Real Madrid Player Ratings vs Levante: Kylian Mbappé Bails Out Blancos Once More as Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Jr Face Bernabéu Boos

Mbappé the Difference Again as Real Madrid Beat Levante 2-0 on a Tense Night at the Bernabéu

There are nights at the Santiago Bernabéu when the scoreline tells only half the story, and this was very much one of them. Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Levante will go down as a routine home victory on paper, but anyone inside the stadium – or watching closely – knows it was anything but straightforward. Once again, Kylian Mbappé bailed out Los Blancos, while Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Jr delivered performances that earned them boos from an increasingly restless home crowd.

Under new head coach Álvaro Arbeloa, Madrid are still very much a work in progress. This was their first home match since the shock sacking of Xabi Alonso and the embarrassing Copa del Rey exit at Albacete, and the tension was obvious from the first whistle. Levante arrived with a clear plan, discipline, and nothing to lose. Madrid, by contrast, looked weighed down by expectation.

A Flat and Nervy First Half Sets the Tone

From the opening minutes, it was clear that this would not be a comfortable evening. Madrid dominated possession, as expected, but did very little with it. The tempo was slow, the passing predictable, and the movement off the ball worryingly static. Levante, well-organised and confident, pressed selectively and waited for mistakes.

The Bernabéu boos began surprisingly early. Every misplaced pass, every sideways ball, every failed dribble was met with murmurs that quickly turned into whistles. It felt harsh at times, but this is Real Madrid – patience is rarely part of the contract.

Jude Bellingham, usually the emotional engine of this team, endured a particularly difficult first half. His touches were loose, his passing rushed, and his decision-making uncharacteristically poor. Several times he tried to force play through crowded central areas, only to hand possession straight back to Levante.

Vinícius Jr, meanwhile, looked like a player trying too hard to make something happen. Dribbles led nowhere, combinations broke down, and the crowd’s frustration with him became increasingly audible.

The one genuine moment of danger came in the 32nd minute. Kylian Mbappé latched onto a long ball from Raúl Asencio, used his pace to burst past the defensive line, and suddenly had space. But instead of a trademark finish, he smashed his effort wide. It summed up Madrid’s first half: promise without end product.

At the back, Madrid looked uneasy whenever Levante broke forward. Thibaut Courtois wasn’t called into serious action, but there was a nervousness about the defensive structure that didn’t inspire confidence.

Arbeloa Rolls the Dice – and It Pays Off

Whatever Álvaro Arbeloa said at half-time clearly had an impact. More importantly, what he did tactically changed the game. The introduction of Arda Güler immediately added something Madrid had been missing: imagination.

Güler began finding pockets of space between the lines, moving the ball quickly and encouraging runners ahead of him. Suddenly, Levante were being pulled out of shape, and the game opened up.

It didn’t take long for the breakthrough to arrive.

Mbappé, sharper and more direct after the break, burst into the box and was clipped by a defender as he shaped to shoot. The referee pointed to the spot without hesitation. Amid the noise and pressure, Mbappé stayed calm, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way and burying the penalty.

Once again, Kylian Mbappé bailed out the Blancos.

With the deadlock broken, the entire mood inside the stadium shifted. The whistles softened, the passing gained confidence, and Madrid began to look like a team rather than a collection of individuals.

Asencio Seals It, But Questions Remain

The second goal arrived from a set-piece – an area Madrid have been criticised for in recent weeks. A well-delivered corner found Raúl Asencio, who rose above his marker and powered a header into the net. It was a moment of redemption for a defender who had struggled badly in the first half.

At 2-0, the game was effectively over, but it never felt entirely comfortable. Levante continued to threaten on the counter, and Madrid were far from fluid in open play. This was not dominance; it was control achieved through individual quality rather than collective rhythm.

Still, three points are three points, especially at a time of transition.

Goalkeeper & Defence Ratings

Real Madrid CF v Levante UD – LaLiga EA Sports

Thibaut Courtois (7/10)
A strangely quiet night for the Belgian. Levante threatened, but rarely forced him into serious saves. Commanded his area well and looked calm when needed.

Federico Valverde (5/10)
Played at right-back, a role he has made clear he dislikes. Levante targeted his flank, and he looked uncomfortable defensively. His energy was there, but his positioning wasn’t.

Raúl Asencio (6/10)
A poor first half, but he made up for it with a superb header to seal the win. Still looks raw, but moments like that matter.

Dean Huijsen (7/10)
Arguably Madrid’s most solid defender on the night. Composed on the ball and rarely panicked, even when under pressure.

Álvaro Carreras (6/10)
Did a lot of unseen work. Shielded the defence, made selfless runs, and tried to balance the left side as Vinícius pushed forward.

Midfield Ratings

Jude Bellingham Real Madrid 2025-26

Aurélien Tchouaméni (5/10)
Struggled to impose himself. Missed tackles, slow ball circulation, and a lack of authority in midfield. Against this level of opposition, Madrid don’t need both him and Camavinga.

Eduardo Camavinga (5/10)
One of his more frustrating performances. Gave the ball away cheaply and committed unnecessary fouls. Substituted at half-time, and rightly so.

Jude Bellingham (6/10)
A tale of two halves. Absolutely miserable before the break, losing possession far too often. Improved significantly in the second half when the game opened up, but still below his usual standards.

Attack Ratings

Kylian Mbappe Real Madrid 2025

Gonzalo García (6/10)
Played out of position on the right and struggled to make an impact. Worked hard but was rarely involved in dangerous moments.

Kylian Mbappé (8/10)
Not perfect, but decisive. Missed a big chance in the first half, then took responsibility from the spot and led Madrid’s improvement after the break. Could easily have had more goals.

Vinícius Jr (6/10)
Relentlessly booed by sections of the Bernabéu, sometimes unfairly. Sloppy early on, but much more effective once spaces appeared. Still searching for his best form.

Substitutes & Manager

Alvaro Arbeloa Real Madrid

Arda Güler (8/10)
The game-changer. His creativity transformed Madrid’s midfield, and his assist for the second goal was perfectly weighted. A reminder of what he brings.

Franco Mastantuono (7/10)
Added width and energy. Gave Madrid another outlet and looked comfortable at this level.

Dani Ceballos (6/10)
Did the simple things well. Helped control the tempo better than the starting midfielders.

David Alaba (N/A)
Too little time to judge.

Álvaro Arbeloa (6/10)
Switched back to a 4-3-3 that his predecessor never fully mastered. The first half was poor, the second much improved. A win, yes – but plenty still to fix.

A Win That Brings Relief, Not Answers

This victory will calm nerves temporarily, but it won’t silence the questions around Real Madrid’s direction under Arbeloa. The boos aimed at Jude Bellingham and Vinícius Jr were a warning sign, not a verdict. The talent is there. The cohesion is not – yet.

Once again, Kylian Mbappé bailed out the Blancos, just as superstars have done for Madrid throughout history. The challenge now is ensuring he doesn’t have to do it alone every single week.

At the Bernabéu, standards are ruthless. Winning is mandatory. Performing well is expected. On this night, Madrid managed only the first of those two.