Real are knocking on the door now. The door of goals. Lucas Vazquez lines up a bouncer from long range but Aitor Fernandez saves.

The Levante keeper has touched the ball more than any of his team-mates - 18 times.

And now Real hit the woodwork. Lucas Vazquez's shot from the edge of the box is deflected by a defender onto the outside of the post.

The follow-up corner causes mayhem in the area, but Levante just about clear.

Woof. A brilliant save from Aitor Fernandez denies Karim Benzema the opener. The Frenchman curls the ball from 20 yards and the keeper dives to tip it wide.

Marcelo's cross is deflected and James Rodriguez throws himself to the turf dramatically. The home fans call for a penalty but the referee isn't interested.

Raphael Varane make his 200th top-flight appearance - 23 for Lens in France and 177 for Real Madrid.

Levante defender Oscar Duarte also reaches that landmark - 64 in Costa Rica, 84 in Belgium, 51 for Espanyol and this is his Levante debut.

The rain is lashing it down at the Bernabeu.

There are two balls on the pitch as Real Madrid take a quick corner. Toni Kroos has a shot saved and a follow-up blocked and it's another corner.

Levante complain to the referee that play was allowed to go on with that second ball on the pitch

Corner to Real now as Vinicius Jr plays a one-two with Marcelo and his cross is blocked.

Levante are causing Real Madrid some problems down the flanks and Carlos Clerc's cross is cleared again.

A corner to Levante now as Sergio Ramos blocks a cross.

Vinicius Jr, a regular last season before an injury and Zinedine Zidane's arrival, has only touched the ball once so far.

One of Real's few midfielders Toni Kroos tries to open the scoring but he drives well wide from 20 yards out.

Real Madrid's failure to land Paul Pogba - and to let Dani Ceballos and Marcos Llorente go has left them very short in midfield.

With a couple of injuries, they are left with only three central midfielders available today - and even then James Rodriguez is pushing it in that category.

They don't have any midfielders on the bench in case of an injury to Rodriguez, Toni Kroos or Casemiro today.

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End to end. Lucas Vazquez feeds Karim Benzema, but Aitor Fernandez is off his line well to stop Benzema's attempted dribble between his legs.

Real's defence may have a busy day dealing with Jose Luis Morales. This time they concede a corner to stop his surging run.

Best chance so far as Levante almost open the scoring. They play a free-kick into the box and Borja Mayoral's flick goes just wide of the far post. Thibaut Courtois looked wrong-footed.

Almost a scare for Real as the pacy Jose Luis Morales chases onto a long ball forward and Thibaut Courtois has to boot it away before the experienced forward can reach it.

Only four sides are unbeaten at the Bernabeu in La Liga against Real Madrid in the last two seasons - Levante (W1 D1), Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Betis.

Levante, who are based in Valencia, have won three of their 26 La Liga matches against Real Madrid, losing 20 of them.

But two of those wins were at the Bernabeu, including a 2-1 success last October.

First chance is for Real Madrid but Karim Benzema's 20-yard shot as he works it from his right foot onto his left is saved by Aitor Fernandez.

Bright start for Levante as left wing-back Carlos Clerc puts in a cross but Sergio Ramos hacks it into touch.