MADRID (Reuters) - Real Madrid earned a nervy but vital 3-2 win at home to Levante in La Liga on Saturday, taking a three-goal lead by halftime but conceding twice in a shoddy second-half display which left them clinging on for all three points.
Karim Benzema headed Real in front after 25 minutes when he met a cross from Dani Carvajal and the France forward struck again a few minutes later with a well-taken finish after latching on to a pass from James Rodriguez.
Brazil midfielder Casemiro stretched Real's advantage right before halftime with a gut-busting run to meet a cross from compatriot Vinicius, but Levante hit back shortly after the interval through former Madrid forward Borja Mayoral.
Levante reduced the deficit to one goal with 15 minutes to go thanks to a near-post header from Gonzalo Melero and twice came close to levelling in stoppage time but Real scraped the victory to move on to eight points after four games.
(Reporting by Richard Martin; Editing by Ken Ferris)