Marco Asensio extricates Real Madrid from the trap set by Granada

Real Madrid resumes its march forward. Before receiving Granada this Sunday, as part of the 23rd day of La Liga, the Merengues were keen to redeem themselves after their premature elimination in the quarter-finals of the King’s Cup against Athletic Bilbao (0-1) Thursday. To do this, Carlo Ancelotti, deprived of his two stars at the forefront, Benzema (injured) and Vinicius Jr (suspended), decided to do without a real center forward (Jovic) by aligning Isco in false 9. Camavinga , in the middle of three, celebrated his 6th tenure in La Liga. The least we can say is that the Nazaríes, totally uninhibited at the Santiago Bernabeu, bravely played their luck against the leader of the Spanish championship.

Neither team managed to get the better of them after the first 45 minutes, which were finally balanced, despite a possession to the advantage of the club from the Spanish capital. Real failed to materialize, the fault of an impeccable Maximiano in front of Asensio (13th, 43rd) and Isco (43rd), when he was not saved by his bar, avoiding a csc in Neva (31st). Partners Gonalons, indeed present in the ranks visitors, also had their share of opportunity. But there too, Courtois assured. First by repelling an attempt by Puertas after a positioning error by Marcelo, evening captain (5th). Then by winning more easily in front of Uzuni (36th).

The exit of Camavinga changes everything, Asensio too

After the change to the locker room, Madrid’s domination increased and the pressure intensified on the opposing cage, while Camavinga was called back to the bench at the break to make way for Valverde. In a great evening, Maximiano continued his recital on his line, both against Rodrygo from a closed angle (60th) and Asensio from afar (61st). The combined appearance on the meadow of Jovic and Hazard (65th), with the aim of cracking the Andalusians, almost hit the mark at the start. But the Serb missed the target on a pass from the Belgian (66th).

We had to wait for a high recovery from Militão and above all a shot as pure as it was unstoppable from Asensio to beat the Portuguese goalkeeper (1-0, 73rd). More harmless in the second half, the Rojiblancos never seemed able to come back to the score, while Maximiano avoided them a heavier defeat (79th) and deprived Asensio of the double (82nd). Nine days before its trip to Paris, in the Champions League, Real Madrid raises its head and above all regains a 6-point lead over its runner-up, Sevilla FC. Granada, whose last feat dates back to December 22, has a 5th match without success in La Liga.