Levante stun Real Madrid: 3 things we learned

Real Madrid drew 2-2 with Levante after Giampaolo Pazzini snatched a late equalizer. Here are three things we learned from the match.

It seemed things were back on track for Real Madrid last week, but another setback, this time in the shape of a draw against lowly Levante, has plunged Los Blancos back into crisis mode. Here are three things we learned from the game.

Real Madrid don’t look ready for PSG

Real Madrid have had a truly awful 2017-18 season. They’re now 18 points behind runaway league leaders Barcelona and were recently dumped out of the Copa Del Rey by Leganes. Their only realistic hope for sliverware this season is the Champions League, where they face a free-scoring PSG team. Zinedine Zidane seemed to have his side buildingmomentum toward that tie with two big wins in the league, but this draw has exposed the same old weaknesses for Real.

In fact, if ever there was a game to sum up Real Madrid’s season so far, this would be it. Heading into this game, Real had lost six points in the last 10 minutes of games, a complete reversal of last season, when they were infamous for winning games late on. Following an Isco goal, Real Madrid completely ceded possession to their opponents, offering Levante at least three or four clear-cut chances to come back into the game, before Pazzini eventually got the equalizer.

Although Levante performed well and fully deserved their point, this shouldn’t deceive anyone into thinking they’re a decent side. No team in La Liga this season has won fewer games than Levante and only two teams have scored fewer than the Valencia outfit. The fact that the visitors conceded to this team, let alone dropped points, should be a concern for fans.

Real Madrid will host Real Sociedad next week to try and salvage some sort of form before the Parisians come to visit, but it’s looking like an increasingly tall task for the Spanish and European champions to retain their crown following this setback.

Modric and Benzema provide some positives

Few of Real Madrid’s players could walk off the pitch feeling they put in a good performance, but Luka Modric will rightfully feel cheated that he didn’t end up on the winning team today.

The Croatian started in midfield, but seemed to be everywhere for Los Blancos. He popped up on the wing to deliver a number of incisive balls into the center, he often found himself as the deepest midfielder when the hosts had possession and made a number of important of interceptions. When not saving his team in defense or blasting past full-backs on the wings, Modric was in the center of the pitch, dictating play.

Surprisingly, Karim Benzema also silenced his critics with a good showing in Valencia. Benzema has been a bit of a scapegoat for Real Madrid’s offensive woes this season, having missed more than his fair share of clear-cut chances.

However, since Zidane moved away from a diamond to accomodate all three of the famous BBC, Benzema has looked a lot more comfortable and today’s performance demonstrated much of what makes the Frenchman great. He linked up with his midfield and attacking partners brilliantly, demonstrating his ability to retain the ball with his sheer power and strength. As Real became more desperate for a goal, Benzema carved out a number of opportunities and ultimately ended up assisting Isco for what seemed like a late winner.

Neither player has had a very good season, but their recent performances will give Madridistas a slither of hope heading into the crucial tie against PSG.

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The writing is on the wall for Zidane

Eighteen months ago, Zinedine Zidane could do no wrong. He had won the Champions League for the second consecutive year after leading his Los Blancos team to their first league title in seven years. It seemed like Real Madrid were destined to dominate under the Frenchman for years to come.

We’re now heading into Febuary and it seems like the Real Madrid manager is hanging on a thread. Unless Barcelona have an unprecedented fall from grace, Real Madrid will finish the season empty handed if they don’t knock out PSG in the Champions League.

Trophyless seasons at Real Madrid usually mean the coach gets the sack and few coaches can say they were shown the patience Real Madrid have shown Zidane this season; the club have sacked 13 coaches since the turn of the century, and once went through three in one season.

The Frenchman will need a massive up turn in form and a little bit of luck from now till the end of the season if he wishes to keep his job. Right now, however, the writing is on the wall for Zidane.