Subject: Levante 0-0 Real Madrid Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:37 am
Spanish giants Real Madrid were frustrated by relegation contenders Levante at the Ciudad de Valencia on Saturday evening in the Primera Division and had to content with a 0-0 draw.
Los Blancos created a plethora of chances throughout the match but failed to take any of them, with Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo the main culprits. The Argentina international striker also had a goal disallowed for offside late in the first-half.
As anticipated, Levante came to the match with a clear intention of playing defensive football and attacking Madrid on the counter. But that move almost backfired in the early stages of the match when los Blancos crafted two good chances.
First Alvaro Arbeloa whipped in a superb cross from the right that Sergio Ballesteros cleared as Cristiano Ronaldo was lurking. Then Marcelo’s sliced open the Levante backline with an exquisite pass from the left edge of the penalty area that Gonzalo Higuain couldn’t keep on target from just yards out, putting the ball over the crossbar.
The visitors continued to carve out good chances for themselves as Ronaldo and Marcelo tried to make in-roads into the Levante citadel but in vain.
Jose Mourinho’s side created a great chance midway through the first-half when Ronaldo discerned Angel Di Maria inside the area and passed the ball over the defence. However, Levante custodian Manuel Reina claimed Di Maria’s attempted lob with ease.
Two minutes before the half-hour mark Ronaldo headed wide from a Mesut Oezil corner. Minutes later a Marcelo cross aimed for Higuain almost went into the Levante goal when it took a deflection off Nano and landed on the top of the net.
Ronaldo, Sami Khedira and Sergio Ramos all had chances to break the deadlock in the remaining minutes of the first-half but failed to beat Reina.
The one time that Madrid did beat the Levante goalkeeper their goal was disallowed for offside, leaving Higuain to complain in vain in the 42nd minute despite finding the target from close range.
The second-half commenced with a bang as there were two chances in the space of just five minutes for Levante.
Asier del Horno was the creator-in-chief but on both occasions saw his crosses blocked by the Madrid defenders.
Midfielder Xabi Alonso tried his luck for the visitors with a fierce shot from outside the Levante 18-yard box but was denied by Reina.
Then midway through the second-half Ronaldo’s volley from a left-wing cross went wide of the left post.
Jose Mourinho’s side piled on the pressure in the final 15 minutes of the match to unearth the winner but were thwarted by Reina between the Granotes sticks. He first denied Pedro Leon on 75 minutes and then clutched onto a tricky shot from Karim Benzema.
The goalless stalemate maintains Madrid’s unbeaten run in the league but sees them lose pole position in the table to Valencia.
Subject: Levante 0-0 Real Madrid 
Mon Sep 27, 2010 2:37 am
