Real Madrid put five past Levante
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E-mail Xinhua, April 7, 2013
Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain was the man of the match as a late flurry of goals gave Real Madrid a 5-1 win over Levante in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium this Saturdau night.
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Kaka scored the penalty for Real Madrid. |
Higuain opened his side's scoring with a magnificent volley and set Cristiano Ronaldo up to make it 3-1 with just six minutes left to play, before two late goals from Mesut Ozil gave a sheen to the final score that the game perhaps didn't deserve.
Jose Mourinho went into the game with his attention firmly fixed on his side's Champions League quarter final return leg away to Galatasaray and although the Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso, who are both suspended for that game were in the side, others such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Sami Khedira and Rafael Varene were all rested.
Madrid controlled possession against a side that was quite content to sit deep and defend 30 yards from goal and without Ronaldo the home side lacked the potential to surprise with a shot from distance.
Nevertheless they did create chances only to see Gistavo Munua save from Kaka before Javier Callejon fired over when well placed and Karim Benzema scuff a shot wide.
Levante had looked comfortable and hit Madrid with a sucker punch on the half hour as Michel finished off a textbook counter-attack that he started and ended after exchanging passes with Pedro Rios.
Five minutes later and Madrid were level as Higuain connected with a spectacular volley to beat Munua from just inside the area, before the referee punished Christian Lell for handball and Kaka stuck away the resulting penalty with ease.
Ronaldo came on at the start of the second half and Madrid began to rain shots in on the Levante goal, although most of their failed to trouble Munua, who nevertheless responded well to deny Pepe, Ronaldo and the disappointing Benzema.
Levante meanwhile looked content to lose 2-1 and made little effort to make life hard for the rivals. Indeed the visitors actually committed less fouls than their rivals and didn't have a player booked in the entire game.
It looked as if the match would peter out before Higuain turned Ballesteros and set up Ronaldo to fire home from around 10 yards.
Levante then switched off completely and Ozil added two goals from close range as Madrid cut through the visiting defense with ease to take a confidence boosting win to Turkey next week.
Earlier in the day Real Sociedad took another giant stride to qualifying for next season's Champions League thanks to a 4-2 win at home to Malaga.
Malaga rested players ahead of their Champions League trip to play Borussia Dortmund next week and the Basques, who have been in fine form all season, took advantage with goals from Carlos Vela, Roberto De la Bella and Antoine Griezmann in the first 30 minutes.
Pedro Morales pulled a goal back for the visitors before halftime, but Inigo Martinez made it 4-1 six minutes into the second half.
Roque Santa Cruz gave Malaga hope with a goal with 20 minutes remaining, but Real Sociedad were not to be denied and have opened up a four point gap over Malaga and Betis, who won 5-1 in Granada on Friday night.
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