Ailing Real Madrid crash and burn against Levante

Things are showing no sign of improvement for Real Madrid. On the contrary, they're getting steadily worse.

The Spanish giants crashed to another defeat on Saturday, losing 2-1 to mid-table side Levante at the Santiago Bernabeu. It was the fourth loss in the last five games in all competitions for Los Merengues, with a goalless draw against city rivals Atletico Madrid at the end of September standing as the solitary point to their name across that run.

Marcelo's thumping second-half effort did, at least, end a club-record goal drought at 481 minutes, but that will be scant consolation for Real's stars, supporters, and beleaguered manager Julen Lopetegui.

The former Spain boss was already under enormous pressure coming into the game with his side floundering desperately.

It took just six minutes for things to go awry this time. A long ball from Levante's half caught out World Cup winner Raphael Varane, and Jose Morales did excellently to beat the onrushing Thibaut Courtois to the ball and finish into an empty net.

Six minutes later, Varane was penalized for a handball on the edge of the penalty area. A VAR review ruled the free-kick should have been a penalty, and Roger Marti squeezed the spot-kick past Courtois to double the visitors' lead.

Real were far from lifeless - Marcos Asensio's converted rebound was disallowed for offside after another video review, Mariano headed against the crossbar, and Levante goalkeeper Oier Olazabal made tremendous saves - but the end result was ultimately the same.

The crowning humiliation came as the clock ticked over to 55 minutes, signaling a new club record of 465 minutes without a goal in all competitions, breaking a mark that had stood since 1985.

Levante had opportunities to deepen the Madrid natives' horror, and though Marcelo's bullet briefly looked as though it might spark a resurrection, there was to be no reprieve for Lopetegui. It was a grim way to warm up for next weekend's El Clasico showdown with Barcelona.