The entire build-up to this game was about the fans, not the players.
There was an expectation that the Bernabéu would speak loudly—and harshly—with whistles and white handkerchiefs aimed not only at the squad, but also at the president. There was very little discussion about lineups or tactics, and frankly, not much excitement about the football itself.
The fans delivered.
From the opening minutes, boos rained down on the players—most notably Vinícius Jr., Jude Bellingham, and Fede Valverde (in that
order). At one point, chants calling for Florentino Pérez to resign echoed around the stadium.
It clearly shook the team.
Real Madrid were miserable in the first half. There was no life, no bounce, and far too many misplaced passes. Despite dominating possession and attempting to press, Madrid went into halftime with just one shot on target, leaving the pitch to even louder whistles and a sea of white handkerchiefs.
Arbeloa Changes the Game
Head coach Álvaro Arbeloa made two decisive halftime changes that completely altered the momentum:
- Arda Güler replaced Eduardo Camavinga
- Franco Mastantuono replaced Gonzalo García
Güler immediately brought creativity and precision in the final third, helping Madrid finally crack Levante’s low block. Mastantuono, meanwhile, provided a more natural presence on the right wing, injecting energy and directness that had been missing.
The Breakthrough
The deadlock was finally broken when Güler slipped a pass into Kylian Mbappé, leading to a penalty that Mbappé calmly converted.
Seven minutes later, Güler was involved again—this time delivering a corner that Raúl Asencio met with an emphatic flying header.
Final Thoughts
Arbeloa’s substitutions—including Dani Ceballos later on—gave Real Madrid the energy and urgency they desperately needed. It wasn’t a vintage performance, and the first half will raise real questions, but the response after the break mattered.
