Real Madrid 2-0 Levante: Close Gap On Barcelona After Winning On Levante

Real Madrid easily disposed of Levante 2-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to keep up the pressure on leaders Barcelona before their clash with Athletic Bilbao tomorrow.

Karim Benzema opened the scoring early in the game after some marvellous play by Angel Di Maria and Ricardo Carvalho added a second to give Jose Mourinho's men a two-goal lead at half-time. There were no more changes to the scoreboard after the break as Real Madrid cruised to a comfortable victory.

Los Blancos took the game by storm and opened the scoring as early as the seventh minute. Di Maria went on a blistering run on the right, leaving three defenders in his wake, before crossing for Benzema who was left with the simplest of finishes just outside the six-yard box.

The visitors were struggling to get into the game as they looked clearly intimidated by the growing confidence in Los Blancos' play. Cristiano Ronaldo nearly lobbed Gustavo Munua in the 20th minute and moments later Di Maria stung the goalkeeper's palms with a thunderous curled shot from distance.

Madrid continued to dominate the game and were looking to exploit all the space given to the attackers by Levante's somewhat uncoordinated defence. A second goal was on the way and it came from an unlikely source in the face of Carvalho. The defender pounced on a terrbile mistake by the visitors' centre-backs and tapped in a fierce free-kick driven in by Ronaldo on the left.

The second half continued in the same pattern as the first as Los Blancos were chasing for a third goal. Munua nearly made a howler in the 48th minute when he allowed a backpass to slip through his legs, but managed the clear the ball away just before a Madrid player could take advantage.

In the 53rd minute Sami Khedira pounced on a loose ball after a slick attacking move involving Benzema and Di Maria, but his finish from just inside the box lacked venom and was easily claimed by Gustavo.

The tempo slowly began to drop and soon the game was being played at a snail's pace as the hosts were clearly looking to see out the match. Los Granotes got their best chance in the game in the 68th minute, but Felipe Caicedo could not put the ball past Antonio Adan.

Los Blancos were totally in control of the contest as Levante were struggling to create anything of note. Substitute Emmanuel Adebayor had the ball in the net in the 92nd minute after a stunning run by Mesut Oezil, but it was ruled out after Ronaldo, who touched the ball onto the Togolese striker, was called offside and this proved to be the last action of this match.

Following tonight's result Real Madrid are second in the standings with 60 points, just two behind Barcelona who entertain Athletic Bilbao on Sunday evening. Los Blancos' next league is a visit to the Riazor against Deportivo La Coruna in a week.