By MADRID — Real Madrid clinched their first win of the new La Liga season on Sunday, defeating Real Valladolid 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu. The victory comes after Carlo Ancelotti’s side was held to a draw in their season opener against Real Mallorca last weekend.
The match remained scoreless for nearly an hour as Valladolid’s defense held firm against Madrid’s star-studded attack. However, the deadlock was broken in the second half with goals from Federico Valverde, Brahim Diaz, and debutant Endrick.
Valverde opened the scoring shortly after halftime with a deflected free-kick that found its way past Valladolid goalkeeper Karl Hein, who is on loan from Arsenal. The goal came after Vinicius Junior won a free-kick just outside the penalty area.
Madrid’s second goal arrived in the 88th minute when Eder Militao’s long pass found Brahim Diaz, who expertly lobbed Hein with a half-volley. In the dying moments of the match, Diaz turned provider, setting up Endrick for his debut goal with a powerful low drive that beat Hein at the near post.
Kylian Mbappe, making his home debut for Real Madrid, had several opportunities to score but was denied by impressive saves from Hein. The French striker’s best chance came in the first half when his fierce volley was expertly saved by the Valladolid goalkeeper.
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti expressed satisfaction with the result. “We showed patience against a well-organized Valladolid side,” Ancelotti said in the post-match press conference. “The goals in the second half were a reward for our persistence.”
The match saw the introduction of new signing Arda Guler, who impressed with his link-up play and had several attempts on goal. Vinicius Junior was also a constant threat, providing key passes and winning the free-kick that led to the opening goal.
For Valladolid, the defeat highlights the challenges they face in La Liga this season. Manager Paulo Pezzolano acknowledged his team’s strong defensive effort but noted the difficulty in maintaining that level against Madrid’s quality. “We defended well for an hour, but against a team like Real Madrid, you need to take your chances when they come,” Pezzolano stated.
The victory moves Real Madrid up the La Liga table and provides momentum as they head into a busy period of fixtures. The performance of young talents like Endrick and Guler, alongside established stars such as Mbappe and Vinicius, offers a glimpse of the potential in Ancelotti’s squad.
As the La Liga season progresses, Real Madrid will look to build on this win and challenge for the title. For Valladolid, the focus will be on learning from this experience and securing points in their upcoming matches against less formidable opponents.
