Real crush Levante with second-half goal salvo

Real then put the result beyond doubt with a devastating three-goal salvo at the start of the second half featuring spectacular strikes from Luis Figo and Beckham and a second goal from Ronaldo.

Substitute Michael Owen completed the rout three minutes from time when he steered home under ’keeper Juan Luis Mora after a brilliant through-ball from the outstanding Guti.

The win kept Real in second place in the standings, seven points behind leaders Barcelona who claimed a nervous 2-1 win over Getafe on Saturday.

Espanyol, who beat Atletico Madrid 2-1 on Saturday, are in third, a further two points behind and Real Betis moved up to fourth after their 2-1 win at home to Villarreal.

Osasuna produced one of the results of the day when they hammered high-flying Sevilla 4-1 at home, a win that pushed them up to sixth, while Deportivo Coruna are in seventh after surrendering a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at home to Real Sociedad.

Levante, who have surprised many by their early season form on their return to the top flight, made a confident start at the Bernabeu, giving Real ’keeper Iker Casillas several scares in the opening minutes.

With Zinedine Zidane missing through a back injury, Real coach Mariano Garcia Remon opted to reshuffle his midfield, switching Beckham to the right, Figo to the left and bringing Albert Celades into the middle.

The move gave Guti more space in the centre, but Real struggled to manufacture any clear chances in the first half hour. But just as the crowd were getting restless, Ronaldo began the goal spree with a trademark finish in the 43rd minute.

Beckham wafted a perfectly weighted pass to the edge of the area, the Brazilian controlled with his chest, shook off the attentions of a defender and then fired in at the near post.

Real then floored their opponents with three goals in the space of five second-half minutes.

Figo made it 2-0 when he let fly from 30 metres out after the Levante defence had backed off when he picked up the ball on the halfway line. Levante were still reeling when Ronaldo hit them again, this time slotting home from 10 metres after controlling a pass from Celades with his toe. Not to be outdone by Figo, Beckham added a third with an action-replay of the Portuguese midfielder’s strike, cutting inside former Leeds United defender Ian Harte before firing into the top of the net from the same distance.

England teammate Owen, who had replaced Raul midway through the second half, completed the rout three minutes from time with a cool finish after Guti had dinked the ball between two defenders and poked the ball into his path. (Reuters)