Vinicius and Mbappé Shine in Real Madrid’s Win Over Levante
It felt like the stars truly aligned in Valencia, where Real Madrid comfortably defeated Levante 4–1 at the Ciutat de València Stadium. The night belonged to Vinícius Júnior and Kylian Mbappé, the two brightest lights in Madrid’s attack, who stepped up at the right moments and ensured that their team arrived at the upcoming derby with full momentum.
The match began shakily for Madrid. In the opening fifteen minutes, Xabi Alonso’s side looked out of rhythm. Levante pressed hard and created a couple of dangerous chances through Iván Romero and De la Fuente. For a moment, it seemed like the underdogs might find a way to punish the leaders. But those opportunities slipped away, and soon after, Real Madrid switched gears.
Vinícius, who had been criticized lately for showing more frustration than brilliance, silenced doubts with a moment of pure genius. Around the 27th minute, he drifted to the right wing, controlled the ball, and struck it with the outside of his boot. The shot curved beautifully and nestled into the far corner, leaving goalkeeper Matthew Ryan helpless. It was one of those goals that fans remember for its mix of elegance and audacity.
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Not long after, Madrid doubled their lead. Franco Mastantuono, the young Argentine, scored his first goal for the club with a thunderous strike into the top corner after a quick counterattack. The 18-year-old had been knocking on the door in recent games, and this finish confirmed his rising importance in Xabi Alonso’s system. By halftime, Madrid looked unstoppable.
Yet Levante refused to fold. Early in the second half, they pulled one back through Etta Eyong, whose header gave the home fans hope and briefly unsettled Courtois. At 2–1, the game felt alive again. But the joy didn’t last long. Kylian Mbappé, who had been relatively quiet until then, took center stage. First, he won and converted a penalty with the calmest of Panenka finishes in the 63rd minute. Just two minutes later, he struck again, this time dribbling past Ryan with ease before slotting the ball into an empty net.
That quick double from Mbappé effectively killed the contest. With the score at 4–1, Alonso started rotating his squad, bringing off key players like Valverde, Mastantuono, and Mbappé himself, while giving minutes to Bellingham and others ahead of the derby.
For Levante, the defeat was another reminder of the gulf that exists when facing LaLiga’s top teams, though they showed spirit at times. For Real Madrid, the victory meant six wins out of six, a perfect start to the season, and further proof that the partnership of Vinícius and Mbappé could define their campaign.
With Mastantuono’s breakthrough, Vinícius rediscovering his spark, and Mbappé already at nine goals this season, Madrid head into the derby not just confident, but looking unstoppable.
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