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Álvaro Arbeloa is poised to make his La Liga managerial debut on the sidelines of his former team when Real Madrid faces Levante this Saturday morning.
The new manager immediately assumed control of Los Blancos after Xabi Alonso's departure and started his tenure with a disappointing 3–2 loss to Albacete in the Copa del Rey round of 16. This defeat followed the team's Spanish Super Cup setback against arch-rivals Barcelona.
Desperately needing a victory to regain momentum and maintain their La Liga title hopes, Real Madrid will make their much-anticipated return to the Bernabéu, where they'll welcome 19th-placed Levante. The recently promoted team offers an ideal chance for the home side to return to winning form.
Luis Castro's squad will draw confidence from their opponents' recent difficulties, however, and now possess the tactical template from Albacete on how to overcome the Spanish powerhouse despite having a significantly weaker roster.
Here is Sports Illustrated's preview of the La Liga encounter.
What Time Does Real Madrid vs. Levante Kick Off?
What Time Does Real Madrid vs. Levante Kick Off?
Real Madrid vs. Levante Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Real Madrid vs. Levante Head-to-Head Record (Last Five Games)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Current Form (All Competitions)
Real Madrid | Levante |
|---|---|
Albacete 3–2 Real Madrid - 1/14/26 | Levante 1–1 Espanyol - 1/11/26 |
Barcelona 3–2 Real Madrid - 1/11/26 | Sevilla 0–3 Levante - 1/4/26 |
Atlético Madrid 1–2 Real Madrid - 1/8/26 | Levante 1–1 Real Sociedad - 12/20/25 |
Real Madrid 5–1 Real Betis - 1/4/26 | Cultural Leonesa 1–0 Levante - 12/17/25 |
Real Madrid 2–0 Sevilla - 12/20/25 | Osasuna 2–0 Levante - 12/8/25 |
How to Watch Real Madrid vs. Levante on TV, Live Stream
How to Watch Real Madrid vs. Levante on TV, Live Stream
Country | TV Channel/Live Stream |
|---|---|
United States | ESPN Select, ESPN App, ESPN Deportes, fuboTV |
United Kingdom | LALIGATV |
Canada | TSN+ |
Mexico | Sky Sports Mexico, Sky+ |
Real Madrid Team News
Real Madrid Team News
Real Madrid's key players will return to the starting eleven on Saturday after being rested during the club's Copa del Rey loss. Jude Bellingham, Thibaut Courtois, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Álvaro Carreras are all anticipated to feature against Levante.
Additionally, Arbeloa faces several important selection choices. Dani Carvajal returned from injury against Albacete, but the Spanish defender only featured for 13 minutes. Following nearly three months out, the right-back might be better suited coming from the substitutes' bench until he regains full match sharpness.
Uncertainty also exists regarding Kylian Mbappé's availability. The French star rejoined team training and was included in the La Liga squad, but the club might choose to exercise caution, considering their Champions League fixture against Monaco on Tuesday.
Rodrygo, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Éder Militão and Trent Alexander-Arnold all remain sidelined through injury.
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Levante
Real Madrid Predicted Lineup vs. Levante
Real Madrid predicted lineup vs. Levante (4-2-3-1): Courtois; Valverde, Asencio, Huijsen, Carreras; Tchouaméni, Camavinga; Güler, Bellingham, Vinicius Junior; García.
Levante Team News
Levante Team News
Levante will be missing defensive options on Saturday without Diego Pampín. The defender, who featured in both of the team's 2026 fixtures, will miss the Bernabéu trip due to a leg problem, creating an opportunity for Manu Sánchez to start on the left side.
Pampín is joined by Unai Elgezabal, Roger Brugué and Víctor García on the treatment table. Oriol Rey is also expected to be unavailable against Real Madrid due to physical issues.
The positive development for Castro is that Etta Eyong has returned from international duty with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. The forward, who tops the team's scoring charts this campaign, is expected to make his first start since December 8.
Levante Predicted Lineup vs. Real Madrid
Levante Predicted Lineup vs. Real Madrid
Levante predicted lineup vs. Real Madrid (4-4-2): Ryan; Toljan, De la Fuente, Moreno, Sánchez; Álvarez, Arriaga, Martínez, Losada; Eyong, Romero.
Real Madrid vs. Levante Score Prediction
Real Madrid vs. Levante Score Prediction
The return of numerous crucial players for Los Blancos makes Arbeloa's team the clear favorites to secure all three points this weekend. The club will be more determined than ever to recover from their previous two losses, and Levante stands in their path.
The 19th-positioned team has managed only three victories in 18 La Liga matches this season, and competing at the Bernabéu presents too significant a hurdle for the promoted side to overcome, even against a struggling Real Madrid.
Prediction: Real Madrid 3–1 Levante