After stumbling in the first round of the Spanish League with the participation of French star Kylian Mbappe, the title holder, Real Madrid, succeeded in snatching its first victory in the new season at the expense of its guest, Valladolid, 3-0, in the second stage of the tournament.
Real Madrid’s goals were scored by Uruguayan Federico Valverde (50), Moroccan Brahim Dias (88) and young Brazilian Endrick (90+6).
The match witnessed two changes in the starting lineup of “Meringue”, as the Englishman Jude Bellingham was absent in favor of the Turkish Arda Guler due to the former’s injury, which is expected to be absent until the end of September, while the attacking trio of Brazilians Vinicius Junior and Rodrigo and Frenchman Kylian Mbappe remained in the starting lineup. Also, the Frenchman Ferland Mendy was absent after receiving a red card in the previous match.
Despite having 69.8 percent of the ball during the first half, the Spanish champions struggled to threaten the visitors’ goal effectively, only managing four shots, one of which was direct on target.
In Mbappe’s first match at the Santiago Bernabeu, the Frenchman was the first to try to test Valladolid’s goal, but his “volley” shot was blocked by Estonian goalkeeper Karl Hein (9). Mbappe’s shot was Real’s only one on goal throughout the first half, which ended without goals.
But the home side were able to breathe a sigh of relief early in the second half after Valverde opened the scoring from a free kick from 23 metres, firing it powerfully and low into Valladolid’s goal (50).
Substitute Dias managed to score the second goal from a counterattack amidst a clear defensive retreat by the visitors (88). Minutes after his entry, Andrick (18 years old) was able to show the extent of his talent by scoring the third goal after receiving the ball on the edge of the area and then running with it before firing a powerful shot to the left of the Valladolid goalkeeper (90+6).
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