Real Madrid 6-0 Levante summary: score, goals, highlights, LaLiga 2021/22

Real Madrid-Levante: Match Report

Levante became the first team to be relegated to the second division on Thursday after a 6-0 defeat at Real Madrid, with Vinicius scoring a hat-trick, in the 36th round of LaLiga

Real Madrid were rampant with goals from Ferland Mendy (13), Karim Benzema (19), Rodrygo (34) and Vinicius (45, 67, 83) in a match where Levante fell apart early on.

Madrid are looking ahead to their Champions League final against Liverpool on May 28, gave an early warning with a shot from the edge of the area by Benzema, which Daniel Cárdenas cleared off the line.

It began a nightmare evening for Levante's where ironically keeper Cardenas was the best player for the visitors and a series of fine saves prevented the scoreline from being much greater as the men from Valencia prepare for life in Segunda as Madrid dream of claimng a 14th European Cup at the end of the month.

The ref fails to add any injury time and with a 6-0 whitewash, Levante will play next season in the second tier. 

Levante still probe but no way through the wall of white shirts.

Final minute of the game as the Levante fans still support their men despite the adverse scoreline. 

One of the big plus' tonight for Ancelotti is, result apart, the fact that his men came through the game injury free. The Cadiz game will afford the Italian to rest more players as the Paris UCL final looms.

Fine individual effort from the winger who is playing with such confidence.

Vini Jr bags his 21st in LaLiga as the Brazilian makes it 6-0. A triple from the young Brazilian this evening.

Nacho set to make way for another Madrid youth player as Mario Gila comes on for the final eight minutes or so.

Excellent work from Morales as he skips past two Madrid players but sees his shot blocked. Can't see a player of his quality playing in the second tier next season.

Rober the Levabnte player making way for Vezo.

Morales goes close as his shot just misses the post. Courtois rooted to the spot. Ruben Vezo on for Levante

Peter too on for Real Madrid and the young Castilla player replaces Valverde 

Change for Real Madrid as Benzema leaves the pitch, Jovic replaces the French striker. Modric off for Kroos.

Credit to Levante as they refuse to completely roll over despite the one sided scoreline. The Bernabeu chant 'Vallejo, Vallejo'  as they acknowledge the efforts of the young defender. 

Kroos and Jovic warming up for Real Madrid and seemed poised to make an entrance. 

Modric carded and will be suspended for the Cadiz game

The French striker tricks Cardenas and rolls the ball through to the Brazilian who just has to tap home.

And it's now 5-0 for Madrid as Benzema assists the Brazilian. Way too easy for the home side.

The tempo has dropped considerably in the second half as Madrid shift a gear down and Levante have accepted that there is now way back here tonight.

Roger carded for a foul on Camavinga

Benzema and Vini Jr. still providing to be a major headache for the Levante rear guard and Camavinga once again has really caught the eye tonight. He really changed the dynamic of the Champions League game against City and his play defies his 19 years of age!

Rodrygo makes way for Mariano as Madrid make their first change if the night

Cantero and Roger on for Levante, Gomez and Melero making way

Vini Jr has the ball in the net but immediately the flag is up with the Brazilian marginally offside.

Levante getting relegated tonight is a bit of good news for Alaves, who are another of the sides mired in a relegation dogfight and who travel to Valemcia next weekedn.

Levante's final ball their undoing at the moment as they start to press and there is a sense that Madrid have taken their foot off the gas ever so slightly.

Pepelu has a go from long range but the ball fizzes just inches over Courtois' bar. Better from the visitors in the second half as they do what they can to take the game to Real Madrid.

Fine strike from Modric as he looks to curl home with the right peg but once again Cardenas saves well to deny the Croatian.

Madrid scythe through the Levante defence with the same ease as they did in the first half as Vini Jr does well to get the ball to the byline but the Brazilian fails to find a colleague in white. 

No changes at the interval it would appear.

Real Madrid will start the second half. 

Both teams are in the tunnel as the slowly move their way back to the Santiago Bernabeu pitch.

Benz on 27 LaLiga goals

With his goal against Levante tonight, Karim Benzema is now on 27 goals for the season in LaLiga.

