Real Madrid Labour To Beat Villadolid 2-0
By Nigel Philip
Real Madrid eased the pressure on themselves, on Saturday, but not without a sweat as they labored to a 2-0 win over Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu on interim manager, Santiago Solari’s, debut.
The European Champions needed Kiko’s own goal and Sergio Ramos’ penalty to seal a late victory over Valladolid and return to winning ways after the 5-1 humiliation from rivals Barcelona last week and the sacking of manager, Julen Lopeteui.
Real Madrid are 6th on the La Liga table with 17 points after eleven games, but could be overtaken by the sixth-placed Levante, who are on 16 points ahead of their visit to Vlareal on Sunday.
Karim Benzema earned the game's first real chance when he met a cross in the box and found some space for a shot, but produced an inaccurate effort wide of the right post.
Valladolid’s Antonito shot slightly over the bar in the 34th minute after finding his way through the Real Madrid defence, Gareth Bale planted a close-range header just wide of the left post two minutes later before Karim Benzema missed another good chance in the 54th minute by heading wide an inch-perfect cross.
Valladolid goalkeeper, Jordi Masip, stoped Casemiro’s promising close-range shot with a brilliant save in the 54th minute, two minutes, after which Ruben Alcaraz wasted a good chance for the visitors by crashing a first-time shot into the crossbar.
Thibaut Courtois also showed his goalkeeping prowess with a masterclass save to stop Toni’s goal-bound shot towards the box, and the Spanish midfielder was unlucky again in the 66th minute when his hammered close-range shot rattled the crossbar.
Kiko would put Real Madrid in front in the 83rd minute by deflecting the ball into his own net, four minutes before referee Jesus Gil Manzano awarded the hosts a penalty, following Fernando Calero’s slide tackle on Karim Benzema.
Sergio Ramos elected himself for the kick and waited for Jordi Masip to commit himself before slotting the penalty into the middle of the goal.
