Karim Benzema was in devastating form Saturday as he grabbed a stunning brace against Levante to hand Real Madrid their first home win of the season.
Madrid were excellent in the first half but ridiculously shocking in the second half as Levante launched a near comeback to provide a thrilling finish at the Santiago Bernabeu.
There was a big boost for Zidane and Real Madrid as the manager named summer signing Eden Hazard on the substitute bench for the first time in a La Liga tie. But Le Merengues needed no aid from their Belgian import to run the visitors ragged on a satisfying day for Los Blancos fans.
Real Madrid took a commanding 3-0 lead into the break but the visitors fought back valiantly after the break but Les Merengues were able to finish the job this time to record their first league victory of the season at the Santiago Bernabeu.
A brace from Karim Benzema and a strike from Casemiro before halftime handed Real Madrid complete control of their LaLiga clash against Levante.
It took Zinedine Zidane's men a little while to find their rhythm but once they got going there was no stopping Real.
Benzema it was who drew first blood, the Frenchman giving the hosts the lead in the 25th minute when he headed home from Daniel Carvajal's cross.
The former Lyon striker then notched his second of the afternoon after latching on to a throughball from James Rodriguez before slotting his strike into the left-bottom corner.
#JamesRodriguez makes the difference in the #RealMadrid attack.
When you put the attacker in front of the goal in one touch#JamesRodriguez #RealMadridLevant pic.twitter.com/n2xfK4KrRh
— Riad Turk – رياض الترك (@RiadTurk) September 14, 2019
Casemiro completed the scoring in the opening period when he converted at the back post from Vinicius Junior's cross.
https://www.twitter.com/YarigaF/status/1172837959747477504
Four minutes after the break Levante pulled one back as former Real man Borja Mayoral stabbed a low effort past Courtois at the near post.
Benzema was denied his hat trick by the post and then by VAR before Zidane sent Hazard in for his first league appearance for the Whites.
Yet it was the away side that made the next impact. With 15 minutes left, Levante scored again through a Melero header to set up a truly nervy finish as a comeback was evidently on.
But there was to be no late drama as Real Madrid managed to hold on to earn their first maximum points at home.
