By S.Aravind
February 5 2007

Even the stingiest of script writers would not have sketched a loss to Madrid in their 1000 La Liga outing on their home turf to the much exiguous Levante. Guess those writers proved their mettle with yet another twist in Madrid's roller coaster season. I have lost track of the games Madrid failed to secure 3 points at home this season. Adding Sunday's fixture versus Levante in that list makes my plight no better. On any other normal La Liga season, Real Madrid would have been amidst mid table fodder by now. But since, 06-07 La Liga season has had its own fair share of twists and turns, Madrid continue to be in the hunt for the title even after their 5th defeat in 8 games.

Capello continued to mesmerize the Bernabeu with ineffective negative tactics time and time again. He went for an all-Spanish back 4 (Salgado Helguera Ramos Torres) and also paved way for Guti and Raul's return to their respective midfield positions. The pundits can call this system a 4 2 3 1 or a 4 3 2 1, just to suffice their ego of matching Capello's vision. To the naked eye, it was a 4 4 2 with Madrid's Torch Bearer and potent striker wasted on the right flank, thereby making the midfield weaker and amoebic in shape.

Real started brightly enough, Gonzalo Higuain and then Raul almost sending Ruud van Nistelrooy through twice in the first eight minutes. But the visitors took the lead on the 10th minute, a super run by Olivier Kapo on the right saw Damiano Tommasi pick up his low centre and chopped down clumsily by Mahamadou Diarra. Salvo Ballesta enmarked his debut for Levante with a neat penalty.

It was the same old story after that goal. Capello seemed to have taught real, the " Keep Ball " chapter from his coaching books, very well. Maybe the chapter where they teach one to use the lion's share of the possession effectively is not there in Capello's version. In the 25th minute, penalty shouts were waived as Higuain got onto a Van Nistelrooy flick to slide the ball into the box behind Raul, who went down but was not fouled. Helguera, Diarra and Ruud all tried in vain in the 1st half but never troubled Molina.

In the 2nd half, real asked for another penalty when Raul went down following a high foot from Alexis but the ref waved play-on. 6 minutes later, however, Real should definitely have been awarded a spot-kick when Luis Rubiales committed too early to Van Nistelrooy's dribble and the Dutchman could not have done more to win the penalty in the box. Bizarrely, a goal kick was given.

Soon after Raul had a gilt-edged chance, slid through by Guti, but he could only fire straight at Jose Francisco Molina, while Diarra headed a Guti corner straight at the former Deportivo stopper on 65 minutes. These were precious chances wasted by Real as the cries from the Bernabeu finally woke up some Madrid stars.

It was all Real, Raul shooting at Molina's legs after being played in by Higuain on the right, but Levante almost made it two when Diego Camacho's excellent ball was deftly flicked over Torres by Felix Dja Ettien, his pace taking him clean through and only prevented by superb and brave goalkeeping from Casillas.

Capello brought on Nieto; the Castilla star to replace an injured Robinho and the young Spaniard had immediate impact as his direct play earned him a chance, which he scuffed on to the post unfortunately. Bad decision making really costed Real a lot as Ruud chose to go for glory instead of passing it to Diarra in front of goal .The intolerant home support rightly waved their handkerchiefs in disgust as Real struggled to out-think a team battling the drop.

Though Real dominated the 2nd half, it was too little too late for them, as they never looked like wanting a win or the La Liga title. Considering the players at his disposal, Capello picked a poor team and once again paid the price for it. While Levante can go home and celebrate this dream victory, Madristas will only live in hope and wonder when the tide will turn for this mighty club.