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HomeSportsReal Madrid get serious with victory at Sevilla

Real Madrid get serious with victory at Sevilla

A strong defensive performance and a Karim Benzema header powered Real Madrid to a 1-0 victory over former coach Julen Lopetegui and Sevilla on Sunday night at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.

After such a lucklustre display in midweek against Paris Saint-GermainReal Madrid needed a response and that’s what Zinedine Zidane got, as Los Blancos’ defensive front kept a very dangerous Sevilla attack under wraps.

At the other end, Real Madrid crafted just enough upfront and some creative playmaking from Dani Carvajal allowed Benzema to send his header goalward to earn the three points for the visitors from the capital.

Zidane went with the same XI that started in France, with the lone exception of Eder Militao making way for Sergio Ramos in defence.

It is always a pulsating environment at the Sanchez Pizjuan whenever Real Madrid come to town, and Sunday night was no different with the home supporters hanging on every ball.

Yet for all the energy and bite between the two teams, there was not much in the way of chances.

Sevilla was the more assertive of the two, but it was Real Madrid who would have the first big chance, coming after the half-hour mark when a Sevilla giveaway in their own half led to Benzema finding Eden Hazard, whose shot was blocked by Sevilla backstop Tomas Vaclik.

Vaclik was called into action minutes later when James filtered in a pass to a charging Carvajal, and if not for the kick-save of the Czech Republic international the right-back would have scored.

It remained wide open with a half-hour to go until Carvajal‘s floated cross found the falling away Benzema, who sent a piercing header past Vaclik for the lead.

Lopetegui needed a spark, so former Real Madrid man and Mexican forward Chicharito Hernandez were summoned off the bench, replacing Joan Jordan with 20 minutes to go.

Zidane‘s first change didn’t come until the final quarter of an hour, with James giving up his spot to Fede Valverde, further solidifying a Real defence that put the clamps on the Sevilla attack until the full-time whistle.

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