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Matches performed towards Valencia are often eventful, however not at this time. Valencia failed to indicate any persona or character. Their normal trick, morphing into 1970’s Brazil, by no means appeared. As a substitute it was a Real Madrid aspect, with Toni Kroos and Dani Carvajal restored to the beginning XI, that have been fast and deadly on their attacking transitions. Javi Gracia’s staff regarded to make the most of the blueprint that has been so profitable towards Zidane’s Madrid, sitting in a deep block. These plans have been rapidly unraveled after Karim Benzema, who was a doubt after his achilles was stamped on within the first minute of the match, curled in an inch good shot along with his proper foot into the underside nook. Benzema’s objective was the personification of the finesse shot on FIFA.
Benzema managed to keep away from an damage, however Dani Carvajal didn’t. Dani might solely final half-hour. The complete again pulled up after sprinting for the ball on the fitting wing (*insert Zidane towel throw gif*). It’s one more muscle damage for Carvajal, whose whole season has been cease – begin as a result of fixed muscle overloads. Questions may be requested of Zidane and the medical staff for speeding Carvajal again given his fragile bodily state. Lucas Vazquez, who simply returned from damage himself, changed Dani because the staff’s fullback.
Madrid’s dominated the whole first half with Valencia unable to muster a single shot. It was very uncommon to see them even enterprise close to Madrid’s field. Valencia have been a multitude all season lengthy. It makes Madrid’s 4-1 loss earlier this season much more embarrassing. The nail was hammered into the coffin when the acquainted connection of Lucas Vazquez to Toni Kroos resulted within the second objective for Madrid simply earlier than half. Toni Kroos cemented his close to good first 45 with what was a ravishing staff objective.
Kroos’s 1st half: 1 objective, 1 help, 4 key passes (sport excessive), 7 of 8 accomplished lengthy balls, 62 touches (sport excessive), 96.5 PA%
— Kiyan Sobhani (@KiyanSo) February 14, 2021
Valencia’s malaise solely continued within the second half. Luka Modric minimize out passing lanes and intercepted the ball excessive up the pitch, whereas his heart midfield associate Toni Kroos gained the ball within the last third to ignite fast transitions. These two have been as soon as once more on the heart of all of Madrid’s good play. Each midfielders almost performed Asensio in for a 1 v 1 with Domenech.
A 3rd objective for Madrid got here close to the hour mark, however VAR referred to as it offsides. It was the best of the three targets. A easy ball excessive from Nacho noticed each Mendy and Vinicius dash into the ultimate third. The Brazilian performed a well-timed last ball for his French fullback and Mendy stored his composure contained in the field to bury the shot along with his proper foot.
After the objective was disallowed, Javi Gracia performed his last hand – throwing on three substitutions to try to change the sport. Valencia tried to play extra on the entrance foot, which performed into Vinicius JR’s strengths on the counterattack. Zidane responded along with his personal change; Sergio Arribas got here on for Asensio within the 70th minute. The change was the cherry on high for Actual Madrid’s victory because the Canterano received one other cameo with the primary staff. The second half had little else to notice, with only a few probabilities for both aspect.
We’ll break this sport down additional with a post-game podcast, participant rankings, quotes, and extra.
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