Pazzini earns Levante a draw against struggling Real

Giampaolo Pazzini struck an 89th-minute equaliser on his Levante debut to earn his side a deserved 2-2 draw against struggling giant Real Madrid Saturday. Real stay fourth in La Liga after the veteran Italian forward broke through on goal and fired past Keylor Navas, who got a hand to it but could not keep the ball out. Sergio Ramos, back from injury, opened the scoring with a header in the 11th minute from Toni Kroos’ corner, but Emmanuel Boateng equalised shortly before halftime when he slotted home from the edge of the area after Navas had denied Jose Luis Morales. Isco, brought on for the ineffective Gareth Bale, looked to have earned Real the three points when he slammed home in the 81st minute but Pazzini, on loan from Verona, had the final say.

A BIG win for @SDEibar sees them move to within a point of the European spots! ?#LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/3GZEJq9c7e

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) February 3, 2018

The 33-year-old’s late strike denied Real the chance to move above Valencia and go third, with Los Blancos left 18 points behind their rival and unbeaten league leader Barcelona. Ramos, making his first league appearance since Dec. 23 when Madrid were crushed by Barca in the Clasico, opened the scoring with a header which earned him the individual record of being the first defender to score in 14 consecutive seasons. However his day soon soured when he was booked for an elbow on Boateng and then played Morales onside for Levante’s equaliser. The winger burst through on goal and was denied by Navas, facing his former side, but Boateng was on hand to carefully steer home the rebound.

5 down, 5 to go. #LaLigaSantander pic.twitter.com/4xyMMJ0ip9

— LaLiga (@LaLigaEN) February 3, 2018

Zidane took off Bale for Isco and changed formation from 4-3-3 to 4-4-2 as he looked for more control of a ragged game. It paid dividends when Karim Benzema set up the Spaniard to fire home, before Pazzini put Levante level again. RESULTS Eibar 5 (Kike 1, Orellana 17, 61, Ramis 32, Arbilla 83) Sevilla 1 (Sarabia 21-P) Betis 2 (Moron 45+2, 65) Villarreal 1 (Bacca 80-P) Alaves 2 (Pedraza 4, El Haddadi 18) Celta 1 (Aspas 90+1) Levante 2 (Boateng 42, Pazzini 89) Real Madrid 2 (Ramos 11, Isco 81)   SUNDAY'S MATCHES Getafe v Leganes, Espanyol v Barcelona, Girona v Athletic and Atletico v Valencia