Player Ratings: Real Madrid secure first La Liga win with 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid

Real Madrid scored three second-half goals to breeze past Real Valladolid on Sunday afternoon.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side were denied a winning start to the new La Liga season when they were held to a draw at Real Mallorca last weekend, but they got the job done back on home soil to claim victory this time around.

Valladolid defended incredibly well for around an hour of the contest, but couldn’t maintain that solidity when they had to try and score themselves.

How the game unfolded

Kylian Mbappe went close to his first La Liga goal on nine minutes when he lashed a fierce volley towards the net, but Karl Hein – on loan from Arsenal – got down to make a fantastic save.

That proved to be the only chance of a quiet first half in which Valladolid defended excellently and stopped their hosts from embarking on many meaningful attacks.

But Valladolid’s resistance was broken shortly after the break. Vinicius Junior won a free-kick just outside the penalty area, and Federico Valverde’s resulting strike deflected past Hein and into the far corner.

Madrid nearly doubled their lead instantly with a swift breakaway minutes later, with Arda Guler and Vinicius carrying possession up the pitch before the Turkish starlet’s strike was blocked by Enzo Boyomo.

Valladolid, meanwhile, tried to scrap their way back into the contest. Victor Meseguer managed to prance away from Eder Militao after his initial shot was blocked, before being thwarted by the lanky frame of Thibaut Courtois.

Another Guler shot came and went when Vinicius again picked him out with a low cross, and this time his goal-bound strike ricocheted behind for a corner. Soon after, he had a bouncing shot from a Fran Garcia ball held by Hein.

The Valladolid goalkeeper was again put to work by Guler when his shot from just inside the box took a nick off the ankle of Boyomo, though he was still able to shift his feet and deny the Madrid man.

Mbappe really should have had his first home goal for Madrid when Vinicius spotted his run into the six-yard area, but he was denied by a smart save from Hein. The Frenchman then raced clear on the counter from a corner before poking his shot narrowly wide with his final contribution of the day.

With two minutes remaining, Madrid at last added their second goal. A phenomenal long pass from Militao sailed over the Valladolid defence and found Brahim Diaz, who lobbed Hein with a superb half-volley.

There was still time for Madrid to score again, with Brahim this time turning provider for debutant Endrick, who beat Hein at the near post with a powerful low drive.

GK: Thibaut Courtois – 6/10 – Predictably didn’t have too much to do between the sticks, but didn’t put a foot wrong when called upon.

RB: Dani Carvajal – 6/10 – Had a penchant for grabbing the headlines with his own performances in recent months, so this was a more understated display by Carvajal’s standards. Nothing to scream or shout about at either end.

CB: Eder Militao – 7/10 – Came up with a sensational assist for Brahim late in the day. Relatively untroubled at the back.

CB: Antonio Rudiger – 6/10 – Kept trying to unlock Valladolid with his excellent range of passing, notably creating the game’s first chance for Mbappe.

LB: Fran Garcia – 6/10 – Flew forward down the left trying to attack space, especially when Valladolid were chasing a goal.

CM: Aurelien Tchouameni – 6/10 – Kept things simple in the middle of the park, which suited Madrid more as the game went on and they found the opening goal.

CM: Federico Valverde – 8/10 – An all-round performance in midfield and beyond. Broke down Valladolid attacks before they could begin and got Madrid off the mark with a goal.

RW: Rodrygo – 5/10 – Came up with a neat skill here and there but his end product was sorely lacking. Wasn’t on the same wavelength as his attacking co-stars.

AM: Arda Guler – 7/10 – A fine performance in the hole. Found it hard to manipulate space in the first half but took control after the interval until his substitution. On another day would have had a goal to his name.

LW: Vinicius Junior – 7/10 – Stifled early on but stretched the game with his pace and trickery. Will feel aggrieved not to have registered a goal contribution.

CF: Kylian Mbappe – 6/10 – Madrid’s attacking woes early doors weren’t to do with Mbappe, who pulled Valladolid about the place with his clever movement. Ought to have scored at least one of his chances and his wait for a La Liga goal goes on.

Substitutes

SUB: Brahim Diaz (69′ for Guler) – 8/10 – A goal and an assist off the bench. Not bad.

SUB: Luka Modric (69′ for Rodrygo) – 6/10

SUB: Dani Ceballos (85′ for Vinicius) – 6/10

SUB: Endrick (86′ for Mbappe) – 8/10

Subs not used: Andriy Lunin (GK), Fran Gonzalez (GK), Lucas Vazquez, Jacobo Ramon

Manager

Carlo Ancelotti – 8/10 – Madrid overcame their first-half woes and were deserving of their large margin of victory come full-time.

Player of the match – Federico Valverde

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