Real Madrid Beat Valladolid, Clinch Three Points Closer To League Leader
A second half header from Casemiro and top-notch goalkeeping from Thibaut Courtois lifted Real Madrid to a key 1-0 victory over Valladolid on Saturday night at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla.
The victory puts Los Blancos to within three points of LaLiga Santander leaders and city rivals Atletico Madrid.
The Brazilian midfielder did well to rise and arrow in his header, but it was the efforts of Courtois that allowed the visitors from the capital to depart with the three points.
With striker Karim Benzema and right-back Dani Carvajal among the latest additions to the team’s long injury list, coach Zinedine Zidane slotted Mariano into his attacking line with Vinicius and Marco Asensio, while the returning Lucas Vazquez took Carvajal’s place at full-back.
Almost immediately Courtois had to be called on to make back-to-back saves when he managed to block efforts from Fabian Orellana and Saidy Janko, the latter being one of the best saves of the season from the big Belgian.
At the other end Mariano produced two great finishes for Los Blancos, but on each occasion the linesman’s flag was raised for offside, thus negating the goal. Madrid’s best legal chance at a score in the first half came toward the end when a freekick on the very edge of the area was served up by Toni Kroos for Casemiro, only to see the Brazilian miss badly with a header.
An ill-advised pass from Ferland Mendy into his own box should have led to the first goal of the match for Valladolid early in the second half, as the French left-back’s pass floated into the middle and fell perfectly for the charging Orellana to volley home, only for Courtois to make the reaction save on the Chilean.
Right when Zidane was ready to bring on some fresh legs for a spark, Madrid would break through and grab a 1-0 lead. Casemiro had squandered a golden opportunity to score in the first half off a Kroos freekick, but he made good on the next one, steering a header into net off another dead ball delivery from the German.
Zidane went ahead and made the changes, all coming up top, as Asensio, Vinicius and Mariano were replaced by Sergio Arribas, Isco and Hugo Duro, respectively.
It could have been two for Madrid when a deep cross from Mendy reached Arribas, however the youngster was unable to connect and the chance fell by the wayside. In the end, though, an insurance goal was not needed as Zidane’s men saw things out to pocket the victory.
Match Sheet:
0.- Valladolid: Masip; Luis Perez, Joaquin, Bruno, Nacho; Alcaraz (San Emeterio, min. 84), Roque Mesa (Kodro, min. 73), Janko (Jota, min. 61), Kike Perez (Oscar Plano, min. 84), Orellana; Guardiola (Weissman, min. 73).
1.- Real Madrid: Courtois; Lucas, Nacho, Varane, Mendy; Casemiro, Kroos, Modric; Asensio (Sergio Arribas, min. 66), Vinicius (Isco, min. 66), Mariano (Hugo Duro, min. 66).
Goals: 0-1, min. 65: Casemiro
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Referee: Cuadra Fernandez (Balear). Yellow cards: Alcaraz (Min. 60) for Valladolid, Lucas Vazquez (Min. 69) for Real Madrid, Nacho (Min. 71) for Valladolid, Sergio Arribas (Min. 78) for Real Madrid, Oscar Plano (Min. 85) for Valladolid
Red cards: None
Stadium: Jose Zorrilla
Attendance: 0
