Spain: Spanish leader Barcelona, meanwhile, didn't miss the injured Lionel Messi as they cruised by Valladolid 4-1 at home with Neymar scoring once and setting up one of Alexis Sanchez's two goals.
Barcelona extended their club record with an eighth win in as many games to start the league under new coach Gerardo Martino. Madrid hold the league milestone of nine wins to start the season in 1968.
Alexis' long blast in the 14th canceled out Javi Guerra's 10th-minute opener for Valladolid. Xavi Hernandez slotted in Barcelona's second in the 52nd before Neymar set up Alexis in the 64th. Alexis then returned the favor by generously passing back for Neymar to net his goal in the 70th.
"Neymar didn't put on a Messi mask, each one plays his own game," Alexis told GOL TV. "I don't think that the fact Messi isn't here gives us more freedom. Without Leo we have more work because with him everything is easier."
Elsewhere, Real Sociedad lost their second game this week in agonising fashion, when Rayo Vallecano substitute Jonathan Viera won and converted an 89th-minute penalty. Sociedad lost in injury time at Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Elche got their second straight victory thanks to forward Ferran "Coro" Corominas' two goals in a 2-1 win over visiting Espanyol.
Without the injured Gareth Bale, Madrid could do very little to disarm Levante's stingy defense in the first half at a Ciutat de Valencia Stadium where they had lost in two of their previous three visits.
Since suffering a 7-0 thrashing at Barcelona in the league opener, new coach Joaquin Caparros - known for his focus on defense - had steered Levante to a six-game undefeated streak that it almost kept going considering it never trailed Madrid until stoppage time.
"It hurts to lose like this," Caparros said. "It's a pity. We did everything we could to win and the game lasted four minutes too long. We should have known how to manage the situation. El Zhar's goal should have given us more oxygen but that didn't happen. Some of my players showed their lack of experience."
After a foul-ridden first 45 minutes, Levante opened through striker Babacar "Baba" Diawara in the 57th. Madrid were caught pressing forward when Levante got a three-on-two breakaway, and midfielder Jordi Xumetra floated a cross for Baba to beat goalkeeper Diego Lopez with a right-footed volley.
Sergio Ramos leveled four minutes later when the Madrid center back raced in at the second post and slammed in Angel Di Maria's corner kick. Madrid were again caught looking to score late when El Zhar did well to fend off Ramos in the area before he spun and fired in the ball.
But Morata, who scored a late winner for Madrid here last season, coolly drove in his goal to finish a move started by fellow youngster Jese Rodriguez before Ronaldo pulled out his late heroics.
On Sunday, it's: Sevilla vs. Almeria, Getafe vs. Real Betis, and Athletic Bilbao vs. Valencia.
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