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Two objectives from Karim Benzema within the 88th and one centesimal minutes noticed Real Madrid eke out a late 3-1 win at Espanyol on Sunday evening. Vinicius Junior scored the guests’ opener, earlier than Joselu levelled the scoring.
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The victory places Madrid on high of the LaLiga desk, with everlasting rivals Barcelona trailing by two factors in third place.
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Table of Contents
1. Tchouameni taking a look at house
This was one other recreation — the second in a row — wherein Aurelien Tchouameni has seemed a worthy successor to Casemiro in Actual Madrid’s midfield. In reality, his help for the opener — a intelligent through-ball which set Vinicius away to fit previous goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte — was an indication that Tchouameni is definitely an improve relating to attacking contributions.
They occupy the identical place within the crew — this was the primary time Tchouameni had began alongside each Toni Kroos and Luka Modric — however the teen is keener and faster to get ahead. Supervisor Carlo Ancelotti has already recognised as a lot.
“He will get into the field,” the Madrid supervisor mentioned final week. “I will not inform him to play like Casemiro.”
Tchouameni’s move completion was additionally distinctive right here, ending at 94%.
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Like the remainder of the crew, he discovered the second half tougher as Espanyol elevated the tempo, however the early indicators are good. Casemiro hasn’t been missed but.
2. Defensive change causes uncertainty
Ancelotti had been clear that final yr’s double-winning central defensive pair, David Alaba and Eder Militao, would stay first alternative as this marketing campaign obtained underway. That left high-profile summer time signing Antonio Rudiger having to make achieve this far with some sudden cameos at full-back, and a begin alongside Nacho in a rotated crew on opening day.
Each Ancelotti and Alaba had mentioned the Austria worldwide would proceed for use within the center until in distinctive circumstances, so it was shock right here to see Rudiger alongside Militao, and Alaba moved out to left-back.
The decision seemed suspect when Rudiger and Militao had been badly caught out for Joselu’s equaliser. An absence of shared game-time was evident as Rudiger stepped up as Militao performed Joselu onside, and each did not react when Joselu’s preliminary effort got here again to him.
Having three centre-backs of such high quality is a luxurious, however that is one space of the pitch the place consistency of choice is critical to permit a dependable, error-free partnership to flourish.
Ancelotti has some tough choices to make.
3. Rodrygo’s influence off the bench showcases depth
When Madrid had been struggling right here at 1-1 within the second half, Ancelotti turned to his Champions League comeback system from final season: calling on Eduardo Camavinga and Rodrygo so as to add vitality and high quality off the bench.
Few groups benefit from the luxurious of having the ability to subject substitutes of this calibre. Camavinga’s all-action model is greatest suited to being deployed in this sort of context, whereas Rodrygo’s capability to make decisive interventions from restricted recreation time — as he did to nice impact in Europe final season — is vastly spectacular.
His 88th-minute cross for Benzema’s winner was a second of high quality and precision in an in any other case frenetic second interval, and he had a aim dominated out for offside in added time, too. Ancelotti mentioned on Saturday that Rodrygo may have a “extra essential position” this yr and have extra usually from the beginning.
For now, he is the best super-sub when Madrid are chasing a winner.
Actual Madrid: Thibaut Courtois 7; Lucas Vazquez 6, Eder Militao 6, Antonio Rudiger 6, David Alaba 6; Aurelien Tchouameni 8, Toni Kroos 7, Luka Modric 6; Federico Valverde 5, Vinicius Junior 8, Karim Benzema 8.
Subs: Eduardo Camavinga 7, Rodrygo 8, Dani Ceballos 7, Dani Carvajal 6.
Espanyol: Benjamin Lecomte 5; Oscar Gil 6, Fernando Calero 7, Leandro Cabrera 7, Brian Olivan 6; Vinicius Souza 7, Ruben Sanchez 7, Edu Exposito 7, Sergi Darder 6, Javier Puado 6; Joselu 8.
Subs: Keidi Bare 6, Nicolas Melamed 6, Dani Gomez 6.
BEST: Karim Benzema, Actual Madrid
Began quietly however grew into the sport, scoring two massive objectives within the second half to offer Madrid the win at a floor the place they misplaced final season.
WORST: Benjamin Lecomte, Espanyol
Embarrassed by his late pink card that left poor defender Leandro Cabrera having to don goalkeepers’ gloves — with Espanyol having used all their substitutes — to concede Benzema’s spot kick.
Simply look what that equaliser meant to Joselu.
https://twitter.com/ESPNPlus/status/1563991853585682433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
You’ve got obtained your conventional operating and shouting, with some heavy arm pumping. He follows that up with a double knee slide, which he pops up from instantly and transitions seamlessly into single punch of the air. Then it is into the chilly stare into the gang, permitting the embrace of his teammates wash over him. After panning the benches and the gang, our view returns to Joselu, who blows a kiss to the digital camera earlier than one remaining fist pump and emphatic roar. He closes the celebration with a heartfelt kiss blown to the supporters.
After all, none of it mattered, due to this man.
https://twitter.com/ESPNFC/status/1564007697393008640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
“It is regular that you simply endure, particularly away from house,” Kroos mentioned. “We managed the sport effectively till they scored. After that it is regular that you simply endure. In the direction of the tip you possibly can see that they obtained drained. It is not straightforward to win away from house and we have accomplished it thrice [so far this season] so we’re joyful.”
“We began very well, we had been dominating the sport, they had been solely harmful at set items,” Courtois mentioned. “Then out of nothing a midfield run, I made the save, then one other midfield run, I saved however Joselu scored. The second half was extra equal, they’d some probabilities however in the long run there was some magic from Rodrygo and Karim … They’d some harmful alternatives within the second half, at one level I feared that we would draw, however it’s a must to hold believing.”
Actual Madrid prolonged their unbeaten streak when scoring first in LaLiga, as much as 35 matches, probably the most within the league.
Joselu’s aim was his seventh in 9 profession LaLiga matches towards Actual Madrid. Extremely, Los Blancos are the crew he is scored most towards in league play.
Actual Madrid: Los Blancos host Real Betis Saturday, Sept. 3 at 10:15 a.m. ET (stream live on ESPN+), after which host Mallorca at 3 p.m. ET on Sept. 10.
Espanyol: Los Periquitos head to Bilbao on Sunday, Sept. 4 at 10:15 a.m. ET (stream live on ESPN+) after which they host Sevilla at 10:15 a.m. ET on Sept. 10.