Real Madrid earned their first victory of the 2024/25 season with a 3-0 win against Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. In the absence of the injured Jude Bellingham, Arda Guler was given the responsibility of the playmaker role, while Fran Garcia stepped in at left-back to cover for the suspended Ferland Mendy. After a sluggish first half that saw Carlo Ancelotti’s team manage only three shots, with just one on target, Los Blancos found their rhythm after the break, scoring all three of their goals.
20 minutes. 1 goal, 1 assist.
Brahim Diaz is simply unbelievable. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/38WE5tfPwF
— Madrid Zone (@theMadridZone) August 25, 2024
Federico Valverde, who has taken over the iconic #8 jersey following Toni Kroos’s retirement, opened the scoring with a deflected free-kick in the 50th minute. The game remained 1-0 until the 88th minute, as Real Madrid struggled to break down a resilient Valladolid defence.
Kylian Mbappe, Real Madrid’s new star signing, had a quiet game and missed a clear opportunity in the 80th minute after a brilliant assist from Vinicius Junior. Shortly after the miss, both Vinicius and Mbappe were substituted, with Dani Ceballos and young talent Endrick coming on in their place.
Ancelotti’s substitutions proved decisive. Brahim Diaz, who was introduced earlier, scored a solo goal by chipping the ball over the advancing Valladolid goalkeeper, doubling Real Madrid’s lead. Deep into stoppage time, Brahim once again played a crucial role, initiating a counter-attack that saw him carry the ball close to Valladolid’s box before passing to Endrick. The young forward showcased his skills by maneuvering past two defenders and firing a powerful shot into the bottom right corner to seal the 3-0 win.