a result of the hosts had already made all 5 substitutions, however he didn’t should make any saves within the the rest of regulation and stoppage time.
Madrid had opened the scoring within the first half with Gareth Bale, however the guests needed to come from behind twice after halftime to salvage the draw with a pair of objectives by Vinicius Junior.
“It’s hard to explain what happened,” Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti mentioned. “We gave away two points. We were too soft entering the second half. We need to improve defensively.”
Levante had been the final group to defeat Madrid within the league. Madrid gained solely two of its final 5 league matches towards Levante.
Bale scored his first objective of the season within the fifth minute with a low shot from inside the world after a arrange by Karim Benzema, who made a run from close to midfield earlier than passing the ball to the Wales ahead, who had been on a mortgage with Tottenham final season.
Bale hadn’t scored for Madrid since January 2020. He completed that season with solely three objectives, his lowest-ever tally with the Spanish membership.
Roger Marti equalized about 30 seconds into the second half, and Jose Campana put the hosts forward with a shot into the highest nook within the 57th.
Madrid evened the match in a 73rd-minute breakaway, with Vinicius Junior discovering the online after a pleasant move by Casemiro from Madrid’s personal area. But six minutes later Rober Pier gave Levante the lead once more from shut vary off a set piece.
Vinicius Junior pulled Madrid even once more with a neat angled shot that struck the far submit earlier than stepping into.
Madrid was depleted by the accidents of some key gamers corresponding to Toni Kroos, Luka Modric and Marcelo.
CORREA LEADS AGAIN
Atletico Madrid gained with Angel Correa once more taking part in a number one position in Luis Suarez’s absence.
Correa scored a first-half winner for his third objective in two matches whereas beginning rather than Suarez, who started on the bench once more.
A restricted crowd of almost 25,000 was available within the first Spanish league match with followers on the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium since March final 12 months earlier than the coronavirus pandemic. Atletico offered final season’s league trophy to the followers earlier than the match.
“We need the fans,” Atletico coach Diego Simeone mentioned. “It had been a year and a half without them. It was amazing to be able to show them last season’s trophy. It’s great to be able to play with them in our stadium again.”
Correa added to his scoring streak within the thirty ninth after a protracted move by Rodrigo de Paul, the Argentina midfielder added to the squad within the offseason. Elche goalkeeper Kiko Casilla beat Correa to the ball however whiffed his clearing try, leaving the Argentina ahead with a simple shot from inside the world.
Correa had scored each Atletico objectives within the group’s 2-1 win at Celta Vigo within the opener.
Suarez, Atletico’s main scorer after becoming a member of from Barcelona final season, got here into the match within the 63rd, changing Thomas Lemar.
Elche had opened with a 0-0 residence draw towards Athletic Bilbao.
Sevilla may win two in a row when it visits Getafe on Monday. Barcelona was held by Athletic Bilbao 1-1 on Saturday.
OYAZARBAL’S WINNER
Real Sociedad rebounded from a gap loss at Barcelona by beating promoted Rayo Vallecano 1-0 due to a 68th-minute penalty from Mikel Oyarzabal.
Rayo Vallecano had misplaced 3-0 at Sevilla in its opener.
