26/8/2024–|Last update: 8/26/202401:02 AM (Makkah Time)
Despite Real Madrid’s 3-0 win over Valladolid in the Spanish Football League, the European and Spanish champions’ lacklustre performance in their first two matches in La Liga heralds a difficult season for the royals.
It was clear, especially in the first half, that French star Kylian Mbappe did not adapt to the royal team in his first match at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The performance of Brazilian Vinicius tended towards showmanship and individual performance, and it became clear how much the royal team missed its star, who announced his retirement at the end of last season, German Toni Kroos, who was the balance in the middle of the field and one of the main attacking engines with his precise passes.
This lackluster performance was not only the result of today’s match, but it was also prevalent among Real Madrid players during their disappointing draw for their fans in the first round match, in which the Royal Club escaped a certain defeat and snatched a 1-1 draw with its host, Real Mallorca, last week.
The Spanish newspaper Marca was not exaggerating when it said after the match that Real Madrid missed Kroos’ presence on the field more than it missed the departure of its top scorers, Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema.
Disastrous first half for Real Madrid
After a disastrous first half, Valverde broke through Valladolid’s defensive solidity in the first half with a low rocket from a direct free kick to score Real Madrid’s first goal.
In a shot that was common last season, Vinicius passed from the left side and passed a low cross to Mbappe, who failed to put it in the net, although he is used to translating more difficult ones into goals, whether with the French national team or Paris Saint-Germain.
Endrick and Diaz steal Mbappe’s day
Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti realized that the duo Vinicius and Mbappe would not be able to increase the lead and secure his team from the dangerous counterattacks of Valladolid, who came close to scoring if it weren’t for the brilliance of Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, especially in the 51st minute when he brilliantly saved a one-on-one with Valladolid striker Victor Meseguier.
Ancelotti pushed the substitutes, who were eager to establish themselves in the starting lineup, led by the Moroccan star Ibrahim Diaz and the promising Brazilian Endrick, who was on a date with making history, by scoring a wonderful goal from a half chance that made the spotlight shine on him in his first appearance with the Royal Club at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, after he came on as a substitute for Mbappe in the 87th minute.
Substitute Diaz lived up to his coach’s expectations and scored Real Madrid’s second goal in the 88th minute with a clever shot over Valladolid’s goalkeeper after deceiving the defence. Eight minutes later, he provided a brilliant assist from which Endrick scored the third goal for the royals with a ground shot that reveals that he is a skilled player who has the solutions to score against his opponents.
Endrick became the youngest foreign player to score for Real Madrid in the history of the Spanish League, according to the club’s official website, as he scored at the age of (18 years and 35 days), surpassing the French Raphael Varane, the former Real Madrid player, who scored in La Liga at the age of (18 years and 152 days).
The spotlight that was on Mbappe, waiting for him to shine and score in his first match at the Santiago Bernabeu, shifted to the two young stars, Endrick and Diaz, who stole the spotlight from the French star, who left frustrated.
Ancelotti praises substitutes, warns stars
After the match, Ancelotti expressed his happiness with his team’s 3-0 victory, acknowledging the unconvincing performance of his players.
“The taste of victory is always good,” Ancelotti said in a press conference. “When we win a match, I have to be happy, considering the difficulties we faced, especially in the first half when we lacked speed and the ability to be decisive. I am very happy that the two substitutes made the most of the few minutes they had.”
The Italian coach warned his substituted stars (Vinicius, Mbappe and Rodrygo), saying: “It is up to me as the coach to choose the players I think are tired. I think the players have to be more responsible in this matter. I say this here (in the press conference) because I told them in private. I have a lot of players I can count on in this team.”
Ancelotti indicated that he was not concerned about Mbappe’s struggles in attack and rejected the possibility of changing his position, asking for patience with the France captain as he adapts to his new teammates.
“Mbappé is an amazing striker, very fast, moves really well without the ball and attacks spaces. He had three or four chances in the game. He will score like he always does. He doesn’t need to play on the left or in the middle of the attack… In the end he will score goals, we just have to wait and see,” he explained.
