Real Madrid 1-0 Real Valladolid: Vinicius off the bench to score
LaLiga live: Real Madrid 1-0 Real Valladolid
A vital three points for Real Madrid that sees Zidane's side share top spot in the LaLiga table with Villarreal, Valencia and Getafe after a dogged display against Valladolid where both goalkeepers were worthy men of the match.
Madrid were quicker out of the blocks with Luka Jovic going close twice for the home side with the striker eager to impress in a rare start as rumours of a departure from the club grow.
It remained goalless at the interval with Sergio's men defending in a well disciplined and organised manner and it took a brief lapse of concentration in the 65th minute when Bruno lost possession and the ball fell to Vinicius who tucked it past Roberto.
Courtois was solid in the Real Madrid goal and pulled off a countless number of stops to keep his side in the match. Three valuable points for Real Madrid as attention briefly turns tomorrow to the UEFA Champions League 2020/21 group stage draw.
FT. All over in Valdebebas. Three valuable points for Zidane's side as they move joint top of LaLiga.
Vinicius breaks and in front of Roberto attempts a lob but the fall falls tanely into the keepers hands.
Guardiola fouled by Ramos and the visitors are offered a last chance with Hervias to take the free kick. Carvajal wins the breaking ball and Madrid counter. Into the final minute we go as Marcelo is carded for a late challenge.
Into added time we go with 3 minutes to be added
Valladolid have picked up a gear and it's now Madrid who look the weary side as Hervias rifles from long range with the ball drifting high and wide.
Mayoral set to make an appearance for Real Madrid with Benzema set to make way for the forward. Michel off for Pucela with Jawad El Yamiq coming on.
Valladolid serm to have run out of steam with the second goal for the home side the more likely with the visitors tiring.
This win will see Zidane's side go joint top with 7 points where the join Valencia, Getafe and Villarreal ... Madrid have played just 3 games though.
Into the final ten we go. Madrid have been solid without overly impressing.
Modric strikes the upright as Valladolid yet again slip up with a poor clearance.
Real Madrid will be tuned into the usual media outlets tomorrow evening as the draw for the group stage of the 2020/21 Champions League will be drawn by UEFA.
Yellow for Casemiro for a rash challenge ... both sides on one yellow a piece.
Asensio, Benzema and Vinicus break but Carnero is on hand to slide in and the ball rolls out of play. Madrid could have finished the game off there with more composure.
This time it's Roberto in the Valladolid goal who is called into action with the stopper palming away. Fine displays from both keepers tonight.
Sergio going for the draw as Toni Villa replaces Weismann and Guardiola replaces Waldo.
Courtois again this time depriving Waldo from hitting the target following a long range effort. The Belgian is in inspired form tonight.
Vinicius impeded by Bruno and the defender earns the first card of the evening.
Wesimann strikes and Courtois saves. The visitors go close but it looks like it will take something special tonight from Valladolid to beat the Belgian stopper.
Valladolid defender Bruno will look back at the repeat of the goal and ask himself why he felt a drag back on the edge of his own area was a good idea.
Vinicius bagging his sixth goal in a Real Madrid shirt.
A brief lack of concentration from the visiting side and Madrid punish the mistake.
Vinicius is in an offside position but the ball comes off a defender as the Brazilian slots home. Terrible defending from Sergio's side.
Possession and stats at the 65' mark
- 0
- 15
- 30
- 45
- 60
- 75
- 90
- 88%11%
- 62%37%
- 66%33%
- 77%22%
- 68%31%
- 65%34%
- 47%52%
- 39%60%
- 65%34%
Perez on for Orellana and Andre replaces Fede (Valladolid changes)
Great work from Marcelo as he skips into the area but with the ball on his less favoured right foot, blazes high and wide.
Marcos Andre poised to come on for Sergio's men
Orellana and Wesimann looking tired and Sergio will be looking, no doubt to bring on fresh legs for 'Pucela'. Not a hot evening in the Spanish capital with the temperature current 16C/61F.
