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A penalty hat trick by Carlos Soler and an own goal by Raphael Varane saw Real Madrid beat Valencia 4-1 at the Mestalla on Sunday.
Madrid took the lead with a deflected shot from Karim Benzema in the 23rd minute, before Soler leveled from the point 12 minutes later. Thibaut Courtois had saved his initial effort and Yunus Musah scored the rebound before VAR saw players from both sides invading and the penalty had to be repeated.
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Valencia went ahead at half-time, after Varane swerved into his own goal, and could have increased their lead when Courtois flipped Kang-in Lee’s shot off the post. Soler scored his second penalty after Marcelo missed Maxi Gomez and grabbed a third to secure the win as Sergio Ramos drove inside the area.
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Positive
Despite trailing at half-time, Real Madrid played quite well in a first half that saw Luka Modric dominate midfield and the team coped without the absent Casemiro. They had more possession and more shots on goal than their opponents. At the time, some of the pre-match concerns, especially Marcelo’s selection as left-back, seemed unfounded. All that changed very soon.
Negative
Real Madrid conceded three penalties in a La Liga game for the first time. The first, when Lucas Vázquez drove, was perhaps the least egregious. Marcelo’s challenge to Gomez for the second was awkward, and then Ramos’s hand was inexplicable. Valencia played its role, but Madrid really pushed the self-destruct button.
The team’s recent record at the Mestalla is terrible, and they now have only one win in the last seven league visits. Here, they were ashamed of a Valencia stripped of its best players – Dani Parejo, Rodrigo Moreno, Ferran Torres, Francis Coquelin, with Geoffrey Kondogbia being the last to leave – in recent months.
Highlights
- Valencia sinks Real Madrid with three Soler pens Yunus Musah’s call at the USMNT and the titular Valencia are not by chance Ramos, Neymar, Beckham among the incredible tattoos of football fans
2 RelatedManager rating out of 10
5 – There were two surprise names in Zinedine Zidane’s starting lineup: Marcelo and Isco. Neither player has impressed this season and they were bold picks at Mestalla. Marcelo looked good from the start before fading, but Isco had trouble getting involved at all times.
Zidane’s substitutions were predictable, throwing over a series of attacking players as the team trailed off, but there was no sustained assault on Valencia’s goal and no clear idea of what he wanted from the team. There will be pressure on the coach now.
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best. Players submitted after 70 minutes are not rated)
GK Thibaut Courtois, 6 years old – He hit three times from the penalty spot although he saved Soler’s initial effort in the first half and got close to two others. He did very well to put his fingertips on Lee’s shot in the second half.
DF Lucas Vazquez, 5 – Bad, having done well as a right-back lately. He conceded the penalty that started Valencia’s comeback and then missed a good chance to make it 4-2.
DF Raphael Varane, 5 – He scored an unfortunate own goal. That can happen, but this was Varane’s second of the season. Varane is rarely questioned, but he needs his form to improve quickly.
DF Sergio Ramos, 5 – Mistreated by Lee early in the second half and then made a strange and unnecessary hand to give Valencia the penalty that put them 4-1 up.
Sergio Ramos of Real Madrid gave away an inexplicable handball to give Valencia their fourth goal. Getty
DF Marcelo, 5 – He looked better early on than he’s seen so far this season, against the speedy Musah, but that didn’t last. Another culprit, giving away a penalty at a crucial moment in the game.
MF Faith Valverde, 6 – Along with Modric in a midfield two, assuming more defensive responsibility without Casemiro or Toni Kroos in the team. He had a shot in the second half that almost missed.
MF Luka Modric, 7 years old – Probably the best player in Madrid. He has an unmatched ability to receive the ball in midfield, escape challenges and find space. A magnificent pass to play in Marco Asensio in the second half.
MF Isco, 4 – Very quiet again. A cross just above Asensio’s head was his only notable contribution. You keep missing out on the opportunities it gives you.
MF Marco Asensio, 5 – Called by Spain on Sunday, but it looks very bad. He fired wide from the start and had a good chance to make the 3-2 saved by The Che goalkeeper Jaume Domenech.
DEL Karim Benzema, 7 – Five goals in four games now. I had some luck with a deflection, but it was still a powerful shot from the edge of the area through a crowd of defenders. He limped with what looked like a groin injury.
PW, Vinicius, Junior, 5 – I had a bit of joy against a winger turned Daniel Wass, but that wasn’t enough. You must find some consistency. Substituted with Madrid 4-1 down.
Substitutes
FW Rodrygo, 6 – He replaced Asensio but was calm.
MF Martin Odegaard, 6 years old – Released in an attempt to cause a comeback. Assisted by Vázquez to shoot.
MF Toni Kroos, NR – He entered through Valverde.
DEL Mariano Díaz, NR – His first appearance of the season. It had a wide shot.
DEL Luka Jovic, NR – He played the last 10 minutes without impact.
Source: espn.co.uk
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