Real Madrid beat Levante 2-0 for Alvaro Arbeloa’s first win, easing pressure after a turbulent week marked by fan protests at the Bernabeu
REAL Madrid overcame jeers from their own supporters to secure a 2-0 La Liga victory over Levante on Saturday, handing new coach Alvaro Arbeloa his first win.
The result, courtesy of second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Raul Asencio, cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to one point ahead of their match on Sunday.
The home crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu voiced their anger following a disastrous week that included a Copa del Rey loss and the sacking of Xabi Alonso.
Star players Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham were targeted by the boos, though Mbappe was largely spared.
The French forward, managing a knee injury, opened the scoring from the penalty spot for his 19th league goal of the campaign.
Asencio then doubled the lead with a header from Arda Guler’s corner to secure the vital three points.
“The team gave a good account of themselves, above all in the second half,” Asencio told Real Madrid TV.
He added that the players felt guilty about their midweek cup defeat and wanted to make amends.
The victory came on Arbeloa’s 43rd birthday, providing some relief after a flat first-half performance.
Tensions had been high following losses in the Spanish Super Cup final and the cup, with some fans chanting for president Florentino Perez to resign.
Unless Madrid builds on this result, the jeers are likely to return.
