Real Madrid 3-1 Sevilla: Vazquez and Valverde claim the points for hosts

Game is over and the final score is Real Madrid 3-1 Sevilla. Here is the match report.

Match Report

The Fede Express delivered on time again with eight minutes left to send an unstoppable shot past Sevilla keeper Bono and finally kill-off defiant Sevilla. He hobbled off at the end after a clash with Papu Gomez, but that was the only bad new on a night when Madrid overcame a mini Sevilla comeback to pick up another impressive win.

They were showing off the family treasure before kick-off with Thibaut Courtois handed his recently-won Yashin trophy by Iker Casillas, and Zinedine Zidane also out in the driving rain to hand Karim Benzema his Ballon d’Or.

Benzema followed Zidane and Casillas back under cover to watch the game – a muscle problem meant the forward was not risked.

Madrid were ahead on five minutes when the electric Vinicius broke down the left and into the area before sliding a pass through a crowded six-yard box to Luka Modric who scored from close range.

Ferenc Puskas once scored for Madrid aged 38 years and 233 days, and Alfredo di Stefano managed it at 37 years and 255 days – Modric had become the club’s third oldest scorer just 43 days after his 37th birthday.

Madrid were in control for the rest of the first half with Sevilla not really causing Courtois any problems but things changed after the break.

On 55 minutes Sevilla were level and it was two touches with the outside of the foot that brought the goal. First Gonzalo Montiel played an outside of the foot pass that split the Madrid defence and Eric Lamela ran on to it and, from the tightest of angles, and with the outside of his left foot, sent his shot past Courtois.

Isco volleyed into the side netting after Jesus Navas crossed from the right as Sevilla looked to build on their equalizer. Lamela then curled a shot wide. Madrid were rocking back on their heels having been in control.

The problem with trying to beat Madrid is that you beat the team on the pitch and then you have to beat the bench. On 77 minutes Marco Asensio and Lucas Vazquez came on for Luka Modric and Dani Carvajal and two minutes later they combined to score.

Vinicius’ unselfishness was key too. Asensio played the pass through to the Brazilian and he could have finished himself but instead he squared the ball to Lucas who scored to make it 2-1.

And a further two minutes later it was over as a contest as Valverde let fly leaving Bono in the Sevilla goal without a prayer.

Madrid had been shaken, and they were stirred into action – finding another gear to take all three points and extend their lead at the top. The only dark cloud for Madrid - apart from those that had soaked the pitch before kick-off - was the sight of hobbling on the final whistle - he is the last man they, and Uruguay, need to lose right now.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

5' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla (Modric)

19' Alaba's free kick wide out

36' Yellow Card! Aurélien Tchouameni booked

43' Vinicius missed good chance

45' Navas' shot  stopped

53' GOAL! Real Madrid 1-1 Sevilla (Lamela)

71' CHANCE! Vinicius' shot wide out

78' GOAL! Real Madrid 2-1 Sevilla (Vazquez)

80' GOAL! Real Madrid 3-1 Sevilla (Valverde)

Line-ups

Real Madrid XI: Modric, Kroos, Alaba, Courtois, Carvajal, F Mendy, Valverde, Militao, Aurélien Tchouameni, Vinicius, Rodrygo

Subs: Hazard, Nacho, Rudiger, Vazquez, Odriozola, Vallejo, Asensio, Andriy Lunin, Eduardo Camavinga, Luis López, Álvaro Rodríguez

Sevilla XI: J. Navas, Rakitic, Lamela, Gudelj, Isco, Alex Telles, Bounou, Oliver Torres, Jordan, Teixeira, Gonzalo Montiel

Subs: Gomez, Delaney, Dmitrovic, Suso, Januzaj, K. Dolberg, Rafa Mir, En-Nesyri, José Ángel Carmona, Alberto Flores