Levante vs Real Madrid October 5, 2013

Levante UD take on the mighty Real Madrid in La Liga in a fixture that they would not usually be expected to win any points from.

After a solid last season, the Valencia based team are again performing admirably, sitting in ninth place and having lost just a single game all season – the opening defeat thrashing by FC Barcelona.

However, Real Madrid have not fully convinced under Carlo Ancelotti this season, losing to city rivals Atletico de Madrid last weekend, and dropping further points to Villarreal earlier in the season.

There are signs that the Italian boss is starting to figure things out though, with impressive victories over Galatasaray and FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League – in which they scored ten goals total – putting Los Blancos top of their group.

Without the injured Gareth Bale, goals will have to come from Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco and Angel Di Maria – or Karim Benzema, if he can end his drought in front of the posts.

Real Madrid continue to be an enigma, wrapped in bacon and topped off with a little parsley. A team that can't seem to find consistency and struggling under the massive expectations place upon them by investment, fans and the media.

There loss against Atlético Madrid last week has left Los Blancos five points adrift of their two biggest rivals and while the season is hardly over, this is not the kind of start Carlo Ancelotti wanted or needed. The continued absence of Gareth Bale isn't helping either as the world record transfer has yet to make an meaningful impact for his new side.

It's with all that in mind that Madrid travels to face Levante, a team that has improved since their season opening bludgeoning from Barcelona. Since that 7-0 loss, Valladolid have won twice and drawn four times. It's a great chance for Joaquin Caparros' team to make and impact, steal some points and potentially lower Ancelotti a little closer to a waiting boiling cauldron of doubt if they fall any further behind in the title race.

Levante injuries and suspensions

In Doubt: Pape Diop (knee).

Real Madrid injuries and suspensions

Out: Gareth Bale (thigh), Xabi Alonso (foot), Marcelo (hamstring). In Doubt: Pepe (cut)

Gareth Bale's thigh problem continues to keep the winger on the sideline as he's at least two weeks away from getting back on the pitch. Alonso and Marcelo remain out as well, recovering from foot surgery and hamstring problems respectively. Raphaël Varane could get his first league start of the season with Pepe in doubt after suffering a bad cut in Champions League play.Pape Diop's status is up in the air after missing training during the week with a knee problem.

Projected lineups

Levante: Keylor Navas; Christian Lell, Loukas Vyntra, Héctor Rodas, Juanfran; Pape Diop, Simão Mate; Pedro López, Rubén García, Nabil El Zhar; Baba Diawara.

Real Madrid: Diego López; Álvaro Arbeloa, Raphaël Varane, Sergo Ramos, Fábio Coentrão; Sami Khedira, Asier Illarramendi; Cristiano Ronaldo, Isco, Ángel Di Maria; Karim Benzema.

Match Date/Time: 8 p.m. local, 2 p.m. ET

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