Santiago Solari's Real Madrid secure flattering first La Liga win in five weeks against Real Valladolid
Real Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid: Relive all the action from the Bernabeu
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Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid secured a flattering 2-0 win against Real Valladolid at the Bernabeu in Santiago Solari's first game in charge.
It was Madrid's first La Liga win in five weeks but the home side failed to impress for much of the game and were whistled off the pitch after a drab first half.
However, 18-year-old Brazilian Vinicius Jr. came off the bench and after jinking past three players his cross-come-shot took a cruel deflection off Kiko and nestled in the bottom-left corner of the net. It was a wicked piece of luck for Valladolid who had defended so well throughout the match and had begun to create a number of openings of their own as Madrid became evermore desperate to find a winner.
Moments after the goal, Vinicius then laid off the ball to Karim Benzema on the edge of the box who touched it past Calero before being brought down by the centre-back's trailing leg. Sergio Ramos, who had also been whistled prior to kick-off, chipped the keeper to confirm the fortunate victory.
Three points no less and an end to Real Madrid's winless run in the league secured. Yet whether the victory will do anything to convince Florentino Perez that Solari should stay in the job remains to be seen.
Relive all the action below.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
22': Valladolid are still struggling to hold on to any possession but at the moment Madrid are without that special playmaker who can take advantage and cut open the defence.
Each time they get near the box, a series of passes ultimately leads to a hopeful cross, rather than the type of trickery and thoughtful through ball which can unlock space between Valladolid's central defenders.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
29': Again a good spell of possession on the edge of Valladolid's box comes to nothing as Modric miscontrols into touch. Valladolid have only conceded three away goals all season and it's easy to see why.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
31': Casemiro rises well to meet Kroos' corner but within a cluster of Vallodolid defenders he can only direct it tamely into the goalkeeper's palms.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
32': A huge chance for Valladolid and Antonito and it's Sergio Ramos, whose name was whistled during the team announcements, who is at fault inexplicably stepping out of defence to close the ballholder leaving acres of space in behind. Antonito runs clean through the gap on the angle and chips it over Courtois but it narrowly squirms over the bar.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
34': And finally Valladolid sustain some pressure. Another speculative shot is deflected wide and whistles ring out from the Real Madrid fans who are unhappy to say the least.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
36': And now on the breakaway Gareth Bale misses a golden opportunity. Again it's Reguilon who finds space down the left-wing and his cross finds the Welshman whose charging into the box, but with almost the whole goal in front of him he glances wide.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
39': Valladolid come close again! A cross comes in from deep and Unal finds space in the box but his header glances just wide. The away team have rarely found chances to get forward but when they do they continually seem to find space in Madrid's box.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
42': A long-range attempt from Luka Modric sums up Real Madrid's lack of ideas this half. Their greatest creative influence, the world player of the year, blasting over as his teammates make laboured runs ahead of him.
HT: Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
The whistles ring out at half-time. It's a toxic atmosphere at the Bernabeu. The only positive so far has been Sergio Reguilon, the 21-year-old left-back filling in for the injured Marcelo, who has provided a consistent bustle of energy down the wing and created a number of chances only to be wasted by Bale and Benzema.
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