Real Madrid 2-0 Sevilla
Two late goals gave Real Madrid a deserved victory at home to Sevilla to cement Los Blancos in the top three of the La Liga table.
Sixty-eight thousand fans at the Bernabeu were treated to a superb performance from Santiago Solari’s men as they bossed Sevilla from start to finish, but they had to wait until deep into the second half to break the deadlock.
Pablo Machin’s Sevilla started the game locked on 33 points with Real Madrid, but there is a chasm in class between the two on this evidence. The visitors have a strong attacking team but they simply weren’t at the races today as Casemiro and Luka Modric won the points for the hosts.
Highlights of the game
Vinicius Junior made a start for the injury-hit Los Blancos, and he was lively from the off, having an attempt saved in the sixth minute after being put through by Karim Benzema and then having a shot blocked a minute later.
Real keeper Thibaut Courtois and striker Karim Benzema were pronounced fit to play and were both in action in a busy first half. Benzema had a header saved after he rose to meet a cross from Lucas Vazquez, and then Casemiro had an effort charged down.
Machin’s side has plenty of firepower, and the in-form Wissam Ben Yedder launched a rapid break before passing to Sergio Escudero who fired his shot inches wide of the left post. Then Jesus Navas crossed and his ball was met by Andre Silva. He thought he’d bagged his ninth of the season, but Courtois got down well to save his header towards the bottom corner.
Junior teed up Benzema for another chance, but Tomas Vaclik was equal to the top scorer’s effort. And then as Los Blancos ramped up the pressure, Luka Modric had a shot charged down.
Modric was busy at the beginning of the second after a goalless first half, making chances for Junior and then Casemiro, but both were wide of the mark. Modric then tried his own luck but he fired over.
Junior came close on 63 minutes after good work from Dani Ceballos but his effort flew narrowly wide. And then, halfway through the second half Los Blancos came within a whisker of breaking the deadlock. This time, Junior fed Ceballos outside the box and he let fly only to see his fine effort crash against the crossbar.
But on 78 minutes, the goal finally came. Sergio Reguilon found Casemiro in space, and his shot from outside the box flew into the top-right corner to send the home fans wild.
That’s one to catch on the La Liga 2019 highlights… a super sweet strike!
Sevilla never really looked like getting back in the game, but any nerves were settled in injury time when Modric made room for himself to fire low into the bottom corner and seal the win.
Key Statistics
With 65 per cent possession and seven shots to two, Real Madrid had the better of the first half. But as the game wore on, they must have wondered whether it wasn’t their day.
SBOBET odds had Los Blancos at 1.72 to win, and by the final whistle, they thoroughly deserved the three points after a dominant display, with 23 shots to four and six to one on target.
They have now won 36 to 16 in the head-to-heads, and home advantage continues to be the main factor in these fixtures, with all of the last six games going with the home team. And Real Madrid are now 12 unbeaten at home against Sevilla.
What’s next?
Los Blancos struggled through to a win away to Real Betis last week, and this was the perfect follow-up as they bossed an in-form Sevilla and eventually got their just deserts. They have moved up to third in the table, three points above their opponents and just in view of the summit, though the La Liga 2019 odds still point firmly to a Barca title.
Next up, Girona are the visitors to the Bernabeu for a Copa del Rey tie before Solari takes his team to Barcelona for a league match away to Espanyol.
Meanwhile, Sevilla have a Copa date with Barcelona and then host Levante in La Liga next weekend, a good chance to get back to winning ways in the league.
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