The pressure rises on Julen Lopetegui while Real Madrid is beaten by Levante

If the Barcelona players had watched the scene, they would have licked their chops in the sight of Raphael Varane giving Levante a two-goal lead here after just 13 minutes. Jose Luis Morales and Roger Marti, from the penalty spot, were the beneficiaries.

At the last whistle, Lopetegui stood on the sidelines, his hands on his hips, looking in front of him in disbelief.

He had left Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema on the bench, perhaps for fitness problems, but the bet had failed, despite the fact that both players made a difference in the second half.

Real Madrid were two behind after 13 minutes and both came from Varane's mistakes. The first was more blatant because he had misjudged the flight of Sergio Postigo balloon and Morales was clear.

Thibaut Courtois rushed to the outside, but Morales surrounded him and shot into the net.

The situation worsened when Varane manipulated a ball bouncing off the edge of the box but Real Madrid's wall was waiting and Guillermo Cuadra refused to let the free-kick slip.

The video badistant referee said that Varane's handball was inside the box and that Roger converted the penalty.

For the remainder of the half, Real Madrid was cradle and imprecise, its finish spoiled by bad luck, but also by its lack of self-control.

Value-added resellers once again managed to defeat Marco Asensio, followed by offside after Casemiro headed for the crossbar. Mariano also denied woodwork while Ramos and Lucas Vazquez missed three meters.

At half-time, white handkerchiefs – a traditional expression of discontent – were scattered, but no more whistles. After the restart, the local fans sang "echale huevos", which means "play with balls".

Lopetegui had launched Bale for Alvaro Odriozola in the meantime, while Benzema and Dani Ceballos were introduced at the time. However, not before the 56th minute, the drought of Real Madrid became the longest of all time.

Benzema fired Oier Olazabal, who then pushed Bale's free-kick on a wide ball. Finally, Real Madrid scored, this pair being again involved when Bale pbaded for Benzema. He chooses Marcelo to go to the roof of the net.

Real Madrid again believes that Benzema hits the goal with a curling effort and Mariano thinks he equalized in the 87th minute. The attacker, however, was misplaced just offside. For Real Madrid, that should not be.