Madrid 2-1 Sevilla: Zidane's side reach La Liga top thanks to Casemiro's brace

Casemiro proved the unlikely hero for Real Madrid as his second-half double proved enough to see off Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla.

Match Report

Real Madrid moved three points clear of Barcelona at the top of LaLiga as Casemiro's double earned a hard-fought 2-1 win over Sevilla at Santiago Bernabeu.

Fresh from their penalty shootout victory over Atletico Madrid in the Supercopa de Espana, injury-hit Madrid were largely underwhelming until a moment of quality from Casemiro broke the deadlock shortly before the hour on Saturday.

Indeed, Sevilla thought they had taken the lead through Luuk de Jong's header midway through the first half, but Julen Lopetegui's luck was out against his former club as VAR came to Los Blancos' rescue.

La Liga Standings

Match Events

12' CLOSE! Vaclik denies Kroos's effort

Modric uses his quick feet to skip past the challenge of Vazquez to almost encroach on the edge of the Sevilla bos, but the midfielder instead decides to lay it back to Kroos who whips a long-range effort straight into the hands of Vaclik.

37' Yellow Card! Modric booked

Modric is shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Fernando inside the Sevilla half.

57' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla (Casemiro)

Casemiro makes it 1-0 to Madrid! A patient passage of build-up play results in Casemiro playing a neat one-two with Jovic on the edge of the box, with the striker flicking it into his teammate’s path on the right-hand side of the box, and Casemiro then lifts the ball over the goalkeeper and into the bottom left-hand corner from a tight angle.

64' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Sevilla (Luuk de Jong)

Madrid are not in front for long as El-Haddadi drives towards the edge of the right-hand side of the box before going to ground, and De Jong then picks up the loose ball and cuts inside before curling a pinpoint effort into the bottom left-hand corner.

69' GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Sevilla (Casemiro)

Madrid sprays the ball wide to Lucas Vazquez on the right flank, and he then floats a dangerous first-time delivery into the box which Casemiro rises to nod into the bottom right-hand corner.

Line-ups

Real Madrid XI: Modric, Kroos, Marcelo, Courtois, Casemiro, Carvajal, Varane, Vazquez, Jovic, Militao, Rodrygo

Subs: Benzema, Isco, Areola, Nacho, Ferland Mendy, Brahim, Vinicius

Sevilla XI: J. Navas, Banega, Vaclik, Vazquez, Fernando, Luuk de Jong, Gudelj, Carlos, Munir, Reguilon, Kounde

Subs: Carrico, Escudero, Nolito, Bounou, Lopes, Oliver Torres, En-Nesyri