Real Madrid Cruise Past Levante with Vinicius and Mbappe in Commanding 4-1 Win
Real Madrid extended their perfect start to the season with an emphatic 4-1 victory over Levante on Tuesday, as Vinicius Jr sparked a first-half onslaught before Kylian Mbappe’s second-half brace sealed the triumph.
The win keeps Madrid comfortably atop the LaLiga table with 18 points from six games, five ahead of reigning champions Barcelona, who have a game in hand ahead of Thursday’s clash against Real Oviedo. Levante remain in 16th place with just four points.
For Vinicius Jr, the night was particularly satisfying. The Brazilian winger had faced scrutiny after a mixed start under new manager Xabi Alonso, having yet to complete a full 90 minutes this season and starting on the bench twice. Against Levante, he not only played the entire match but also wore the captain’s armband.
Vinicius opened the scoring in spectacular fashion in the 28th minute, curling a strike from the right side of the box into the far post with the outside of his right boot. He then set up Franco Mastantuono 11 minutes later during a rapid counter-attack, with the youngster finishing from close range to double Madrid’s lead.
Levante’s goalkeeper Mathew Ryan was in fine form, making several crucial saves from Vinicius, Federico Valverde, and Mbappe to keep the hosts from running away with the game in the first half.
The visitors briefly threatened a comeback in the 54th minute when Ivan Romero’s shot deflected off Dean Huijsen and lobbed over Thibaut Courtois, allowing Etta Eyong to head home. However, Mbappe restored Madrid’s two-goal cushion nine minutes later with a cheeky penalty after being fouled by Levante captain Unai Elgezabal. The French forward completed his brace just three minutes later, rounding Ryan after receiving Arda Guler’s through ball to tap into an empty net.
Looking ahead, Real Madrid face a tough away test at city rivals Atletico Madrid on Saturday, while Levante travel to Getafe on the same day.
“Vinicius played a decisive and very important role tonight,” Alonso said. “We are in a phase of growth, of construction. It’s the start of the season, and there’s still a long way to go. We’re building a solid foundation to be competitive in the Champions League, LaLiga, and Copa del Rey.
“I see the players feeling energised and connected, which is important. There are still areas to improve, but we are on the right track.”
