Valladolid 1-4 Real Madrid: Ratings as Alvaro Odriozola mixes it up and Karim Benzema strikes

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  • Embattled Real Madrid head coach Santiago Solari survived a frantic start and red card for Brazil battler Casemiro to eventually prevail 4-1 at Real Valladolid, courtesy of ex-France striker Karim Benzema’s second-half brace.

    Exits in the Copa del Rey and Champions League, plus end of slim La Liga title hopes, in the last fortnight had caused rampant speculation about the Argentine’s imminent demise. This only strengthened during a harrowing opening at Estadio Jose Zorrilla in which midfielder Ruben Alcaraz ballooned a penalty kick for relegation strugglers and forward Sergio Guardiola had two goals ruled out by the video assistant referee, prior to Anuar Mohamed’s deserved 29th-minute tap-in.

    Madrid could have folded once again, but they were defiant in the face of disaster. France centre-back Raphael Varane swept up from close range to level on 34 minutes, Benzema put Madrid ahead from a penalty-kick shortly after the break and then completed his double with a fine header just before the hour mark.

    There was still time for Casemiro to accrue two bookings, but this couldn’t prevent Ballon d’Or holder Luka Modric from scoring a classy late fourth.

    Victory secured Madrid’s position in third, while a fifth reversal in their last six games saw Valladolid end the round two places and one point away from the drop zone.

    Here are the player ratings:

    REAL MADRID (4-3-3)

    Thibaut Courtois 6: Belgium No1 was a spectator. Could do nothing about any of Valladolid’s ‘goals’ – allowed or disallowed.

    Alvaro Odriozola 5: Performance of contrasts. Clumsily gave away penalty that Alcaraz wasted and then left Guardiola unmarked prior to VAR’s interjection. But his pace provided key outlet on flanks and won him a penalty of his own.

    Raphael Varane 6: Offered only flimsy defending in the opening half hour. But came to Madrid’s rescue with a tap-in for second top-flight goal of 2018/19.

    Nacho 5: Ran interference to allow centre-back partner Varane to equalise. Banned Sergio Ramos was, however, missed.

    Sergio Reguilon 6: Troubled by the pace of Valladolid’s wide men. Booked for scything down Alcaraz. But did well on front foot.

    Luka Modric 8: Croatia midfielder wrestled back control after awful opening. Produced a stylish second goal in La Liga this campaign, dancing past the defenders and placing home.

    Casemiro 7: Invisible at the start, influential by the end. Low first-half shot almost flew in.

    Toni Kroos 6: Added sanity after the mad openings. Just a second La Liga assist of the season for Benzema’s header.

    Marco Asensio 5: Lovely ball over top was wasted by Ceballos. Anonymous, otherwise. Vazquez and Vinicus Junior were missed.

    Karim Benzema 8: Moved onto 22 goals for the season with an adept penalty-kick and header from a corner. Solari’s saviour?

    Dani Ceballos 5: Wasted a glorious chance just before Benzema’s second. Nice touches, but didn’t make most of first start since February 17’s 2-1 loss to Girona.

    SUBSTITUTES

    Federico Valverde 5: No great impact from Uruguayan.

    Jesus Vallejo N/A: First La Liga appearance of season for forgotten centre-back.

    Marcelo N/A: Persona non grata in training this week, but given final moments for 14th La Liga appearance of indifferent season.

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