Real Madrid must continue to pave their royal road to the La Liga title. For the Merengues, it was necessary to resume work this Sunday after a setback last week against Rayo Vallecano (1-1). Still in Madrid, but this time in their lair, Carlo Ancelotti’s flock then challenged a Sevilla FC who were sick this season for the 26th day of La Liga. You will have understood, in a Santiago-Bernabeu as majestic as ever and facing a Merengues who are fully fired up in the quest for success, the situation looked complicated for the Andalusians.
A conjecture which was proven during the first act. Overwhelmed under pressure from the capital club, Sergio Ramos’ teammates lit the first fuse, but Youssef En-Nesyri narrowly missed the target (8th). A few minutes later, Lucas Vázquez thought to put the locals on the right track but Madrid’s goal was canceled following a foul by Nacho at the start of the action (10th). After a false rhythm which lasted almost half an hour, Real Madrid however put the pressure back on their opponents but TchouamĂ©ni (39th) then Vinicius (43rd) narrowly missed. And a final look from Fede Valverde (45+2nd) confirmed the logical reading of this first period: a Sevilla bracing in its own half against an omnipotent Real Madrid, but without realism.
Luka Modric rewards Real Madrid with a powerful strike
Upon returning from the locker room, the change of sides did not change the nature of the match. Nor even the change of referee when an injured Isidro DĂaz de Mera was replaced by his colleague Carlos Fernández Buergo. More incisive, the locals increased their offensives. However, even despite the inspirations of Valverde (48th), Rodrygo (54th) or Vinicius Junior (57th), the score remained blank. Opposite, the Sevillian response was timid and Isaac Romero, after a lot of work from Lucas Ocampos, was the only one to worry a serene Andrey Lunin until then (53rd). Faced with the bus posed by Quique Sanchez Flores’ troops, Real Madrid struggled more and more to find space as the minutes passed.
General league table
|
#
|
Team
|
Pts
|
J
|
DIF
|
G
|
NOT
|
D
|
BP
|
B.C.
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
|
62 |
25 |
37 |
19 |
5 |
1 |
53 |
16 |
|
2 |
|
57 |
26 |
22 |
17 |
6 |
3 |
56 |
34 |
|
3 |
|
56 |
25 |
22 |
17 |
5 |
3 |
54 |
32 |
|
4 |
|
52 |
26 |
24 |
16 |
4 |
6 |
52 |
28 |
|
5 |
|
49 |
26 |
20 |
14 |
7 |
5 |
46 |
26 |
|
6 |
|
42 |
26 |
5 |
10 |
12 |
4 |
31 |
26 |
|
7 |
|
40 |
26 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
6 |
35 |
26 |
|
8 |
|
36 |
26 |
0 |
10 |
6 |
10 |
26 |
26 |
See the full ranking
However, Real Madrid is one of the only clubs in the world, if not the only one, which is capable of leaving a Ballon d’Or on the bench. And in the pantheon of great Real Madrid players, Luka Modrić is part of the elite. Coming into play just before the last quarter of an hour (74th), the 38-year-old midfielder stood out seven minutes later. Opportunistic and catching a poor clearance at the edge of the area, Modric eliminated his opponent before firing in a shot from outside the area. At no time does the Croatian look at the goal, however, he has the DNA of great players. A phenotype that allows him to catapult the ball into the back of the net and offer a much-deserved victory to the Merengues. With this success, Real Madrid is back on track in the standings and relegates its runner-up Girona, which plays tomorrow against Rayo Vallecano (9 p.m.), to eight points. For its part, Seville remains fifteenth and is fighting more than ever to maintain its position.