Sweeping change from Zizou. Did Jovic perform adequately to ensure he stays with the Spanish side as rumopurs of an exit grow?
Asensio, Vinicius and Carvajal getting ready for action.....with Ordrizola, Isco and Jovic making way.
Weismann breaks free and fires on goal and it takes a fine stop from Courtois to stop the visitors from taking the lead.
Looks like we'll be seeing Vinicius imminently with the Brazilian winger getting into shape ahead of an appearance as Waldo goes close for Valladolid driving the ball across the face of Courtois' goal.
The save from Roberto was top class but Casemiro really should have driven the ball home from short range, far from a howler but not one for the Casemiro show-reel !
Roberto pulls off an incredible stop from a Jovic header and Casemiro whacks the ball off the crossbar from the parry, the whistle then sound for an infringement but Valladolid riding their luck somewhat there.
Weissman is full of running for the visitors but cuts a solitary figure leading the Valladolid line on his own.
Valladolid get us underway for the second half as Vinicius warms up on the touchline.
A NY Yankees baseball cap clad Eden Hazard watches on from the Valdebeas stand tonight cutting a frustrated figure after the Belgian discovered that a hamstring issue will rule him out of action for approximately a month.
In the other LaLiga game also currently in play, newly promoted Elche lead 0-1 at Eibar. That game too is at the interval.
Has Jovic impressed? Yes and no, the striker has come close but should have converted the second chance that fell to him but watched as his left footed effort went inches wide. That's what defines a top striker with the top marksmen in the global game ensuring that the inches are inside the post and not outside.
We reach the 45 minute mark and the whistle sound for both sides to take a break after the endeavours of the 45' of action. Madrid enjoying the better chances and bulk of possession but are up against an extremely well drilled Valladolid side who have caused a few problems for Zidane's rear guard.
A nudge from Jovic which is called up with referee Soto Grado enjoying a relatively incident free game so far this evening.
Drifting towards the interval as Madrid continue to forge looking for the opening goal as Waldo goes close for the visitors. The side from Castilla y Leon offering a fine display that is out of touch with their current league standing.
Zidane offers instructions from the touchline.
Jovic laments a missed opportunity at the Alfredo di Stefano.
Less than ten minutes remaining and Sergio will be the happier of the managers as his side hold firm despite the men in white enjoying the bulk of the possession and chances.
Jovic again with a fierce drive which hits the side netting. Good work again from Marcelo down the Valladolid left hand side with the Brazilian looking sharp tonight.
The visitors enjoying their best spell of the night as they win a free kick some way out as Michel is set to loft the ball into the Madrid box. Cleared but the visitors maintain the level of pressure.
Courtois called into action tipping a lofted ball away from the danger zone. Valladolid win their second corner of the game with Chilean Orellana to take.
Valladolid looking highly disciplined and organised defensively with banks of brightly colored shirts present to snuff out the waves of Real Madrid attacks.
Oscar Plano is free but fails to find the target as the ball ricochets off Odriozola and away from the danger zone. A fine counter from the visitors.
Another overhit cross from Real Madrid with Isco the culprit this time, that's now 2/3 balls that have drifted aimlessly wide or been dealt with easily by the Valladolid keeper.
135/178 accurate passes from the men in white shirts so far this evening.
Sergio avails of a pause in the play to offer Weissman some instructions.....Little from the Israel striker to get excited about so far this evening.
The setting for tonight's action.... the compact Alfredo di Stefano in Valdebebas.
Still just that one Jovic effort to talk about in terms of clear scoring opportunities. And right on cue the striker fires over with a left footed effort after great work from Valverde. The Serbian forward would have rathered the ball on his favoured right foot but a great chance to open the scoring.
Very, very one sided here with Madrid enjoying the bulk of possession after 15'.
