Real Madrid overcome battling Valladolid to end poor run
Two goals from Karim Benzema and one apiece for Luka Modric and Raphael Varane saw Santiago Solari's side pick up all three points at the Estadio José Zorrilla.
Real Valladolid vs Real Madrid: as it happened
Real Madrid ended a three-game losing streak by winning 4-1 at Real Valladolid in a chaotic game on Sunday in which the hosts had two goals ruled out, missed a penalty and hit the woodwork while the visitors had Casemiro sent off late on.
Karim Benzema scored twice after the interval with a penalty and a header from a corner to give Santiago Solari's side a 3-1 lead, after Raphael Varane struck in the 34th minute to cancel out Anuar Tuhami's goal for Valladolid five minutes earlier.
Ballon d'Or winner Luka Modric then showed his class to stretch Madrid's lead in the 85th after Casemiro was dismissed for earning two bookings.
Modric's goal completed a highly entertaining and eventful match at the Estadio José Zorrilla, which experienced a power cut before kick off, although the game began on schedule.
The victory is unlikely to extend Argentine Solari's stay as coach, with reports in the Spanish media predicting he will be sacked on Monday having only taken the reins in mid-November.
Madrid had endured one of their worst ever weeks before the game, exiting the Champions League in the last 16 with a 4-1 home defeat by Ajax Amsterdam after sustaining successive losses to Barcelona which ended their hopes of winning any silverware.
Real Valladolid vs Real Madrid: preview
Can things get any worse for Real Madrid? This is the question that will be answered after tonight's LaLiga action at the Estadio Jose Zorilla as relegation threatened Valladolid welcome Santiago Solari's wounded men after the Argentine coach oversaw what many feel is the worst week ever in the history of the Chamartin club after well documented exist from the Copa del Rey and Champions League with a 0-1 El Clasico defeat sandwiched in between.
Speculation is rife that this will be the last game for Solari as Real Madrid coach with word on the street suggesting that Jose Mourinho is poised to take over irrespective of the result of tonight's game. Florentino Perez however is facing stiff resistance from the other board members urging the president not to opt for the Portuguese which may see Solari survive through to season end. No Gareth Bale or Isco in the Madrid squad decimated with injuries which also see Carvajal and Vinicius forced to miss the action.
Valladolid coach Sergio Gonzalez sees tonight's game as a perfect opportunity for his struggling side to hit the "reset button" after a poor run of games which has seen the Castilla y Leon based side lose four of the past five games with the only point being a draw at home to fellow strugglers Villarreal.
Can Valladolid "fish in the tumultuous river" to coin a direct translation from Spanish or will Madrid galvanise and play for their under fire coach? Tuning in to the next 90 minutes of LaLiga is the only way to find out!