MADRID: Real Madrid salvaged their faltering title hopes with two goals in stoppage time to win 3-2 away at Levante yesterday.
After a flat first-half from the visitors, Baba Diawara fired the hosts into a deserved lead 12 minutes after the break.
Sergio Ramos levelled four minutes later for Carlo Ancelotti’s men, but Nabil El Zhar looked to have clinched all three points for Joaquin Caparros’ men when he finished brilliantly four minutes from time.
However, substitute Alvaro Morata slotted home the equaliser as the game entered stoppage time and Cristiano Ronaldo’s effort deflected in off the inside of the post with virtually the last kick of the game to hand Madrid victory.
It took half an hour for Madrid to force Keylor Navas into a save and even when they did the Costa Rican comfortably turned behind Ronaldo’s deflected free-kick.
Baba was the main threat for Levante and the Senegalese was unfortunate when his rasping drive from the edge of the area flew just over moments later.
Luka Modric then had Madrid’s best opening of the half when he skewed wide after his initial effort had been blocked by David Navarro. However, it was the hosts who came closest to opening the scoring just before half-time when another piledriver from Baba this time forced Lopez into a stunning save a minute before the break.
Lopez had to be alert again at the start of the second period to turn Pape Diop’s fierce effort from outside the area over.
With their next attack Levante caught the visitors short at the back on the counter-attack as Jordi Xumetra’s floated cross was swept home by Baba at the back post.
However, the lead only lasted four minutes as Ramos outmuscled Xumetra to bundle home Angel di Maria’s corner.
Navas then parried Karim Benzema’s drive from the edge of the area and Marcelo somehow turned Di Maria’s cut-back over as Madrid piled on the pressure.
Ancelotti threw on young strike duo Morata and Jese Rodriguez in a bid to find a winner.
But instead it was Levante who retook the lead on 86 minutes remaining when El-Zhar withheld pressure from a number of Madrid defenders to turn and fire across Lopez into the far corner.
Madrid responded moments later with another equaliser when Jese teed-up Morata to slot low past the helpless Navas.
And the comeback was complete deep into added time when Ronaldo received Modric’s pass at the edge of the area and saw his left-footed strike deflect off Juanfran and into the net via the woodwork. AFP
