MADRID — Angry Real Madrid fans jeered their own team before they went on to beat Levante 2-0 in La Liga on Saturday to record new coach Alvaro Arbeloa’s first win at the helm.

Villarreal, third, stumbled to a 2-0 defeat at Real Betis, hampering their attempts at mounting a title challenge.

Arbeloa’s debut after replacing Xabi Alonso ended in a humiliating Copa del Rey defeat in midweek at second-tier Albacete, but second-half goals from Kylian Mbappe and Raul Asencio secured Madrid three vital points at a moody Santiago Bernabeu.

Second-place Madrid cut the gap on leaders Barcelona to one point before the in-form Spanish champions visit Real Sociedad on Sunday.

Star players Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham came in for ire from the home fans after a disastrous week. Mbappe also started but was spared the jeers.

The French forward had been expected to return for the Champions League game against Monaco next week as he manages his recovery from a knee sprain.

“I’ve always respected the Bernabeu (crowd), they whistled me a lot too (as a player), and it’s one of the aspects that make this club so great, how demanding the fans are,” said Arbeloa, defending the right of the fans to express themselves.

It was Arbeloa’s 43rd birthday and he was eventually able to celebrate with a victory, although his team lacked energy and spark in the first half.

That was not the case in the stands as a significant part of the crowd harangued their own team, in response to a wild week at the club.

Los Blancos lost the Spanish Super Cup final to rivals Barcelona in Saudi Arabia on Sunday, parted ways with Alonso on Monday and then crashed out of the cup on Wednesday.

Some fans also chanted for president Florentino Perez to resign in a sour atmosphere in the Spanish capital.

Mbappe had the best chance of a flat first half against the team in 19th in La Liga. Reaching a long ball the French superstar met it with a volley that flew wide of the post.