MADRID, SPAIN – FEBRUARY 25: Luka Modric of Real Madrid celebrates scoring his teams first goal with Lucas Vazquez during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 25, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)
Real Madrid moved eight points clear at the top of LaLiga after defeating Sevilla 1-0 on Sunday night.
LaLiga
Result: Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla
Date: 25 February 2024
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu
Antonio Rudiger, Ferland Mendy, Toni Kroos and Rodrygo Goes returned to the Madrid starting line-up following the disappointing 1-1 draw at Rayo Vallecano.
Los Blancos nearly hit the front where Vinicius Junior nicked possession in a crucial area and crossed for Lucs Vazquez to control and execute, but it didn’t stand following a foul in the build-up.
The host still enjoyed the better of the chances before the break as Vinicius again caused problems on the wings and laid off to Aurelien Tchouameni in from a tight angle, but he hit the side-netting.
Federico Valverde stung the gloves of goalkeeper Orjan Nyland on the cusp of halftime from a well-weighted cutback outside the area by Vinicius.
Valverde made more in-roads just after halftime when he turned Brahim Diaz’s delivery to the far post against the woodwork and saw the visitors off the mark.
Sevilla, though, showed a bit of resolve in the closing third and forced Andriy Lunin to a stop off Isaac Romero’s first-time strike following good all-round play from Lucas Ocampos.
Los Blancos decided to introduce fresh faces in the latter exchanges, which had Nacho Fernandez taken off and the evergreen midfield cog Luka Modric on the park.
Modric came up with the goods with nine minute to go when he took a loose clearance in his stride around the area before shaping an angle to rifle in the top corner.
As full-time loomed large, Los Blancos contained the advantage rather smartly and sealed the win to restore their eight-point lead over second-place Barcelona.
