Real Madrid picked up a win in Granada in their first LaLiga game since being crowned champions. Our team set themselves on the path to victory in the closing stages of the first half, as Fran García got his first competitive madridista goal on 38’, before setting up Arda Güler to double the lead in time added on. After the break, Brahim was at the double to round off an impressive performance at the Estadio Nuevo Los Cármenes. The forward’s first goal was quite spectacular, as he skipped away from two defenders and whipped a fine right-footed finish into the corner. Our boys extend their unbeaten run in LaLiga to 29 games (23 wins and 6 draws), their best ever league figures, eclipsing the 28 they managed in 1989/90.
The game was an evenly-matched affair for the first half hour. Granada could have gone in front when a free-kick was whipped onto the head of B. Méndez with 19 minutes on the clock, but his effort was superbly tipped over by Courtois. The LaLiga champions then stepped up towards the end of the first half, as Brahim crossed on 38’ for Fran García to burst into the box from deep and turn the ball into the back of the net. It was the academy ace’s first competitive goal for the team, but he wasn’t done there, going on to provide the assist for Arda Güler to fire home from inside the area just a few minutes later.
Brilliant Brahim
Ancelotti’s boys had a third goal minutes after the restart, and it came from a moment of magic by Brahim on 49’. The forward received the ball with his back to goal in the centre of the park, produced a sublime turn to evade the attentions of Sergio Ruiz and took off towards the opposition box, where he beat Gumbau with a delightful cutback and stroked home. Ten minutes later, Brahim completed his brace with a shot on the half-turn inside the box, following a nice piece of link-up play with Arda Güler and Modrić, who set him up.
19th LaLiga clean sheet
The minutes continued to tick by and with 66 on the clock, the Whites could have had a fifth. Lucas Vázquez fired across the box and goalkeeper Batalla did superbly to keep out Joselu’s neat back-heeled effort. The win sees our team extend their historic 29-match unbeaten run and keep a 19th clean sheet this season.