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
73': And the final change is made just moments later as Vinicius comes on for Asensio. Solari is throwing everything at it now.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
77': Finally Madrid get in behind Valladolid's defence and it's the right-back Odiozoloa, who was actually offside, who fizzes a dangerous ball in from the byline but it's well gathered by the keeper.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Real Valladolid
83' (Kiko og): A wicked deflection gifts Real Madrid the breakthrough. Vinicius skips past three defenders from the touchline and his cross come shot takes a huge deflection off Kiko and into the bottom-right corner of the net. It was such a cruel piece of luck for Valladolid.
Penalty! Real Madrid 1-0 Real Valladolid
86': And after a penalty appeal was turned down just moments ago, now Real Madrid have the golden opportunity to put this game to bed. Benzema touched the ball past Calero as he darted into the box and the centre-back's hanging leg invited the Frenchman to tumble.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid
88' (Ramos): Ramos chips it down the middle and celebrates passionately out of relief.
Real Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid
90': It's such a harsh result on Valladolid who played so well up until that deflection. They were rigid in defence and only a cruel stroke of luck could separate them from a deserved draw.
FT: Real Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid
A deceiving scoreline at the Bernabeu but it's Santiago Solari's winning start which will be remembered. A huge deflection after a fine piece of trickery from Vinicius broke the deadlock after 83 minutes and Sergio Ramos' penalty, after Karim Benzema was brought down, finished the job. Whether the performance will have done anything to convince Florentino Perez that he should stay in the hot seat however remains to be seen.
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