Casemiro’s solitary aim vs Real Valladolid takes Real Madrid nearer to prime of La Liga desk

Image Source : AP Real Madrid’s Casemiro celebrates after scoring the profitable aim in opposition to Real Valladolid in Valladolid on Saturday night time.
After Atlético Madrid stumbled within the Spanish league, Real Madrid did not miss its likelihood to maneuver nearer to the highest.
Madrid received 1-0 at Valladolid on Saturday for its fourth consecutive win, whereas Atlético misplaced factors for the second straight match in a 2-0 dwelling loss in opposition to Levante that ended its 11-game unbeaten streak within the league.

The outcomes left second-place Madrid inside three factors of Atlético, which stays with a sport in hand however is beginning to really feel the warmth. Third-place Barcelona can transfer inside six factors of Atlético if it beats struggling Cádiz at dwelling on Sunday.
Casemiro scored with a Sixty fifth-minute header off a cross by Toni Kroos to offer Madrid the win two rounds earlier than it visits Atlético on the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium.
Madrid has been capable of inch nearer to the highest regardless of taking part in with out a number of key gamers just lately due to accidents, together with Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos and Eden Hazard.
None of them may play in Valladolid as Madrid withstood a couple of threats however was largely in management in opposition to the hosts, that are winless in seven matches in all competitions and sit second-to-last within the 20-team standings.
“It was a great team effort as we have some very important players sidelined,” stated Casemiro, who had already come near opening the scoring with two different headers. “We are still fighting for the league title. We know it’s difficult but there are still a lot of matches to be played.”
More than 1,000 dolls have been placed on the stands on the Valladolid stadium to advertise the struggle in opposition to youngsters’s most cancers. Sale proceeds go to an area hospital.
ATLÉTICO STALLS
José Luis Morales scored within the thirtieth minute and Jorge de Frutos added one other aim in stoppage time on the Metropolitano, handing Atlético its first league loss since December — and first at dwelling in additional than a 12 months.
Diego Simeone’s group has received solely one in every of its final 4 league matches.

“I’m not looking for excuses, we need to find solutions,” Simeone stated. “It’s natural that we will find difficulties along our path. There will be challenges.”
It was the second consecutive league match between Atlético and Levante. They drew 1-1 on Wednesday in a sport postponed from the second spherical due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Atlético had received 9 of its final 11 league matches and hadn’t misplaced since a 1-0 defeat at Real Madrid in December. It had drawn two of its final three video games, with setbacks in opposition to Levante and Celta Vigo. Atlético was eradicated by third-division membership Cornellà within the second spherical of the Copa del Rey in January.
Atlético was unbeaten at dwelling within the league in 22 matches, since a 1-0 loss to Barcelona in December 2019. It went 23 matches unbeaten at dwelling between 2013 and 2014, when it final received the league.
“We are the same team that made it to the lead, so we should be capable of holding on to it,” Atlético defender Mario Hermoso said. “These slumps are normal, we just have to hope that ours will end as soon as possible.”
Levante, which just lately made it to the semifinals of the Copa del Rey for the primary time in 86 years, hadn’t received in 14 video games at Atlético within the league, with 13 losses and one draw. It had additionally received at Real Madrid 4 rounds in the past after going winless in its final eight away matches. Levante hadn’t received two away matches in a row within the league since 2018.
It moved to eighth with Saturday’s win, its first in 4 matches in all competitions.
Atlético has a troublesome schedule forward, internet hosting Chelsea within the spherical of 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday and taking part in Villarreal and Real Madrid in its subsequent two Spanish league matches.
It was the seventh straight sport wherein Atlético conceded a aim. It had scored in seven consecutive video games in all competitions.
OTHER RESULTS
Manu Vallejo and Kevin Gameiro scored a aim every in second-half stoppage time as Valencia beat Celta Vigo 2-0 at dwelling.
Elche beat visiting Eibar 1-0 with a first-half aim by Dani Calvo in a match between relegation-threatened groups.