Real Madrid 3-1 Sevilla: Los Blancos swing it late on
A headline you've read before, probably, as Madrid netted two goals in the final stages
Real Madrid were about to drop points, until they didn’t. The league leaders, six clear of Barcelona for now, needed two late strikes from Lucas Vazquez and Fede Valverde to seal victory at the Bernabeu.
Luka Modric had sent them ahead but Erik Lamela leveled for an improved Sevilla after the break.
Even though Madrid were without Ballon d’Or winner Benzema, who presented his trophy before kick-off, they still eased to victory.
Vinicius did well to set up Modric for the opener, and Sevilla offered nothing of note in the first half.
Thibaut Courtois, back after injury, was untroubled. However, Lamela struck early in the second period to drag the visitors back into the game.
Marco Asensio, on in the 77th minute, teed up Vinicius who slid the ball across to another sub, Vazquez, to restore Madrid’s advantage in the 79th. And in the 81st, Valverde sealed the game with a cannonball of a shot.
It was Jorge Sampaoli’s first defeat since taking charge, and Madrid’s 10th victory from 11 games this season in the top flight. Ominous.
