Mbappé Penalty & Asencio Header Give Arbeloa Winning Start as Bernabéu Whistles Real Madrid in 2-0 Win vs Levante.
Real Madrid 2-0 Levante: Mbappé and Asencio Hand Arbeloa First La Liga Win Amid Bernabéu Protests. Real Madrid beat relegation-threatened Levante 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabéu on Saturday, January 17, 2026, in La Liga matchday 20. New head coach Álvaro Arbeloa won his first league game in charge, and the result moved Los Blancos to within one point of leaders Barcelona. But the three points came amid white handkerchief protests, boos and whistles aimed at players, the manager and club president Florentino Pérez.
Match Facts
Kick-off: 2:00 PM CET (around 6:30 PM IST)
Attendance: 70,104
Half-time: Real Madrid 0-0 Levante
Full-time: Real Madrid 2-0 Levante
Goals: Kylian Mbappé (58', penalty), Raúl Asencio (65', assist: Arda Güler)
A Chaotic Week Behind the Win
The victory gave Madrid temporary relief after a turbulent week. Los Blancos were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by second-division Albacete, losing 3-2 on Wednesday. That exit led to the departure of Xabi Alonso, who had been appointed less than eight months earlier after Carlo Ancelotti, and Arbeloa was promoted from Castilla. On his 43rd birthday, Arbeloa put Mbappé and Jude Bellingham back in the starting lineup.
Bernabéu Protests: White Hankies and Boos
The atmosphere was electric but hostile. Fans waved white handkerchiefs, the traditional Spanish “pañolada” protest, before kick-off and in the early stages. Bellingham was booed during the warm-up and early touches, Vinícius Júnior faced sustained jeers, and Federico Valverde also came under fire. Chants calling for Pérez’s resignation rang around the stadium.
After the match, Arbeloa defended Pérez as “the most important figure in the history of this club alongside Santiago Bernabéu.” He blamed the protests on “people who don’t like Real Madrid,” while accepting the fans’ right to show anger after a tough week.
First Half: Madrid Dominate, Levante Hold Firm
Real Madrid had about 68% possession but struggled to break down a compact Levante defence. Goalkeeper Mathew Ryan made several key saves, and Madrid managed only one shot on target. Mbappé’s volley went wide as frustration built, even though Levante entered the game 19th with 14 points.
Second Half: Arbeloa’s Changes Turn the Game
At half-time Arbeloa brought on Arda Güler and Franco Mastantuono to add creativity, and the game changed.
58' – Mbappé penalty: Mbappé, La Liga’s top scorer with 19 goals, won a penalty after a foul by Levante defender Adrián de la Fuente. He sent Ryan the wrong way and finished into the bottom right corner. It was his 50th La Liga goal in 53 appearances, the second-fastest to the milestone this century after Cristiano Ronaldo, and his 30th club goal of the season.
65' – Asencio header: Seven minutes later, Güler delivered an outswinging corner and young centre-back Raúl Asencio rose highest to power a header into the top corner. David Alaba replaced Asencio late on.
Ryan finished with nine saves, his highest tally in a single La Liga match, but could not prevent defeat.
Player Ratings Snapshot
Kylian Mbappé: Decisive penalty and clinical finishing, a man-of-the-match contender
Raúl Asencio: Scored the second goal and was solid at the back
Arda Güler: Impact substitute with the assist
Mathew Ryan (Levante): Outstanding in goal
What This Win Means for Real Madrid’s Title Race
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On the pitch, the result matters more than the performance. Madrid were sluggish for 45 minutes and only found fluency once Arbeloa added Güler’s creativity and Mastantuono’s directness, a half-time change that suggests the new coach is willing to act quickly. With Barcelona only a point ahead, every dropped point now carries title-race weight, so winning without playing well still counts.
Off the pitch, the picture is harder. Three points do not erase the discontent. Fans booed a team that won, and that suggests the anger is aimed at the club’s direction rather than one result. For Arbeloa, the early test is whether better results can rebuild trust at the Bernabéu. His handling of Vinícius, whom he promised to support with more help from teammates, will also be watched closely.
What’s Next for Real Madrid?
Madrid host Monaco in the Champions League on Tuesday. Barcelona face Real Sociedad on Sunday, and Levante remain in the relegation zone fight.
Real Madrid 2-0 Levante: Mbappé Penalty and Asencio Header Secure Arbeloa's First La Liga Win Amid Bernabéu Protests – January 17, 2026 Match Highlights.
On Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Real Madrid claimed a crucial 2-0 victory over relegation-threatened Levante in La Liga matchday 20 of the 2025-26 season. The win, under new head coach Alvaro Arbeloa in his first league game in charge, moved Los Blancos to within one point of league leaders Barcelona.
