Real Madrid continued their flawless start to the season with a commanding 4-1 victory over Levante on Tuesday night in Valencia, with Vinicius Jr leading the charge in the first half and Kylian Mbappe sealing the result with a clinical brace after the break. The win kept Madrid at the top of the table with 18 points from six games, five clear of reigning champions Barcelona, who still have a game in hand. Levante, meanwhile, remain in 16th with only four points, facing early struggles in the campaign.
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For Vinicius, the night was especially significant. After a shaky start under new manager Xabi Alonso and being benched in two matches, the Brazilian answered his critics with an inspired display. Not only did he complete the full 90 minutes for the first time this season, but he also finished the match wearing the captain’s armband, underscoring his importance to the team. His opener in the 28th minute was a moment of brilliance, cutting in from the right and curling a stunning strike with the outside of his boot past goalkeeper Mathew Ryan. Just before halftime, Vinicius turned provider, setting up Franco Mastantuono with a pinpoint through ball. The youngster powered into the box and smashed home a fierce strike into the top corner, doubling Real’s advantage and showcasing the frightening pace of their counter-attack.
Levante, though under pressure, were spared further damage before the break thanks to Ryan’s excellent goalkeeping, as he denied efforts from Vinicius, Federico Valverde, and Mbappe. The home side briefly sparked hope of a comeback early in the second half. In the 54th minute, Ivan Romero’s deflected effort wrong-footed Thibaut Courtois, allowing Etta Eyong to pounce and head home, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
Any hopes of a Levante fightback were short-lived. Mbappe restored Madrid’s cushion in the 63rd minute with a composed penalty, chipping down the middle as Ryan dove to his left after the Frenchman was fouled in the box by Levante captain Unai Elgezabal. Just three minutes later, Mbappe struck again, latching onto a perfectly timed long pass from Arda Guler, rounding the keeper, and slotting into an empty net to seal the victory. His brace not only killed off Levante’s resistance but also reaffirmed his status as Madrid’s lethal finisher.
After the game, coach Xabi Alonso praised his players’ performance while reminding that the season is still in its early stages. “Vinicius has played a decisive and very important role tonight,” Alonso said. “We are in a phase of growth and construction. The players feel energised and connected, and although there are things to improve, we are on the right track to build a strong foundation for La Liga, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey.”
Madrid now turn their focus to a high-stakes derby against Atletico Madrid this Saturday, a fixture that will test their early momentum and title credentials. Levante, desperate to climb away from the bottom, will also travel to the capital for a clash against Getafe.
Elsewhere in La Liga, Villarreal grabbed a dramatic 2-1 win at Sevilla to climb to third in the table, while Espanyol dropped to fourth after a 2-2 draw with Valencia. At the bottom, Girona showed resilience by holding Athletic Bilbao to a 1-1 draw, earning a valuable point in their survival bid.
