Real Madrid secured a vital 2-0 victory over Levante at the Santiago Bernabéu, but the atmosphere remained tense as home fans directed their frustration toward star forward Vinicius Júnior.
Despite the three points, which move Álvaro Arbeloa’s side within just one point of La Liga leaders Barcelona, the Madridistas showed they have not forgotten the club’s recent struggles.
A Cold Welcome for Vini Jr.
The tension was palpable from the first whistle. Vinicius Júnior was surprisingly met with whistles and boos from sections of the Bernabéu crowd every time he touched the ball in the first half.
The fans’ anger follows a disastrous week for Los Blancos, which saw them lose the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona and suffer a humiliating Copa del Rey exit at the hands of second-division side Albacete.
Mbappé and Asencio Break the Deadlock
The breakthrough finally came in the 52nd minute. Kylian Mbappé showed nerves of steel amidst the pressure, converting a clinical penalty to send Mat Ryan the wrong way.
The lead was doubled shortly after when young defender Raúl Asencio capitalized on a set-piece to make it 2-0. While the goals secured the win, the performance was overshadowed by the fractured relationship between the stands and the pitch.
The Title Race is On
The victory takes Real Madrid to 48 points, putting immense pressure on Barcelona. The Catalans face a tough away trip to Real Sociedad this Sunday, potentially without the injured Raphinha.
“We won, and that’s what matters for the table, but we know we have to earn the fans’ trust back,” Arbeloa commented after the match.
🏁 FP: @RealMadrid 2-0 @LevanteUD
⚽ 58′ @KMbappe (p.)
⚽ 65′ @RaulAsencio_17
👉 @Emirates pic.twitter.com/FEebrvsgPk— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) January 17, 2026
Miguel Manjate is a football journalist and editor covering the Premier League, European competitions, and transfer news, with a strong focus on match analysis and data-driven reporting.
