After Real Madrid’s last-minute victory in Valencia (1-2) on Friday evening at Mestalla, in a late match on the 12th day of La Liga, find out what our editorial staff liked… and didn’t like so much.
TOPS
Luka Modric et Jude Bellingham salvateurs
Coming into play at the very end of the match (80th), veteran Luka Modric completed a magnificent action initiated by Brahim Diaz and Jude Bellingham with a sharp right, synonymous with an equalizer for the Madrilenians (85th) who were, then, at 10 against 11 and in the middle of a nightmare. The English midfielder was responsible for offering victory to the White House (90th + 6), taking advantage of a huge error from Valencian central defender Hugo Guillamón. The number 5 of Casa Blanca recovered perfectly after missing a penalty collected by Kylian Mbappé a few minutes earlier (55th).
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Kylian Mbappé shy then incisive
Author of a first period without flavor and little in sight, the Real scorer showed a completely different side in the second act. The captain of the French team first collected a penalty for his team (55th), subsequently missed by Jude Bellingham, before finding the net and finally being flagged offside (60th). The exclusion of Vinicius Jr (78th) allowed the Merengue number 9 to rush into space much more and put more weight on the opposing defense. Even if he did not score at Mestalla, Mbappé sparked the Madrid revolt.
FLOPS
Vinicius broke down (again)
While he created numerous chances in the first half and was Madrid’s most dangerous offensive player, the Brazilian gradually sank until he was excluded from the match (78th). Chambered by the opposing goalkeeper, Real’s number 7 was unable (as usual) to manage his emotions and physically attacked the Valencia goalkeeper, reducing his team to 10 against 11, then trailing by the score. To be crowned Golden Ball one day, the Auriverde international will have to be less emotional, childish and in control of his emotions.
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Pablo Morano / REUTERS
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Valencia-Real Madrid: relive the return from hell of the Merengue to win at the last minute at Mestalla
Hugo Guillamón killed his team
Coming into play in the 68th minute, the Valencia central defender simply offered victory to Jude Bellingham and Real Madrid on a platter, by signing a fatal loss of the ball in front of his area and trampling on the valiant work carried out by his teammates during Almost 100 minutes of play. Cruel but the Spanish player has blood on his feet.