However, the three points came against a backdrop of intense fan discontent, with the Bernabéu crowd expressing frustration through white handkerchief protests, boos, and whistles directed at players, the manager, and club president Florentino Pérez.
The match kicked off at 2:00 PM CET (around 6:30 PM IST), with an attendance of 70,104. Half-time score: 0-0. Full-time: Real Madrid 2, Levante 0. Goals came in the second half – Kylian Mbappé from the penalty spot in the 58th minute and Raúl Asencio in the 65th minute, assisted by Arda Güler.
This result provided temporary relief after a chaotic week for Real Madrid. They had suffered elimination from the Copa del Rey following a shocking 3-2 loss to second-division side Albacete on Wednesday, which led to the departure of former manager Xabi Alonso (appointed less than eight months earlier after Carlo Ancelotti) and Arbeloa's promotion from the Castilla side. Arbeloa, celebrating his 43rd birthday, restored key stars like Mbappé and Jude Bellingham to the starting lineup.
Video Shows Bernabeu Crowd Whistle Real Madrid Stars In First La ...
The atmosphere was electric but hostile from the start. Supporters waved white handkerchiefs (a traditional Spanish form of protest, known as "pañolada") before kick-off and during the early stages, signaling deep dissatisfaction. Boos rained down on Jude Bellingham during the warm-up and early touches, Vinícius Júnior faced sustained jeers despite his efforts, and Federico Valverde also came under fire. Even Arbeloa and president Florentino Pérez were targeted, with chants calling for Pérez's resignation echoing around the stadium.
Arbeloa addressed the unrest post-match, defending Pérez as "the most important figure in the history of this club alongside Santiago Bernabéu" and attributing the protests to "people who don't like Real Madrid." He acknowledged the fans' right to express anger after a tough week but emphasized respect for the Bernabéu's demanding nature, which motivates players to perform.
First half summary: Real Madrid dominated possession (around 68%) but struggled to break down a compact Levante defense. Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan made several key saves, including denying Mbappé and others. Real managed only one shot on target, with Levante holding firm despite their second-from-bottom position (19th with 14 points entering the game). The home side created limited clear chances, with Mbappé's volley going wide and general frustration building.
Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham Booed By Real Madrid Fans ...
At half-time, Arbeloa made proactive changes, bringing on Arda Güler and Franco Mastantuono to inject creativity. The second half transformed the game.
In the 58th minute, the breakthrough arrived. Mbappé, La Liga's top scorer with 19 goals this season, drew a foul from Levante defender Adrián de la Fuente (also referred to as Dela in some reports) inside the penalty area. Mbappé stepped up confidently, sending Ryan the wrong way with a composed finish into the bottom right corner. This marked his 50th La Liga goal in just 53 appearances – the second-fastest to reach the milestone in the 21st century after Cristiano Ronaldo – and his 30th club goal of the season overall.
Mbappe and Asencio strike as Real Madrid calm storm with 2-0 win ...
The goal eased tension momentarily, though boos persisted for some players. Just seven minutes later, in the 65th minute, Real doubled their lead. Arda Güler delivered a precise outswinging corner, and young center-back Raúl Asencio rose highest to power a bullet header past Ryan into the top corner. Asencio's goal was a highlight of his solid defensive display, where he won aerial duels and maintained high pass accuracy.
Raul Asencio: “Everyone wanted to turn the situation around ...
Post-goals, Real controlled the game, with Levante offering little threat. Ryan continued his strong performance with nine saves – his highest in a single La Liga match – but couldn't prevent the defeat. Substitutions included David Alaba replacing Asencio late on, and Levante bringing on fresh legs, but the result was sealed.
Key performances:
Kylian Mbappé: Man of the match contender with the decisive penalty, clinical finishing, and involvement in attacks. His form remains elite despite team struggles.
The match kicked off at 2:00 PM CET (around 6:30 PM IST), with an attendance of 70,104. Half-time score: 0-0. Full-time: Real Madrid 2, Levante 0. Goals came in the second half – Kylian Mbappé from the penalty spot in the 58th minute and Raúl Asencio in the 65th minute, assisted by Arda Güler.
This result provided temporary relief after a chaotic week for Real Madrid. They had suffered elimination from the Copa del Rey following a shocking 3-2 loss to second-division side Albacete on Wednesday, which led to the departure of former manager Xabi Alonso (appointed less than eight months earlier after Carlo Ancelotti) and Arbeloa's promotion from the Castilla side. Arbeloa, celebrating his 43rd birthday, restored key stars like Mbappé and Jude Bellingham to the starting lineup.
Video Shows Bernabeu Crowd Whistle Real Madrid Stars In First La ...
