Guaranteed to be second in La Liga, Real Madrid challenged an already relegated Real Oviedo team this Thursday. The Merengue club, which was left with a defeat during the Clà sico against FC Barcelona (2-0), wanted to bounce back, especially in a complicated context. Between a particularly criticized Kylian Mbappé, the fight between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni or even the controversial media exit of Florentino Pérez, it was the time to put football back in the middle of the field. For this match, Alvaro Arbeloa opted for a 4-4-2 with Thibaut Courtois in goal behind Trent Alexander-Arnold, Raul Asencio, David Alaba and Alvaro Carreras. Eduardo Camavinga and Aurélien Tchouaméni formed the double pivot with Franco Mastantuono and Brahim Diaz on the wings. Finally, Gonzalo Garcia and Vinicius Junior formed the attacking duo.
Wanting to dictate their tempo, Real Madrid quickly took control of the ball and used the lanes well with Trent Alexander-Arnold available. But it was on the left that the first situation occurred with an overflow from Gonzalo Garcia who served behind Franco Mastantuono whose shot was repelled by AarĂłn Escandell (6th). The Merengues insisted and following a corner on the left, Trent Alexander-Arnold was served behind in the area and fired a heavy shot which narrowly escaped the target (21st). It was getting closer for Casa Blanca and on a cross from Alvaro Carreras pushed back by the defense, Brahim Diaz was on the lookout, but it went over the target (33rd).
Gonzalo Garcia and Jude Bellingham found the loophole
Manhandled, Real Oviedo was nevertheless in its match all the time. On the left side, Thiago Fernandez crossed towards the far post for Alberto Reina who saved for Nacho Vidal. Within six meters, he wrecked the collective movement by missing the target at close range (38th). Finally, just before the break, Real Madrid found the fault. Recovering a ball high on the left, Brahim Diaz found Gonzalo Garcia in the area. The latter turned around and adjusted the goalkeeper on the right of the goal (1-0, 44th). Leading at the break, Real Madrid could have conceded a pawn shortly before the hour mark, but Alberto Reina in turn missed at close range in his recovery (57th).
Behind, the Merengues responded immediately with Alvaro Carreras, but he fell on AarĂłn Escandell in a tight angle (58th). But it wasn’t over for Real Oviedo and Nacho Vidal crossed his shot too far on the left when he was alone (63rd). To give an offensive boost, Real Madrid then launched Kylian MbappĂ© in the 69th minute and he got a first opportunity immediately without finding the target (71st). Then finally, Madrid’s efforts were rewarded with a second goal. Served in the axis by Kylian MbappĂ©, Jude Bellingham struck at the entrance to the area and adjusted the goalkeeper on the left with a beautiful strike (2-0, 81st). In management at the end of the match, Real Madrid won 2-0 and found their way to success.
Earlier in the evening, we were treated to two other La Liga matches. Valencia hosted Rayo Vallecano in a mid-table match. Finalist in the Europa Conference League, the Madrid club scored first through Florian Lejeune (1-0, 20th) while Randy Nteka had missed a penalty shortly before (8th). The Murciélagos, however, equalized via Diego Lopez before the break (1-1, 40th). With this 1-1 draw, Rayo Vallecano is tenth and Valencia is eleventh. The two teams are not yet maintained, but it is starting to smell good. For Real Sociedad (8th) on the other hand, it is good after a 1-1 draw against Girona. Jon Martin (28th) opened the scoring, but Cristhian Stuani equalized (66th). Girona finds itself fifteenth with one point ahead of the red zone.
