Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla: Luka Modric’s Late Strike Secures Hard-Fought Win – La Liga Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla: Luka Modric’s Late Strike Secures Hard-Fought Win – La Liga
Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla: Luka Modric’s Late Strike Secures Hard-Fought Win – La Liga

February 26, 2024

Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla: Luka Modric’s Late Strike Secures Hard-Fought Win – La Liga

Real Madrid faced a tough battle against Sevilla on Sunday, waiting until the 81st minute to clinch a hard-earned 1-0 victory at the Bernabeu. Luka Modric, once again, emerged as the hero, scoring a stunning goal that extended Madrid’s lead at the top of La Liga to eight points.

Madrid was initially frustrated when Lucas Vazquez’s 10th-minute goal was disallowed after a VAR review. Despite dominating possession, they were challenged by Sevilla, who created several good chances. Federico Valverde hit the post just after halftime, while Andriy Lunin made a brilliant save from Isaac Romero.

Modric’s late strike secured the win, keeping Madrid on course in their title pursuit.

En-Nesyri had a golden opportunity to give Sevilla the lead in the eighth minute but skewed a shot wide from close range after connecting with Romero’s cross. Madrid looked poised to capitalize on this miss, but a foul by Nacho on En-Nesyri negated Vazquez’s subsequent goal.

Valverde’s impressive strike was tipped over by Orjan Nyland, but the real action came after halftime. Just four minutes into the second half, Valverde hit the post, sparking a series of chances for Madrid. However, they needed a vital save from Lunin to deny Romero’s effort.

After an injury to referee Escuderos, which brought on the fourth official, Madrid increased the pressure. Modric seized on a loose clearance and created space to unleash a stunning strike off the right post from 20 yards out. Sevilla pushed for an equalizer, with Kike Salas heading wide. 

Still, Madrid held firm to secure the win, reinforcing their position at the top of La Liga.

Talking Point – Getting It Done, Just About

While it wasn’t a straightforward “No Jude Bellingham, no problem” for Madrid, the absence of their new star highlighted the resilience of the veterans. Luka Modric, set to depart at the end of the season and relinquish the iconic number 10 shirt, stepped up when it mattered most. With Bellingham’s return imminent, Los Blancos’ title charge appears unstoppable.

Player of the Match – Luka Modric (Real Madrid)

Although Lunin deserves an honorable mention, Modric was the standout performer, scoring the sensational winner with his only shot of the match. He had 30 touches and completed 20 of his 21 passes, achieving an impressive 95.2% accuracy. At 38 years and 169 days old, Modric became the second oldest player to score from outside the box in La Liga since the 2003-04 season, following Jorge Molina.

Player Ratings

Real Madrid: Lunin 8, Vazquez 7, Nacho 7, Rudiger 7, Mendy 6, Valverde 7, Kroos 6, Tchouameni 6, Diaz 7, Rodrygo 6, Vinicius 7. Subs: Modric 9*, Ceballos 6, Rodriguez N/A.

Sevilla: Nyland 7, Navas 6, Bade 7, Ramos 8, Salas 7, Torres 7, Soumare 6, Sow 6, Ocampos 7, En-Nesyri 6, Romero 6. Subs: Suso 6, Sanchez 6, Veliz 6, Nianzou N/A, Januzaj N/A.

Match Highlights

8′ – WHAT A MISS! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (En-Nesyri): A golden opportunity for Sevilla! Romero’s perfect cross finds En-Nesyri, but he skips his shot from close range. That was a massive let-off for Madrid!

14′ – NO GOAL! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (Vazquez): Madrid has a goal disallowed after a foul in the build-up, leaving Ancelotti’s side furious.

45+2′ – WHAT A STRIKE! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (Valverde): Valverde unleashes a thunderous shot from a distance, but Nyland makes a fantastic save to keep it level.

49′ – OFF THE POST! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (Valverde): Madrid almost breaks the deadlock as Valverde’s shot hits the post after he stumbles in the area.

52′ – SAVE! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (Lunin): An instinctive save from Lunin keeps the score level, denying Romero from close range.

62′ – REF REPLACEMENT! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla: The referee has to be subbed off due to injury, bringing chaos to the second half.

81′ – GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla (Modric): Modric strikes 20 yards off the post to finally give Madrid the lead. Sevilla protests for offside, but the goal stands!

90′ – CLOSE! Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla (Salas): A potential equalizer slips away as Salas glances a corner wide. Will this be Sevilla’s last chance?

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Katarzyna Nowak

Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Latest Football News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.