Kylian Mbappe scored his 50th LaLiga goal as Real Madrid overcame Levante 2-0 at Santiago Bernabeu.

Raul Asencio was also on target in Alvaro Arbeloa's first league match in charge, as Los Blancos moved within a point of leaders Barcelona and bounced back from their midweek Copa del Rey defeat at Albacete.

Chances did not fall too freely during the first half. Mbappe dragged a volley wide while, at the other end, Pablo Martinez's free-kick hit the side-netting as the home fans voiced their displeasure.

However, the hosts broke the deadlock in the 58th minute, when Mbappe sent Mathew Ryan the wrong way from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Adrian de la Fuente in the box.

Madrid doubled their lead seven minutes later, with Asencio powering a header in from Arda Guler's corner for his second goal in as many home games.

Mbappe and Jude Bellingham drew fine saves from Ryan and Franco Mastantuono hit the crossbar as Arbeloa's side went in search of a third, but the two-goal margin was enough to get them back to winning ways.

A sour note, though, was that Vinicius Junior, who played the full game, seemed to be on the receiving end of jeers from the home fans whenever he was in possession.

Data Debrief: Mbappe brings up half a century

Mbappe is the second-fastest player to score 50 LaLiga goals in the 21st century (53 matches), after reaching the half-century in just two more games than Cristiano Ronaldo (51).

The France star spearheaded a youthful Madrid team. Indeed, Arbeloa fielded a starting 11 with an average age of 24 years and 326 days, the youngest by a Los Blancos coach on his LaLiga debut since at least 2003-04.

However, the hosts' total of six shots in the opening 45 minutes was the lowest tally under a coach on his LaLiga bow in the first half since Julen Lopetegui (four against Getafe in 2018). 

Madrid corrected that in the second half to finish with 26 shots and 2.61 expected goals, as they maintained their record of winning every match when scoring first in the top flight this season (14).