Real Madrid fell to a 1-0 defeat at Levante on Saturday, dropping off the top of the La Liga standings, and their problems deepened as Eden Hazard limped off the pitch four days before their Champions League showdown with Manchester City.
Levante forward José Luis Morales won the game with an unstoppable strike in the 79th minute, flummoxing the Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois by blasting a first-time shot inside the near post from a tight angle.
Real’s first defeat in the league since October saw them fall to second place on 53 points after 25 games. The champions Barcelona replaced them at the top of the table on 55 after hammering Eibar 5-0 earlier in the day.
Real’s best chance fell to Hazard, who failed to properly connect with the ball, and a few minutes later he left the pitch looking in pain, in only his second game back from an ankle injury that ruled out him of action for almost three months.
