Actual Madrid had Vinicius Junior to thank as they got here from behind to beat Espanyol 4-1 on Saturday.
Thibaut Courtois’ unlucky personal aim early within the second half put the strain on, however Madrid responded by bringing Vinicius off the bench and had been celebrating Dani Carvajal’s equaliser simply moments later.
Rodrygo tapped house a second with quarter-hour to go, earlier than Vinicius grabbed his deserved aim to place the sport to mattress, and there was nonetheless time for a late Kylian Mbappe penalty to ship the followers house pleased.
How the sport unfolded
Madrid noticed loads of half-chances inside the primary ten minutes, coming closest when Mbappe’s stabbed strike was properly deflected by Joan Garcia.
Garcia as soon as once more bought right down to deny Mbappe after some sensible passing led to a fierce strike from the sting of the field, with Madrid seeking to benefit from their 82% possession contained in the opening 25 minutes.
Jude Bellingham struck from vary however once more despatched his effort proper at Garcia who, whereas clearly the busier of the 2 goalkeepers, did not have to do something spectacular as Madrid had been compelled to accept formidable, unconvincing efforts within the first half.
Madrid headed into the break with 77% off the ball to their identify and 14 pictures on aim, however they might have only a few complaints concerning the rating.
Out of nowhere, Espanyol almost took the lead shortly after the restart. Left-back Carlos Romero unleashed a fierce effort from vary which fizzed previous the put up and had an unsure Courtois scrambling to get throughout.
The shock lead did arrive quickly after, nonetheless. Jofre Carreras’s low cross took a deflection off Arda Guler and located its method into the again of the web by way of the legs of Courtois to steer Espanyol forward 55 minutes in. In response, on got here Vinicius.
Three minutes later, it was 1-1. The aim was pretty easy to the opener, with Bellingham’s low drive squirming underneath him and nearly stopping on the goal-line for the onrushing Carvajal to thump house.
Vinicius’ introduction helped flip the sport on its head and the winger created a go-ahead aim for Rodrygo with quarter-hour to go.
A surprising outside-of-the-boot move beat the offside entice completely and landed proper within the path of Rodrygo, who might hardly miss from six yards.
The creator turned goalscorer nearly straight after as Vinicius collected Mbappe’s move and slotted house to take away any doubt concerning the consequence.
Within the last couple of minutes, Endrick was awarded a penalty after profitable a prolonged grapple with Romero, and Mbappe made no mistake from 12 yards.
GK: Thibaut Courtois – 5/10 – Had little or no to do apart from decide the ball out the again of the web. Not lots he might have completed.
RB: Dani Carvajal – 6/10 – Sloppy in possession and caught out of place for Espanyol’s opener. Nearly made up for it with the simplest aim conceivable.
CB: Eder Militao – 7/10 – Surprisingly threatening within the Espanyol field. Popped up with a sensible move extra usually than you’d anticipate.
CB: Aurelien Tchouameni – 6/10 – Snug and composed on the again. Given time to make use of his passing vary.
LB: Fran Garcia – 6/10 – Energetic down the left flank as he tried to get Madrid’s assault firing.
DM: Federico Valverde – 7/10 – Hoovered up free balls like a person possessed. Key to Madrid’s fixed strain.
DM: Luka Modric – 7/10 – Pulled the strings with some beautiful passes in behind Espanyol’s defence. Most likely deserved an help.
RM: Arda Guler – 7/10 – Buzzed round with actual vitality as he tried to hyperlink up the midfield and assault. Concerned in a variety of good moments. Unlucky with the deflection for the personal aim.
AM: Jude Bellingham – 8/10 – An all-round exhibiting which noticed Bellingham fly into crunching challenges and attempt to drive his method by way of Espanyol’s defence. Unsurprisingly impressed the equaliser.
LM: Rodrygo – 7/10 – Strong for almost all of the sport however his spectacular work charge led to a deserved aim.
ST: Kylian Mbappe – 7/10 – Positively not his greatest efficiency however confirmed his selfless aspect to play by way of Vinicius for the third aim. Slotted house a late penalty.
Substitutes
SUB: Vinicius Junior (55′ for Guler) – 8/10
SUB: Lucas Vazquez (61′ for Carvajal) – 6/10
SUB: Antonio Rudiger (83′ for Rodrygo) – N/A
SUB: Endrick (83′ for Bellingham) – N/A
Subs not used: Andriy Lunin (GK), Fran Gonzalez (GK), Ferland Mendy, Jesus Vallejo
Supervisor
Carlo Ancelotti – 6/10 – Took the danger of resting Vinicius which didn’t repay. Smart to desert hope of protecting the Brazilian on the bench when Madrid went 1-0 down.
