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Real Madrid earn first win under Arbeloa amid fan protests

By Primenewsghana
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Real Madrid moved to within one point of La Liga leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win over Levante on an afternoon that was overshadowed by fan protests at the Bernabeu.

Madrid supporters waved white handkerchiefs before kick-off and then aimed boos and whistles at players - in particular Jude Bellingham, Vinicius Jr and Federico Valverde - as well as the club's hierarchy.

Alvaro Arbeloa - who replaced Xabi Alonso as manager on Monday - was also targeted during the game, before goals from Kylian Mbappe and Raul Asencio in the second half helped the 15-time European Cup winners to victory at the end of a tumultuous week.

After a humiliating defeat in the Copa del Rey to second division side Albacete on Wednesday, Arbeloa restored Mbappe and Bellingham to the starting XI for his first La Liga match in charge.

The unrest among supporters became clear in the opening 10 minutes when Bellingham was the subject of jeers from the stands despite driving his side towards goal.

After managing only one shot on target in the first half, Arbeloa shuffled his pack at the break and called upon Arda Guler and Franco Mastantuono for the second half.

In the 58th minute, Mbappe broke the deadlock from the penalty spot after drawing a foul from Adrian de la Fuente.

The Frenchman - who is the top scorer in La Liga this season with 19 goals - was one of a few players, along with 21-year-old forward Gonzalo Garcia, not to be jeered by Real fans on Saturday.

Defender Asencio added a second for the hosts seven minutes later when he climbed highest to head home Guler's corner.

Real are next in action on Tuesday when they host Monaco in the Champions League.