HT: Real Madrid 4-0 Levante

One way traffic at the Santiago Bernabeu!

Way, way too easy for Real Madrid with this defeat set to condemn Levante to second tier football next season. 11-0 (shots on target) tells you all you need to know about the first 45' at the Bernabeu as Levante seem to have accepted their fate.

The ref calls time on the half with Real Madrid in unstoppable form here at the Bernabeu as the lead by 4-0

Real Madrid on fire tonight .....Fine one-two between the Brazilian and Modric

Pepelu is down and will need treatment as Camavinga is carded for the tackle

What a strike from Valverde as he drives a fine shot from way outside the box and the ball dips onto the crossbar

Rodrygo goes to ground inside the box and once again the ref waves away the appeal for s spot kick.

Five minutes to go at the Bernabeu as the home fans celebrate and Levante desperatley look for any way back into the conetst. 

Changes for Levante as Caceres makes way along with Radoja. Bardhi and Campaña on.

Double save from Cardenas as he saves from Modric and then from Valverde. Without doubt the man of the match for the visiting side.

This could be a cricket score tonight as Madrid look rampant and Levante look like a team who realise that their time in the top flight is up

Barring an incredible turnaround, Levante will play their football next season in LaLiga Smartbank

Modric finds Rodrygo and this time the goal stands... Levante have thrown in the towel.... 

Nacho takes a whack in the face and one of the main concerns for Real Madrid tonight will be ensure that the team come through these games injury free.

Postigo forced to stretch and clear as Madrid push again. 

The Levante defence really is looking vulnerable this evening. Madrid look dangerous with every foray forward. 

Benzema threads the ball through to Rodrygo and the Brazilian taps home but the flag was up

Madrid ahead in terms of possession too

Vini Jr has a shot blocked with the chances on goal stats now at 8-0 in favour of the home side.

'Si, si, si, nos vamos a Paris" chant the home fans .... Yes, yes, yes, we're on our way to Paris !

Better from Levante as they work the ball well and Son has a pop on goal but fails to test Courtois.

This is a whitewash as Madrid almost make it 3-0. Seven shots on target for 'Los Blancos'.... It's going to be a long evening for Levante and their 360 travelling fans.

Great cross from Vini Jr and fine work from the French striker as he skips his marker to head home.

Mendy almost finds his second of the night and Cardenas is forced to tip the ball wide.

This 1-0 scoreline would condemn Levante to the second division.... long way to go however at the Bernabeu.

Valverde fires the ball off the post. Levante on the ropes!

Dani Gomez breaks and is one on one with Courtois. The flag was up as the Belgian produces yet another wonderful stop

Gooooool. Mendy bags his second of the season with a fine solo effort

Benzema collides with Son and despite appeals from the Bernabeu faithful for a penalty, the ref points for a goal kick

Pepelu over the ball .... decent hit but the ball hits the wall for another Levante corner

Melero clipped right on the edge of the Madrid box... Vallejo clips the Levante man and is lucky not to be carded.

Levante win the first corner of the night.... Pepelu to take 

Benzema gets the ball and despite a suspicion of offside, no flag is raised but Rodrygo fails to get a shot off. Madrid very comfortable in the opening stages of the game.

Cardenas under pressure, clears the ball with Levante unable to string any decent sort of possession together. 

Benzema shoots from the edge of the box and forces a fine save from Cardenas

Morales creates early danger ...what can we expect from Madrid tonight? A side taking it easy aware that the UCL final is just 16 days away? or a Madrid side eager to maintain a solid performance and build up a winning head of steam ahead of Paris ?

Benzema is awarded the LaLiga player the month for April. All set and we're underway at the Bernabeu as the men from Valencia start the game.

The players take to the field. Real Madrid in their iconic all white and Levante too in their traditional navy and claret stripes, navy shorts. A guard of honour from the side from Valencia for league champions Real Madrid.

Real Madrid wind down their 2021-22 LaLiga campaign with a trip to Cadiz before facing Real Betis at the Bernabeu on Sunday week to round off the campaign. Almost a week later, the side from the capital head to Paris where they face Liverpool at the Stade de France in the Champions League.

