Real Madrid smiles and wins again! Winner this Saturday against Villarreal (2-0), the club from the Spanish capital – with Kylian Mbappé starting – joins FC Barcelona at the top of the ranking. Merengue notes!
The content is still not reassuring, but at least Real Madrid returns to victory! After the draw against Atlético de Madrid (1-1) and especially the defeat against LOSC in the Champions League (1-0), Carlo Ancelotti’s men won this Saturday against Villarreal (2-0). ).
With a starting Kylian Mbappé – although he was not selected in Blue – and under the eyes of the newly retired Toni Kroos, the Merengue were initially surprised by the attractive approach of Marcelino’s men. After a delicate quarter of an hour and in favor of the visitors, Federico Valverde gave his team the advantage with a signature strike, before Vinicius doubled the lead with an equally sublime missile in the second half.
A gap that the Yellow Submarine will never have made up for, despite an ultimately fairly balanced game. Thanks to these three points, Real temporarily catches up with FC Barcelona at the top of La Liga, Villarreal remains 3rd but can look in the rearview mirror… The notes of the Madrilenians!
Little used, the Ukrainian still reassured with a strike from Pepe well captured in the 22nd minute of play, and he also accompanied Baena’s off-target free kick at the hour mark. of his injured teammate Thibaut Courtois, Lunin will have had a quiet evening.
A very complicated start to the match during which he was caught behind his back, and where he even lost the ball against the pressure of the Yellow Submarine (17th). Then, he put his ideas back together like his team. Strong defensively and available up front, Carvajal will have run a lot this evening. Not always useful, his projections had the merit of existing and creating space for his teammates.
Hit at the very end of the game, Carvajal was taken out on a stretcher (90+3rd) after a shock to the right knee with Yeremi Pino. The right back was in tears, and screamed in pain after the contact.
Central defender this Saturday evening, the usual midfielder helped out as best he could against Villarreal. Clean in his alignment and solid in the aerial duel, the Frenchman produced a correct copy.
Upon returning from the locker room, we thought he had conceded a penalty before the referee signaled Barry was offside in the action (50th).
We will still see that his team conceded more chances than in previous outings. A coincidence? A coincidence? Or a consequence of his presence in central defense? Everyone will have their own idea.
At the end of the game, he repositioned himself in midfield following the entry of Eder Militao.
Surprised like many of his teammates by the aggressive and enterprising start to the match of Marcelino’s men, Rüdiger saw the opponent put him in difficulty during the first 15 minutes. Then, when the balance of power was reversed, the German was logically put in less danger. He could have doubled the lead with a header after half an hour of play, from a free kick kicked by Modric. His attempt went over the crossbar.
Still as solid defensively, like this tackle bordering on a foul on Nicolas Pepe after returning from the locker room, the French full-back was not really put in danger. Villarreal quickly understood that the left wing was his territory.
Back as a starter in La Liga, the Frenchman was interesting. His technical quality allowed him to escape effectively – and elegantly – from the opposing pressure, like this oriented ball catch in the 20th minute which put him in the direction of the game and which eliminated his direct opponent.
A very different profile from that of Tchouaméni, used to the position at the start of the season.
Very mobile, Camavinga did not hide. The Frenchman projected himself, but also wandered laterally to constantly propose solutions to his teammates.
Released in the 70th, replaced by Eder Militao.
Despite all the exceptional offensive players on paper, it was Federico Valverde who opened the scoring after a quarter of an hour of play. From a corner played behind, the Uruguayan unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the area which, countered, comes to pierce the nets of Conde (14th).
He too did not seem to have a fixed position, just like Camavinga. The number 8 was present at the first restart, but also at the conclusion of the actions, and, as usual, he was the first merengue in the counter-pressing to recover the leather.
Decisive passer on Valverde’s goal thanks to a subtle combination on a corner, the Croatian midfielder was not as prominent as his other teammates. With a volume of play obviously less important than Valverde or Camavinga, Modric was still able to distinguish himself with a few technical touches of which he alone has the secret. In a hybrid central/right midfielder role, he was able to save himself while working both offensively and defensively.
Replaced in the 91st by Lucas Vazquez.
Clever, the Madrid number 5 intelligently steps aside to put Valverde in the best conditions on the opening score (14th). Twenty minutes later, the Uruguayan could have returned the device with a silky delivery, but the Englishman crossed his shot slightly too far from 20m. Bellingham has often found himself in this zone, even if he has not always been touched, or seen, by his partners.
Capable of technical and/or physical dazzling performances this evening, Jude Bellingham’s performance still leaves us wanting more.
Starting to everyone’s surprise since he was not selected for the French team by Didier Deschamps on Thursday, Kylian Mbappé was in good shape against Villarreal. Despite a few situations of failure, like this failed face-to-face at full speed in the 39th minute, the captain of the Blues was available and willing.
Physically, no real visible alert for number 9 who was obviously closely monitored this Saturday evening. On the other hand, regarding his evening performance, the alarm bell may be necessary…
Whether he was arrested or found deep, the former Parisian generally failed in everything he undertook this evening. This fortnight’s truce is likely to do him great good.
Released in the 70th, replaced by Rodrygo.
Not very successful in the first 70 minutes, the Brazilian came out of his box with a stroke of genius to double the lead! Found full axis, Vinicius does not ask any questions and shoots Conde from outside the area. A splendid goal which had the merit of saving his evening performance which, without this brilliant strike, remained very poor and disappointing.
Visibly hit in the shoulder, number 7 is released in the 78th, replaced by Arda Güler.
