MADRID: Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has praised his side for battling to a 2-1 win at Levante in challenging conditions, to keep them in sight of league leaders Barcelona and second-placed Atletico Madrid.
Youngster Alvaro Morata came off the bench to head home a crucial late winner after just one minute on the pitch on Sunday night, guiding a Xabi Alonso free-kick home for his first league goal for the Spanish champions.
Angel Rodriguez had earlier struck a second-half equaliser to level Cristiano Ronaldo’s opener and it seemed Madrid would rue a missed penalty by Alonso.
The win means Real remain eight points behind Barca who won 4-2 at Mallorca while Atletico remain second, three points behind the leaders, after beating Getafe 2-0 at home.
“It’s a long time since I’ve seen a game like that in those conditions, we had to adapt and play 4-4-2 because it was not a game to pass in, it was a battle between two honest sides that gave everything,” Real coach Jose Mourinho said.
“The team had to show character and strength. Without Cristiano it has been even more difficult.
“Callejon and Morata have done a fantastic job, the boy scored with his first touch and we leave with an important three points.”
Ronaldo suffered a cut above his eye on three minutes after a clash with David Navarro and his team was struggling to come to terms with the wet conditions, with a lot of surface water making the pitch almost unplayable.
However when the ball dropped to him from a defensive clearance on 21 minutes he did not hesitate before thumping a volley home for his twelfth of the season.
Levante were always a danger and the equaliser came on 62 minutes when the substitute Angel beat Pepe to a Obafemi Martins flick before guiding the ball past Casillas.
Morata appeared to score the priceless winner with his first touch. AFP
