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Real Madrid logo
La Liga
Mar 15, 2015 at 8pm UK
 
Levante logo

2-0

Bale (18', 40')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Preview: Real Madrid vs. Levante

Sports Mole previews Levante's trip to the Bernabeu to face Real Madrid in La Liga.

Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti will be aware that three points are imperative against Levante on Sunday to ease the pressure on his role at the club.

Despite maintaining a top-two position throughout the campaign and reaching the Champions League quarter-finals, the club's fans have greeted their recent displays with jeers, with Gareth Bale one player who has been specifically targeted after a poor contribution in recent weeks.

Ancelotti has been backed by the club's hierarchy, but just 10 points from six league games have seen Real overtaken by Barcelona in the league table.

Last week's 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao was followed by a 4-3 reverse at home to Schalke 04 in Europe, and a further setback this weekend would spark more unrest at the club.

Marcelo is likely to return at left-back in place of Fabio Coentrao, but Luka Modric is expected to remain on the substitutes' bench, despite making a successful return from a long-term thigh problem in midweek.

Defender Sergio Ramos and attacker James Rodriguez remain on the sidelines ahead of the game at the Bernabeu.

After a disappointing campaign, Levante have moved themselves out of the relegation zone in recent weeks with three victories from five matches.

Their recent triumphs have come against relegation rivals Granada and Eibar, and Lucas Alcaraz will be delighted with their response after going nine games without a win during the middle stages of the season.

However, all of their recent success has come at Ciutat de Valencia, with their last success on the road coming on September 24, a run spanning 10 matches.

The trio of Ivan Lopez, Papakouli Diop and Pedro Lopez won't feature at the weekend.

Real Madrid:

Form in La Liga: WLWWDL
Form in all competitions: WWWDLL

Possible starting lineup: Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Khedira, Isco, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Levante:

Recent form: LWLWLW

Possible starting lineup: Diego Marino, David Navarro, Ramis, Tono, Simao Junior, Xumetra, Ruben Garcia , Victor Camarasa, Uche, David Barral, Jose Luis Morales

Sports Mole says: 3-1


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Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (R) is congratulated by Fabio Coentrao (C) during the UEFA Champions League round of 16 match against Schalke on March 10, 2015
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rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Barcelona13110240122833
2Real Madrid1283125111427
3Atletico MadridAtletico137511971226
4Villarreal127322319424
5Osasuna136341720-321
6Athletic Bilbao135531913620
7Real BetisBetis135531412220
8Real Sociedad135351110118
9Mallorca135351010018
10GironaGirona135351617-118
11Celta Vigo135262022-217
12Rayo Vallecano124441313016
13Sevilla134361218-615
14Leganes133551316-314
15Getafe142751011-113
16AlavesAlaves134181422-813
17Las PalmasLas Palmas133371622-612
18Espanyol123181122-1110
19Real ValladolidValladolid142391027-179
20Valencia11146817-97


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