5th October, 2013
MADRID(AFP) – Real Madrid salvaged their faltering La Liga title hopes with two goals in stoppage time to win 3-2 away at Levante on Saturday.
With the visitors trailing 2-1 entering stoppage time, Alvaro Morata slotted home from close range before Cristiano Ronaldo’s effort deflected in off the inside of the post with virtually the last kick of the game to hand Madrid victory.
Baba Diawara had fired the hosts into a deserved lead 12 minutes after the break, only for Sergio Ramos to level four minutes later.
Nabil El Zhar then thought he had handed Joaquin Caparros’ men all three points with a fine finish four minutes from time before the late drama.
“I am very happy for the goal and the victory. In the end we have shown the character you need if you are a Real Madrid player,” Morata told Gol Television.
“People should have more patience. There have been a lot of changes recently and for sure we will play better in the future.”
Real were again without world record signing Gareth Bale due to a thigh injury, but Ancelotti did make five changes to the side that had beaten FC Copenhagen 4-0 in the Champions League on Wednesday.
And the number of changes seemed to affect the visitors as they made a very slow start.
It took half an hour for Madrid to force Keylor Navas into a save and even when they did the Costa Rican comfortably turned behind Ronaldo’s deflected free-kick.
Baba was the main threat for Levante and the Senegalese was unfortunate when his rasping drive from the edge of the area flew just over moments later.
Luka Modric then had Madrid’s best opening of the half when he skewed wide after his initial effort had been blocked by David Navarro.
However, it was the hosts who came closest to opening the scoring just before half-time when another piledriver from Baba, this time, forced Lopez into a stunning save a minute before the break.
Lopez had to be alert again at the start of the second period to turn Pape Diop’s fierce effort from outside the area over.
Ronaldo then clipped the outside of the post as the game became increasingly stretched.
And with their next attack Levante caught Madrid short at the back on the counter-attack as Jordi Xumetra’s floated cross was swept home by Baba at the back post.
However, the lead only lasted four minutes as Ramos outmuscled Xumetra to bundle home Angel di Maria’s corner.
Marcelo then somehow turned Di Maria’s precise cut-back over as Madrid piled on the pressure and Ancelotti threw on young strike duo Morata and Jese Rodriguez in a bid to find a winner.