Real Madrid secured a comfortable 3-0 victory over Real Valladolid in a La Liga match at the Santiago Bernabeu on August 25, 2024. The game saw French star Kylian Mbappe make his highly anticipated home debut, but the forward failed to make an impact on the scoresheet, with the spotlight falling on others in the team.
Real Madrid’s Fede Valverde broke the deadlock in the second half with a powerful low free-kick that deflected into the net in the 50th minute. This goal came after a quiet first half where Madrid dominated possession but couldn’t break down Valladolid’s defense. The visitors, known for their strong defensive start to the season, frustrated Madrid’s attempts to find the back of the net early on.
Madrid’s manager, Carlo Ancelotti, was forced to make changes to his lineup, bringing in Arda Guler to replace the injured Jude Bellingham. Despite this, Madrid struggled to create clear chances until Valverde’s goal gave them the lead.
Later in the match, substitutes Brahim Diaz and the young Brazilian forward Endrick made their mark. Diaz secured Madrid’s second goal with a clever lob in the 88th minute after receiving a long ball from defender Eder Militao. Endrick then completed the 3-0 win with a stoppage-time strike at the near post, marking his debut in style.
Mbappe, who joined Madrid this summer after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, had a few chances to score, but he was denied by Valladolid’s goalkeeper Karl Hein. Despite missing these opportunities, the France captain will be looking to find his rhythm in the coming matches.
Real Madrid’s victory puts them two points behind Barcelona, who won their match against Athletic Bilbao the day before. Although the win provided a boost, Madrid still seems to be working on improving their attacking fluency as they adapt to new players and tactical setups.