Almost 400 Levante fans at the Bernabeu tonight with the transport laid on by the club. Highly commendable for their effort and optimism faced with a major uphill task.

If Levante do go down, I really hope we see Italian manger Alessio Lisci stay on as he really has impressed since taking over at the club.

Real Sociedad beat Cadiz (3-0) and offers a very slight sliver of hope to Levante's cause. The men from Levante have to win all their remaining games and then hope....

Real Madrid-Levante weather

It's a mild evening in the Spanish capital tonight with a temperature of 24C/75F at kick off. Ideal conditions for fans and players alike.

Ancelotti: pre-game

Speaking to the media ahead of Thursday's match, Madrid boss Ancelotti stated: "If we lose our competitiveness, we're not going to do well in the Champions League. We've got to manage the players' fatigue and make the most of this time we've got so that they'll be 100% fit. I changed the team around against Atlético. Throughout the year we've been talking about how the coach didn't rotate and now that he is doing, no one is happy. Now's the right time to give minutes to everyone in order to be at our best on the 28th".

Benzema, one goal away from tying with Raúl

Against Levante tonight, Benzema also has the opportunity to cement his legacy at Real Madrid further still. Should he find the net against the Valencian side, he will move up to joint-second on the all-time scoring list for Madrid, level with Raúl on 323 goals.

Rock bottom of LaLiga, this is how desperate things are for the side from Valencia ahead of their three remaining 2021-22 LaLiga games where the need to win tonight, at home to fellow strugglers Alaves and they wind up their campaign away to Rayo Vallecano. 

LUD XI

Levante confirm the 11 men that will do battle in the Santiago Bernabéu tonight with all eyes on Dani Gomez and Morales who fans of the 'Granotes' will be hoping can find the target as they managed to do on the last two occasions that Levante have faced 'Los Blancos' in the Spanish capital.

There is a sliver of good news so far tonight with Cadiz trailing in San Sebastian to Real Sociedad. Levante have to win all three remaining games and then cross their fingers and hope that other results go their way. Being realistic, nothing short of a miracle will save the 'Granotes' from playing in the second tier next season.

Real Madrid-Levante: referee

Adrián Cordero Vega is tonight's match official. The Cantabrian made his top flight debut back in 2018 and has officiated 18 games this season to date.

Despite Levante's recent positive run of results, it does appear that the men from Valencia will be returning to the 'Segunda' after four consecutive seasons in LaLiga.

Madrid come into the game on the back of defeat to Atletico last Sunday at the Wanda Metropolitano in the Madrid derby with Ancelotti faced with a delicate balancing act of keeping his players match fit but also injury free as the Champions League final looms large on the horizon.

Soccer

Where does Karim Benzema rank on the all-time scoring list for Real Madrid?

Watching their step:

Real Madrid's Kross, Modric and Mendy will need to be on best behaviour tonight with another yellow card set to trigger a suspension. 

Desperate times for Levante

Levante are sitting 19th in the standings with 29 points, five behind 17th-placed Granada, meaning they need to secure three wins in their final three matches to have a something of a chance of staying in the league.

Alessio Lisci’s men have the fourth-worst away record, but if there’s a time to face Real Madrid and have chances of grabbing some points, it’s probably now.

Moreover, the Granotas have already made life difficult for the Spanish giants at the Bernabéu before, defeating Madrid on two of their last three visits.

With the league title already in the bag, Madrid can afford to take their foot off the gas, but only to a certain point with Carlo Ancelotti preparing his men for the 28 May Champions League final where Madrid will look to bag the European Cup/Champions League for a 14th time as they face Liverpool in Paris.

The action in the Spanish capital gets underway tonight at 21:30 local time/ 3:30 pm ET and 20:30 CEST

Real Madrid XI

Ancelotti names a strong XI tonight conscious that the player's will need match action ahead of the Champions League final on Saturday week as Benzema starts and captains the side. Vallejo gets another run out following recent positive showings from the Aragon born defender.  

Hello and welcome to our live coverage from the Bernabéu as Real Madrid face Levante