Spanish La Liga
2026-01-17 - Real Madrid vs Levante
A Sports Betting Pick by Gladiator
Football: Spanish La Liga - Round 20
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid), Spain
Saturday, 17th January 2026 - Kick Off 14:00 CET
Real Madrid
Real Madrid begin a new chapter under interim boss Álvaro Arbeloa, yet their preparations for this match have been overshadowed by off-field turmoil. The dismissal of Xabi Alonso following the Super Cup defeat to Barcelona shook the club, and Arbeloa’s first match in charge – a shock 3-2 Copa del Rey loss to Albacete – only deepened the sense of instability around the Bernabéu.
Even so, the foundation he inherits is not entirely bleak. Before losing to Barça, Madrid had put together a run of five straight competitive victories without conceding, scoring 13 unanswered goals. They also remain firmly in the title race, four points behind leaders Barcelona. With the home crowd expecting a reaction and a tightening of defensive organisation, this fixture presents an ideal chance for Arbeloa to steady the ship and restore some calm.
Levante
Levante travel to the capital with survival on their minds and renewed belief under new coach Luís Castro. His arrival has sparked an immediate upturn in form, with Levante unbeaten in his three matches so far. Even more encouraging is that the bulk of their points this season – 11 of 14 – have been earned away from home, making them far more dangerous on the road than their league position suggests.
Still, the task at hand is enormous. Levante remain four points from safety and have struggled badly against teams in the upper half of the table. While they may hope to capitalise on Madrid’s instability, the gulf in quality, depth, and consistency cannot be ignored, especially in a fixture where small lapses are typically punished.
The Betting Verdict
Despite the noise surrounding Real Madrid, this match sets up in a way that should allow them to regain control. Arbeloa will prioritise defensive organisation after two chaotic outings, and Levante’s struggles to create clear chances against stronger opponents suggest this may not turn into a shootout. Los Blancos have consistently handled bottom-half teams with minimal fuss this season, and given both sides’ recent scoring patterns, a comfortable but controlled home win looks the most likely outcome.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Real Madrid 3-0 Levante
