?Real Madrid nearly gave away a three-goal lead as they scraped past Levante 3-2 at the Bernabeu.
There were two key talking point before the match got underway. Eden Hazard was on the bench after returning from injury, but the big news was how ridiculously Spanish the Levante head coach sounded…
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Both sides had sighters of goal as the match got underway, Madrid looking surprisingly vulnerable for a side that was so expensively assembled.
Nevertheless, they found the breakthrough from loyal servant Karim Benzema, the striker nodding a Dani Carvajal cross into the corner of Aitor Fernandez’s net…
Karim Benzema is one of the best striker of the past decade.
Top 3 for sure.
— Goal Digger? (@iKorede_) September 14, 2019
It’s that time of year again when people start appreciating Benzema.
— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) September 14, 2019
Not satisfied with just the one for the afternoon, Benzema returned for more as he slotted home another five minutes after breaking the deadlock…
Only Lionel Messi (21) and Kylian Mbappé (21) have scored more goals in one of Europe’s top five leagues in 2019 than Karim Benzema (18).
The floor is his critics. pic.twitter.com/D94siCq3j7
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 14, 2019
Benzema is the world’s best striker and has been for around a year. Debate your clapped mum.
— MP (@elsaetarubia) September 14, 2019
Benzema with another goal.
What a great striker, man. So good in the air. Such good movement as Hazard said. Always unselfish contributing to the buildup.
Scores, assists & then shoots dope Instagram videos.
— Alex Goldberg (@AlexGoldberg_) September 14, 2019
This pre-match Tweet aged well, then…
If you find yourself a girl that trusts you as much as Zidane trust benzema, she’s the one
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— Tweetbro (Always) ? (@tweetbro_) September 14, 2019
Real put a testing start behind them with a third goal of the half, Casemiro sliding to meet a low ball from Vinicius Junior…
It’s beautiful. Casemiro also capping off a great half from him.
— Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) September 14, 2019
The Brazilian was made to wait for confirmation, though, with everyone’s favourite new technology taking a look at the build-up to his score. Eventually, VAR gave the green light…
Casemiro’s goal is too good that VAR had to approve it too
— Soldier? (@PatohShanqueels) September 14, 2019
I dno about VAR man, we want the right decision, but still, guy wanted to ruin casemiro happiness after he scored 🙁
— Test Cricket info (@Rackedup10) September 14, 2019
A third Real Madrid player got his name on the scoresheet, though it was for Levante and it wasn’t an own-goal.
Borja Mayoral is on loan at Las Granotas from Los Blancos, the 22-year-old netting with a neat finish…
Mayoral scoring against Real Madrid. Water is wet.
— Rafa? (@madridreigns) September 14, 2019
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And obviously Mayoral scores. Refuses to celebrate
Real Madrid’s wait for the CS continues….
— The Flash (@Odriozolite) September 14, 2019
Benzema thought he’d secured the match ball with a wonderful whipped effort, yet the post denied him a treble…
Benzema hitting the post again! I don’t know how he manages to hit the post at least once in every game ????
— Yacoub AlRifae (@YacoubAlRifae) September 14, 2019
Cloooooose! Benzema with a perfect dribble and shoots, but is stopped by the post. Still 3-1.
— BlancoTalks (@BlancoTalks) September 14, 2019
Cue Hazard’s introduction…
Benzema rattles the post. Nearly a hat-trick… and here comes Hazard…
— LaLigaExpert (@LigaExpert) September 14, 2019
The Belgian didn’t have a chance to do much on debut, however, with Levante taking a stranglehold on proceedings and flooding forward in numbers…
Levante pull another one back!!! Former Real Madrid youth teamer Gonzalo Melero with a back post header. 3-2 15 mins to go…Ojo!
— The Spanish Football Podcast (@tsf_podcast) September 14, 2019
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Madridistas were out in force on social media and you just knew they had nothing nice to say…
I hate that we were on the verge on throwing away a 3 goal lead. That is a terrible sign that some things still need fixing in this Real Madrid team. Not minding that Casemiro and Ramos were subbed off. I hope Zidane knows there is trouble. #HalaMadrid
— Adebayo Bankole Akintunde (@AdeBanqie) September 14, 2019
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I don’t know what’s the matter with Real Madrid, they had everything under control against a dead opponent, leading 3-0 at home vs Levante, who looked finished mentally. And now Madrid do everything in their powers to still bottle that. Finished 3-2, Levante could’ve equalized.
— Alex Truica (@AlexTruica) September 14, 2019
Still, a win’s a win, right? Nope, Real fans will not be cheered up…
After drawing points at home against Levante in 2017 and losing to Levante at home in 2018, Real Madrid finally win against Levante at home in 2019, barely.
— Rk (@RkFutbol) September 14, 2019
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Let’