Real Madrid's rollercoaster season continued with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Levante on January 17, 2026, but the win masked a simmering crisis within the club. The atmosphere at the Bernabeu was electric, but not in a good way. The home fans, still reeling from recent disappointments, made their feelings known.
Alvaro Arbeloa, thrust into the managerial hot seat after Xabi Alonso's unexpected departure, inherited a team under immense pressure. But here's where it gets controversial... Alonso's exit followed Real Madrid's Spanish Super Cup defeat to Barcelona, a loss that seemed to trigger a chain reaction of negativity. The club's woes deepened when they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Albacete, a team from a lower division.
The match against Levante was a pressure cooker. The home crowd, far from supportive, greeted their team with whistles and white handkerchiefs, a clear sign of their discontent. Even club president Florentino Perez felt the fans' wrath.
The hero of the day? Kylian Mbappé. The star forward won a penalty shortly before the hour mark and coolly converted it, breaking the deadlock. Raúl Asencio then added a second goal, easing some of the tension. But the victory felt more like a temporary reprieve than a true turning point.
Arbeloa faces a monumental task in rebuilding trust with the fans. The win, while crucial for their league position, only papered over the cracks.
The win puts Real Madrid just one point behind Barcelona, who were set to play Real Sociedad the following day.
A week of turmoil: Alonso's departure, just eight months after taking over from Carlo Ancelotti, highlighted the instability at the club. Arbeloa's appointment as head coach was immediate, and his first game ended in a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat to Albacete in stoppage time.
Against Levante, Real Madrid struggled to break through until Mbappé's penalty. The penalty was awarded after Adrián de la Fuente fouled Mbappé in the box. Mbappé then scored his 30th club goal of the season.
In the 65th minute, Asencio sealed the win with a header from Arda Guler's corner. Jude Bellingham nearly added a third, but Mathew Ryan, Levante's goalkeeper, denied him. Franco Mastantuono also hit the goal frame as Real Madrid kept the pressure on their rivals, Barcelona.
What do you think? Can Arbeloa turn things around at Real Madrid? Do you think the fans' reaction was justified? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
