Angry fans jeered Real Madrid before kick-off at the Santiago Bernabéu, but the team responded with a 2–0 victory over Levante on Saturday to secure new coach Álvaro Arbeloa’s first win in charge.
Arbeloa’s debut as head coach had ended in humiliation with a Copa del Rey exit to second-tier Albacete, following the departure of Xabi Alonso earlier in the week.
However, second-half goals from Kylian Mbappé and Raúl Asencio helped steady the ship in La Liga.
The win cuts Real Madrid’s deficit to leaders Barcelona to one point ahead of their visit to Real Sociedad on Sunday.
Despite the result, the mood was tense throughout the early stages. Star players Vinícius Júnior and Jude Bellingham bore the brunt of the crowd’s frustration following a disastrous week for the club, which included defeat to Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final and a shock cup elimination.
Mbappé, who started despite nursing a knee sprain, escaped the pre-match jeers and came closest to scoring in a flat first half, volleying wide after racing onto a long ball.
Boos greeted the players at half-time, but Real Madrid emerged with greater intensity after the break. Arbeloa introduced 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 by Adrián de la Fuente. The French forward calmly converted the spot-kick for his 19th league goal of the season.
The strike marked Mbappé’s 50th goal in 53 La Liga appearances, reaching the milestone only two matches slower than club legend Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved it in 51 games.
Madrid doubled their lead when Asencio powered a header into the top corner from Güler’s corner, effectively sealing the contest.
Bellingham went close to adding a third, but Mathew Ryan produced fine saves to deny both him and Vinícius Júnior. As the final whistle approached, the tension eased, with the crowd temporarily placated by the result.
It was a timely victory on Arbeloa’s 43rd birthday, though the atmosphere made clear that patience at the Bernabéu is thin. Unless Real Madrid build on this performance, the whistles are unlikely to stay silent for long.
