Levante 1 - Real Madrid 4

Levante: Cavallero; Ze Maria, Alexis, Dehú, Rubiales; Camacho, Berson (N'Diaye 58'); Ettien, Kapo, Robert (Tomassi 37'); Riga (Luyindula 67'). 4-2-3-1.
Madrid: Casillas; Michel Salgado (Cicinho 75'), Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos, Roberto Carlos; Diarra, Emerson; Beckham, Cassano (Reyes 46'), Raúl (Robinho 46'); Van Nistelrooy. 4-2-3-1.

Team changes: Levante: Ze Maria, Alexis, Rubiales, Berson, Ettien, Riga for Manolo, Alvaro, Courtois, Tomassi, Carmelo, Nino / Madrid: Sergio Ramos for Raúl Bravo.

Goals:
0-1. 16. Van Nistelrooy. Collected Cassano pass and struck shot on turn in off post.
0-2. 27. Cassano. Controlled long Beckham pass and beat Cavallero at second try.
1-2. 36. Ettien. Chested down pass back by Kapo and squeezed shot inside post.
1-3. 57. Van Nistelrooy. Forced ball in after Beckham headed across Reyes centre.
1-4. 91. Van Nistelrooy. Ran on to long Cicinho pass to lift shot over Cavallero.

A hat-trick from Ruud Van Nistelrooy helped Real Madrid beat to a 1-4 victory over nine man Levante. Fabio Capello's side were on top right from the start, with Raúl firing an early chance over the bar. And with just over a quarter of an hour gone the ex Manchester United striker beat Cavallero with a shot on the turn after a good passing move.

Ten minutes later Cassano got the second of the night, controlling a long ball from Beckham and, after his first shot was blocked, drilling a second shot wide of the keeper. The local players protested to referee Daudén Ibáñez that they felt that the striker had handled, but Daudén ruled correctly that the ball had hit him in the face and the play was valid.

Things seemed to swing further in Madrid's favour when Dehú was sent off for a foul on Van Nistelrooy, but Ettien picked up a cross in from Kapo to squeeze a long shot past Casillas and pull one back a few minutes later. However Van Nistelrooy struck again soon after the restart, half time substitute Reyes swinging the ball across for Beckham to head back, allowing his old colleague to score.

Levante hardly reacted after that, and Robinho came close with another strike just wide. And a few minutes later Van Nistelrooy won himself a penalty after running on to a long ball and being held back by Camacho, who was also sent off after picking up a second booking. This time Cavallero guessed correctly and saved his kick, but the Dutch striker was not to be denied and completed his hat-trick a few minutes later after connecting with Cicinho's long pass to lob the keeper.