Real Madrid: A Solid Victory Over Sevilla Seals Title Chase

On Saturday night, Real Madrid claimed a convincing 2-0 victory against Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabéu, closing the gap to just one point behind FC Barcelona in La Liga. The match marked the 18th round of league action, with the Merengues looking to maintain pressure on their arch-rivals.

From the outset, Madrid demonstrated their intent. In the 5th minute, Rodrygo‘s exquisite pass set up Fran García, whose attempt was thwarted by Sevilla’s goalkeeper. Just two minutes later, a tense moment unfolded as Isaac found himself one-on-one with Thibaut Courtois but narrowly missed the target with his chip shot. The early exchanges highlighted both teams’ attacking ambitions, yet neither could find the net. Güler then played a pivotal role by retrieving the ball high up the pitch and creating an opportunity for Kylian Mbappé on the right flank. Unfortunately for Madrid fans, Mbappé’s shot went wide of the mark in the 17th minute.

Set-Piece Mastery

As the first half progressed, Madrid began to assert their dominance. A corner from Rodrygo in the 24th minute nearly yielded a goal when Huijsen’s header sailed over the bar. However, it was a free-kick that broke the deadlock in the 38th minute. Rodrygo delivered a well-placed ball into the box, finding Jude Bellingham, who executed an unstoppable header to give Madrid a 1-0 lead. The home crowd erupted as they sensed victory was within reach.

The second half saw more action as Mbappé fired a powerful shot that lacked precision just after the break. Sevilla responded with Sánchez testing Courtois in the 51st minute but found no joy against the Belgian wall. The duel between Isaac and Courtois intensified as Madrid’s goalkeeper made another crucial save from a close-range effort in the 56th minute.

Decisive Moments

As Sevilla pressed for an equalizer, Courtois continued to shine, denying Sánchez again from distance in the 66th minute. Meanwhile, Rodrygo’s creativity shone through when he unleashed a fierce strike that rattled Sevilla’s crossbar in the 78th minute. The decisive moment arrived late in the match when Rodrygo’s skillful play earned him a penalty after being brought down in the box. Mbappé stepped up confidently to convert it, sealing the game at 2-0 in the 86th minute.

Despite this solid win for Real Madrid, Dean Huijsen‘s performance drew scrutiny. In only his second start since returning from injury, he struggled defensively and failed to inspire confidence among his teammates. His shaky display highlighted areas for improvement as Madrid looks ahead.

This victory not only boosts Real Madrid’s title aspirations but also serves as a statement of intent as they continue their pursuit of FC Barcelona at the top of La Liga.