The match began with tension rather than celebration, as sections of the home crowd openly jeered their own players following a turbulent week for the Spanish giants. Madrid, however, recovered in the second half through goals from Kylian Mbappé and Raúl Asencio to collect three crucial La Liga points.
The win allowed Los Blancos to cut Barcelona’s lead at the top of the table to just one point ahead of the Catalans’ trip to Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Arbeloa’s appointment earlier in the week came after Xabi Alonso’s departure, but his debut ended painfully with a Copa del Rey elimination at the hands of second-tier Albacete. That defeat, coupled with losses in the Spanish Super Cup final to Barcelona, left fans angry and disillusioned, a mood clearly reflected in the stands.
Star names Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham bore the brunt of supporters’ frustration, while Mbappé, who returned to the starting lineup despite managing a knee sprain, was largely spared the criticism.
The first half was subdued, with Madrid struggling to impose themselves against a Levante side sitting 19th in the table. Mbappé came closest to breaking the deadlock when he volleyed wide after latching onto a long ball. Boos rang out at half-time as the hosts headed into the dressing room level.
Arbeloa responded after the break by introducing Franco Mastantuono and Arda Güler, a move that injected urgency into Madrid’s play. The breakthrough arrived when Mbappé was fouled in the penalty area, allowing the French forward to convert from the spot for his 19th league goal of the season.
The strike marked another milestone for Mbappé, who has now scored 50 La Liga goals in 53 appearances, reaching the mark only slightly slower than Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved it in 51 games.
Madrid doubled their advantage when Raúl Asencio rose to meet Güler’s corner, powering a header into the top corner to seal control of the contest. Jude Bellingham and Vinícius both came close to adding a third, but Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan produced a series of saves to keep the scoreline respectable.
Speaking after the match, Asencio admitted the players felt responsible for recent setbacks and were determined to respond. He described the victory as an important step forward, particularly after the disappointment of the cup exit.
Saturday’s result also coincided with Arbeloa’s 43rd birthday, offering the new coach some respite amid growing scrutiny. While the victory briefly calmed the atmosphere inside the Bernabéu, chants calling for club president Florentino Pérez to step down underscored the depth of fan unrest.
For now, Real Madrid have steadied themselves, but with expectations high and pressure unrelenting, Arbeloa’s side will need to build on this performance to prevent the whistles from returning.