Real Madrid struggle against Granada but crucially claim all three points

Real Madrid struggle against Granada but crucially claim all three points

Thibaut Courtois pasó muchos apuros para no encajar más goles
Thibaut Courtois pasó muchos apuros para no encajar más goles | sport

Real Madrid took a major step towards winning this season’s LaLiga but were made to fight until the end to see off a very gallant Granada side.

MATCH FACTS
LaLiga Santander

GRA

1 ________________ 2

RMA

LINE UP

Granada

Rui Silva; Foulquier (Montoro, 54'), Victor Díaz (Puertas, 46), Germán, Duarte, Gil Dias; Azez, Fede Vico (Eteki, 75'), Herrera (Antoñín, 75'); Machis (Ismail, 83') y Carlos Fernández.

Real Madrid

Courtois; Dani Carvajal, Varane, Sergio Ramos, Mendy; Modric, Fede Valverde (Marco Asensio, 63'), Casemiro, Kroos, Isco (Rodrygo (63'); y Benzema.

Goles

0-1 M.10 Mendy. 0-2 M.16 Benzema. 1-2 M.50 Machis.

Árbitro

Jaime Latre (aragonés). TA: Duarte (46') / Mendy (17'), Benzema (88'), Courtois (93').

Incidencias

Partido correspondiente a la jornada 36 de LaLiga Santander disputado en el Nuevo Los Cármenes sin público.

The warning signs were there early for Granada when Isco found too much space out wide but his effort was too central to trouble Silva. Barely five minutes later and the hosts were duly punished for standing off the roaming Real Madrid attackers.

Ferland Mendy only had Benzema to aim for in the box so opted to cut inside, then back between the full back and centre back. The angle was against the Frenchman but he drilled it high into the roof of the net, leaving Silva stunned.

Granada were struggling to deal with the movement of a Madrid side that had Modric pulling the strings. With less than 20 minutes on the clock, a more familiar face got his name on the scoresheet for Los Blancos. Once again it was down Granada’s right where Madrid attacked. Benzema drove into the box and was allowed the time to move it onto his right foot. 2-0.

It looked set to be a long night for Granada. Over and over again, despite having five at the back, Madrid were able to get into the box. Courtois was forced into one smart save but that was about all the hosts produced in the opening period. Modric found Benzema but the Frenchman couldn’t find the corner as he did earlier on.

Yet the second half saw a completely different contest. Madrid looked leggy, having relied on the same core of players throughout this restart, whereas Granada looked refreshed and immediately put pressure on the title challengers. It didn’t take long for that pressure to pay off.

Casemiro was robbed of possession by Herrera and Granada suddenly had the numbers advantage, with Carvajal caught high up the field. It was sent out wide to Machis and the Venezuelan made no mistake, slotting it through Courtois’ legs to reduce the deficit to one.

Zidane threw on Asensio and Rodrygo for the disappointing Valverde and fading Isco. That extra energy was needed but Granada weren’t overawed and showed why they are one of the toughest sides to face in the division.

A whipped cross found Antonin and his header forced Courtois into action, producing a full-stretch save to deny the substitute. It eventually came back into the box, evading attackers and defenders, before falling at the feet of makeshift full-back Azeez. He opted for placement rather than power, beating Courtois, but Ramos was there to clear it off the line.

To show how much Madrid were hanging on, Courtois was booked in injury-time for taking too long with a goal kick. But that won’t matter to Zidane and his team as the final whistle blew. They’ve got one hand on the LaLiga title now.

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