1. Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid continues to showcase dominance and efficiency, maintaining their lead in La Liga and taking a step forward with every match—something new and refreshing.

Against Levante, they secured another victory, much to the delight of Vinicius, a player who had not been entirely content in recent weeks.

The Brazilian forward rediscovered his old magic, scoring a stunning goal, playing the full 90 minutes for the first time, and finishing the match wearing the captain’s armband.

The opposition was not easy to overcome. Levante enjoyed two solid spells in a match where Real Madrid appeared somewhat experimental.

Ahead of Saturday’s derby, Eder Militão, Aurélien Tchouaméni, and Dani Carvajal were rested, while Xabi Alonso experimented with a three-man backline: Raúl Asencio, Dean Huijsen, and Álvaro Carreras.

Carreras, in particular, delivered an outstanding performance—reading the game with precision, intercepting deep balls, blocking in midfield, and then launching brilliant passes to propel Madrid forward.

In attack, Federico Valverde handled the transitions, Dani Ceballos orchestrated the rhythm and linked up with Arda Güler’s sharpness in the center. On the right flank was Mastantuono, Fran García covered the left, and up front, Kylian Mbappé and a rejuvenated Vinicius led the charge.

2. The new system took a few minutes to settle. Levante, under newcomer Julián Calero, proved a bold and well-organized side.

They were the first to threaten, with Vencedor forcing Courtois into action and then Dela—an academy product of Real Madrid’s La Fábrica—sending a header just wide of the post.

The home team regularly found Carlos Álvarez and rising debutant Etta Eyong, who had built momentum with three goals and three assists—first at Villarreal, then continuing his streak at Levante following a last-minute transfer window move.

Eyong’s physicality created problems for Madrid until Xabi Alonso tightened the midfield, closing the gaps the hosts had exploited to approach Courtois’s goal.

Then Vinicius began to appear more often—sometimes drifting centrally, other times hugging the left wing, where he looked like his destructive old self, each dribble serving as a warning.

His long-range strike forced goalkeeper Ryan into a desperate save, parrying the ball into Mastantuono’s path—only for the young forward to rattle the crossbar.

From that point, Real Madrid took control: winning possession, counterattacking, pressing relentlessly. Their opener came in just such a sequence: a series of pressures inside Ryan’s box, the ball ricocheting before landing at Vinicius’s feet on the right side.

And then the miracle happened. Almost standing still, Vini struck with the outside of his foot, sending the ball straight into the net and leaving Ryan helpless.

It was a play reminiscent of Ronaldinho’s legendary goal against Chelsea in 2005.

3. Miracles may happen by chance, but in football, magic often turns coincidence into legend.

At this very same Estadio Ciudad de Valencia, in late August 2021 during Carlo Ancelotti’s early days, Vinicius transformed from a promising yet erratic talent into a “nuclear weapon.” Substituted on for Hazard in the 59th minute, he scored twice and cemented his place as a starter ever since.

Now, under Xabi, his destiny may once again be shifting following this return to Levante.

After the opener, Madrid kept pressing. Another interception from Carreras allowed Vinicius to lead a counterattack before setting up Mastantuono, who finished for his first goal.

Levante came out strong in the second half. Carlos Álvarez pulled one back, and then Eyong notched his fourth goal of the season, converting Iván Romero’s cross that deflected off a defender.

The hosts pushed forward with intensity—but left too much space at the back, a mistake Mbappé was quick to punish.

The French star surged into the box, drew a penalty, and calmly converted with a Panenka. He struck again soon after, finishing off a perfect pass from Arda Güler.

Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid continues to rise, with Vinicius regaining his smile. This weekend brings their first major test: a derby against Diego Simeone’s erratic Atlético.