Jovic looking lively tonight. Pressure on the Serbian international to recreate the form he displayed at Eintracht Frankfurt but has yet to display in the famous white shirt.
Madrid go close as Valverde forces a fine save from Roberto after excellent build-up play from Jovic and Marcelo. Great reflex save from the Valladolid stopper.
Valladolid enjoying some possession now with Michel at the heart of their passing.
Despite having secured four points from tricky away trips against Betis and Real Sociedad, Zidane's men have yet to find a coherent rhythm with flashes of decent play.
Weissman finds space in the box but fails to connect with the ball and Courtois gathers comfortably.
5' gone and Madrid win the first corner of the night which is swung over by Isco but the men in pink and purple manager to clear the danger.
Weissman caught offside. Curious to see how the former Wolfsberger man adapts to the game in Spain.
Real Madrid enjoying all the early possession with the game being staged almost exclusively in the Valladolid half.
Given the ongoing construction works on the Bernabeu and the situation with the Covid pandemic where no fans can attend top flight games presently in Spain, it's suggested that Madrid will play the entire 2020/21 season at Valdebebas.
Real Madrid get us underway at Valdebebas as match official Soto Grado sounds his whistle ....
Real Madrid in their iconic all white kit. The visitors in a rather snazzy pink and purple shirt..... All set, pennants exchanged, pleasantries over and the action seconds away.
The teams are in the tunnel at the Alfredo di Stefano as the matchday 4 of the 2020/21 LaLiga clash is just minutes away.
It's a LaLiga debut for Israeli international striker Shon Weissman with the player moving to Spain from the Austrian top flight apparently after a phone call from Valladolid president Ronaldo !
How do the AS English team see tonight's game going?
Paul: RMCF 4-1 R.Valladolid
David: RMCF 3-1 R.Valladolid
Cal: RMCF 3-1 R.Valladolid
The other LaLiga game starting at 2130 (CEST) features 18th (Eibar) face 20th (Elche) with the newly promoted side having played just one game so far in the new season.
In the other LaLiga game played earlier, bad news for Pablo Machin as his Alaves side fell yet again, this time losing to Villarreal (3-1) and the Basque side have only managed a solitary point from a possible 12. This is also Alaves' centenary year and pressure will be on 'El Glorioso' to deliver on the pitch.
More on the possibility of Jovic going out on loan with Zidane apparently having given his approval for Luka Jovic to go out on loan for the remainder of the season. The Real Madrid striker is expected to join one of three Italian clubs before Monday. Jovic has three proposals to think over - firm offers from Roma, Inter Milan and AC Milan, which came in in that order.
Actually Sergio's men now occupy one of the automatic relegation places following earlier results with Huesca securing a point as part of their 0-0 draw at home to At. Madrid
Real Madrid coach Zidane speaking ahead of tonight's game maintains he is happy with his current squad: "We already have a big squad, why would we want to add to it?"
Real Valladolid boss Sergio Gonzalez on facing Real Madrid in the Spanish capital: "It's a game for us to be daring, not be over awed and maintain our high levels of confidence".
The inclusion of Jovic and Odriozola seem to have generated a few eyebrows in the social media spheres with Isco a natural replacement for the injured Toni Kroos.
Luka Jovic gets a start with the Serbian rumoured to be heading for an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu club. Big chance tonight for the striker to redeem himself with a place in the 11.
Valladolid starting line up confirmed:
Real Madrid 20/21 season
Tonight's visitors Valladolid languish in 17th place in the table and have yet to record a win in their three outings this season and would be no doubt happy with the result from the corresponding fixture last season when 'Pucela' recorded a 1-1 draw at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The major talking point leading up to tonight's game is the absence of Belgian international Eden Hazard with news breaking this afternoon that the player will miss 'up to four weeks' with a hamstring issue. A blow for Zidane and ongoing frustration for the winger.
Hello and welcome to our live coverage from Valdebebas as Real Madrid welcome Real Valladolid with the action getting underway at 2130 (CEST).