Ronaldo-less Madrid fumble to draw at home
Real Madrid’s stuttering start to their La Liga defence continued, coming from behind to draw against Levante.
The visitors took a shock lead through Ivi, who spun past Dani Carvajal in the area before slotting home.
But Lucas Vazquez equalised from close range after Sergio Ramos’s header was saved by Raul Fernandez.
Marcelo was dismissed for kicking out at Jefferson Lerma and Toni Kroos could have won it for Real in injury-time but curled a shot a against the post.
Minutes earlier, Brazilian full-back Marcelo had struck an effort at goal which Raul brilliantly saved, but lashed out at Lerma after a challenge by the Levante player and was dismissed.
The result means Real have won one game from three in the league this season, but failed to win their opening two matches at Bernabeu for the first time since 1995.
Bale misses series of chances
Missing the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo – who served the fourth of his five-game ban for pushing a referee – Real then had to deal with the loss of Karim Benzema through injury in the first half. The Frenchman was replaced by Gareth Bale, who missed a host of chances.
The Welshman had a one-on-one effort tipped wide by goalkeeper Raul and could not find the target with three headers – the best of which came on 88 minutes when he rose to meet Isco’s cross at the back post but nodded across goal and wide.
Zinedine Zidane’s side needed two Marco Asensio goals to salvage a draw against Valencia in their last league game, but the team’s new star could not provide a finishing touch this time.
The Spain international latched on to Bale’s flick on, but his low strike was pushed away by the impressive Raul.
The first round of Champions League group games take place this coming week, with holders Real taking on Apoel Nicosia on Wednesday.
-BBC
