Real Madrid defends lead against Levante

Twenty-one months later, Real Madrid CF are leaders of the Liga BBVA as they welcome Levante UD to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on the 27th matchday of the championship.  

Carlo Ancelotti's charges are riding high at the moment and they will want to prolong it as much as possible, but to do so they will have to battle it out against one of the in-form teams at this stage in the season. Hence the Madrid manager does not want to leave anything to chance. "We must be patient, it's not easy playing against Levante's defensive system", he said. Defender Álvaro Arbeloa and midfielder Sami Khedira will be the only absences for the home team. 

Levante will visit the Bernabéu feeling hopeful and confident, with their sights set on European qualification. "They can beat us on quality, but not from a rebound or blocked ball", said their manager Joaquín Caparrós. The levantinistas have made things difficult for FC Barcelona, Real Sociedad and Sevilla FC, and now they will hope to do the same with Madrid. The only but is the absence of Víctor Casadesús, Pape Diop, Simão Mate, Héctor Rodas, Babá Diawara and Pedro Ríos.