Pressure mounts on Real’s Lopetegui after Levante defeat

MADRID: Real Madrid failed to ease the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui and instead set the record for the longest goal-drought in the club’s history during a surprise 2-1 defeat by Levante.

Real have now gone five games without a victory and when Marcelo gave them hope of a comeback at the Bernabeu, they had gone 481 minutes of normal time without a goal too.

The club’s previous worst run had been 464 minutes, in 1985.

For a team that pride themselves on flair and flamboyance, it is a streak that reflects just as badly on Lopetegui as the results, with the Clasico to come next weekend at the Nou Camp.

Asked about his future, Lopetegui said: “It is the last thing I am thinking about. I am thinking only about lifting the players.”

Marcelo said: “We are with the coach until the death.”

If Barca’s players were watching, they would have been licking their lips at the sight of Raphael Varane handing Levante a two-goal lead after just 13 minutes. Jose Luis Morales and Roger Marti, from the penalty spot, were the beneficiaries.

At the final whistle, Lopetegui stood on the touchline, with his hands on his hips, staring ahead in disbelief.

He had left Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema on the bench, perhaps due to fitness issues, and the gamble backfired, despite both making a difference when brought on in the second half.

Lopetegui had cited a lack of luck in recent weeks and Real were not blessed with it.

They hit the crossbar twice and the post once. They suffered a twogoal swing as a result of the VAR, one against called as a penalty, and one ruled out for offside.

“I’m sure football will eventually give back to us what it is taking away,” Lopetegui said. — AFP