Real Valladolid 0-1 Real Madrid: Casemiro and Courtois save the day
Los Blancos struggled but came away with the three points to close in on Atletico
It wasn’t pretty but Real Madrid earned a narrow 1-0 win at Real Valladolid on a chilly Saturday night.
It was Casemiro’s fifth league goal of the season which won it, with Los Blancos without goalscorer and talisman Karim Benzema.
“We’re missing many players, so it’s hard, but the win today is to the merit of the whole team,” said the Brazilian midfielder.
“Everyone is important, Thibaut with his saves, he’s a great player, but we can’t talk about just one player we have to talk about all the work.
“We want to win the league again and there are still 42 points to go. We know it will be hard but we want to win it and still believe in it.”
Madrid’s performance was nothing special but at the same time it was gritty and determined for the most part, and it leaves them three points behind Atletico after they slipped up at Levante, albeit having played an extra game.
Zinedine Zidane's side were lucky not to go behind when Ferland Mendy inexplicably played a perfect cross into his own area for Fabian Orellana but Courtois made an excellent save.
Casemiro had other plans and after two misses earlier in the game, made it third time lucky from Toni Kroos's ball in the 65th minute and it proved decisive.
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