The atmosphere was electric but hostile from the start. Supporters waved white handkerchiefs (a traditional Spanish form of protest, known as "pañolada") before kick-off and during the early stages, signaling deep dissatisfaction. Boos rained down on Jude Bellingham during the warm-up and early touches, Vinícius Júnior faced sustained jeers despite his efforts, and Federico Valverde also came under fire. Even Arbeloa and president Florentino Pérez were targeted, with chants calling for Pérez's resignation echoing around the stadium.
Arbeloa addressed the unrest post-match, defending Pérez as "the most important figure in the history of this club alongside Santiago Bernabéu" and attributing the protests to "people who don't like Real Madrid." He acknowledged the fans' right to express anger after a tough week but emphasized respect for the Bernabéu's demanding nature, which motivates players to perform.
First half summary: Real Madrid dominated possession (around 68%) but struggled to break down a compact Levante defense. Levante goalkeeper Mathew Ryan made several key saves, including denying Mbappé and others. Real managed only one shot on target, with Levante holding firm despite their second-from-bottom position (19th with 14 points entering the game). The home side created limited clear chances, with Mbappé's volley going wide and general frustration building.
Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham Booed By Real Madrid Fans ...
At half-time, Arbeloa made proactive changes, bringing on Arda Güler and Franco Mastantuono to inject creativity. The second half transformed the game.
In the 58th minute, the breakthrough arrived. Mbappé, La Liga's top scorer with 19 goals this season, drew a foul from Levante defender Adrián de la Fuente (also referred to as Dela in some reports) inside the penalty area. Mbappé stepped up confidently, sending Ryan the wrong way with a composed finish into the bottom right corner. This marked his 50th La Liga goal in just 53 appearances – the second-fastest to reach the milestone in the 21st century after Cristiano Ronaldo – and his 30th club goal of the season overall.
Mbappe and Asencio strike as Real Madrid calm storm with 2-0 win ...
The goal eased tension momentarily, though boos persisted for some players. Just seven minutes later, in the 65th minute, Real doubled their lead. Arda Güler delivered a precise outswinging corner, and young center-back Raúl Asencio rose highest to power a bullet header past Ryan into the top corner. Asencio's goal was a highlight of his solid defensive display, where he won aerial duels and maintained high pass accuracy.
Raul Asencio: “Everyone wanted to turn the situation around ...
Post-goals, Real controlled the game, with Levante offering little threat. Ryan continued his strong performance with nine saves – his highest in a single La Liga match – but couldn't prevent the defeat. Substitutions included David Alaba replacing Asencio late on, and Levante bringing on fresh legs, but the result was sealed.
Key performances:
Kylian Mbappé: Man of the match contender with the decisive penalty, clinical finishing, and involvement in attacks. His form remains elite despite team struggles.
Raúl Asencio: Scored the second and was rock-solid at the back.
Arda Güler: Impact sub with the assist and creative spark.
Mathew Ryan (Levante): Outstanding in goal, keeping the score respectable.
Arbeloa praised the team's response, noting halftime discussions focused on execution and belief. He defended Vinícius specifically, promising to work on getting him more support from teammates, calling him one of the world's best for unbalancing defenses.
The win lifts Real Madrid to second place (points around 48 after 20 games, based on pre-match form), closing the gap on Barcelona ahead of their Sunday clash with Real Sociedad. Levante stay in relegation danger.
Next for Real: Champions League home tie against Monaco on Tuesday. The victory provides breathing room, but the underlying issues – fan unrest, inconsistent performances, and managerial transition – remain. Arbeloa's challenge is to rebuild trust and deliver the dominance expected at the Bernabéu.
This match encapsulated a turbulent chapter for one of football's giants: a hard-fought win overshadowed by protests, but one that keeps title hopes alive.
Detailed with match events, context, quotes, analysis, and player spotlights for comprehensive coverage.
FAQs
What was the score in Real Madrid vs Levante?
Real Madrid won 2-0, with goals from Kylian Mbappé (penalty) and Raúl Asencio.
Was this Arbeloa’s first La Liga win as Real Madrid coach?
Yes, it was his first league game in charge after replacing Xabi Alonso.
Why were Real Madrid fans protesting?
Fans waved white handkerchiefs and whistled in frustration after the Copa del Rey exit to Albacete, the managerial change and inconsistent form, with some also targeting president Florentino Pérez.
Real Madrid won 2-0, with goals from Kylian Mbappé (penalty) and Raúl Asencio.
Was this Arbeloa’s first La Liga win as Real Madrid coach?
Yes, it was his first league game in charge after replacing Xabi Alonso.
Why were Real Madrid fans protesting?
Fans waved white handkerchiefs and whistled in frustration after the Copa del Rey exit to Albacete, the managerial change and inconsistent form, with some also targeting president Florentino Pérez.
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