Benzema hurt, Marcelo sent off as Madrid draws with Levante

Real Madrid stumbled to a second straight draw at its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium after being held 1-1 by Levante in the Spanish league yesterday.

Madrid lost striker Karim Benzema to a muscle-injury in his right leg four days before its Champions League title defense starts against Cypriot team Apoel.

Coach Zinedine Zidane will be without Marcelo for the next league match at Real Sociedad after the defender got a direct red card for kicking Jefferson Lerma in the head after they tumbled to the turf in the 89th.

With Cristiano Ronaldo serving the third of a four-match suspension — for pushing a referee — Zidane gave starts to newcomer Theo Hernandez and midfielder Marcos Llorente.

Newly promoted Levante caught Madrid with its guard down in the 12th minute on a routine throw-in executed by Ivan Lopez, which concluded in a goal by another teammate also named Ivan Lopez.

One Lopez directed the throwin to the other Lopez, who slipped behind Dani Carvajal near the goal, controlled the ball and poked it past goalkeeper Kiko Casilla.

Gareth Bale replaced Benzema in the 26th when Madrid’s striker grabbed his right leg and asked to be substituted. Zidane said the injury was a muscle pull, adding that he hoped Benzema wouldn’t be out long.

Lucas Vazquez got the equal- izer 10 minutes later, when he tapped in the rebound after Levante goalkeeper Raul Fernandez saved Sergio Ramos’ header.

Bale was criticized by the home crowd after its 2-2 draw with Valencia last round and the Wales winger squandered four opportunities to put the hosts ahead in this game. Bale sent three headers wide and failed to beat Fernandez one-on-one.