Valladolid 1-4 Real Madrid: Higuain fires Los Blancos to top of table

Valladolid 1-4 Real Madrid - Lineups/Statistics
La Liga - Fixtures/Results

Real Madrid knew that a win would keep them at the top of the La Liga table on goal difference. Valladolid faced an uphill task. They had to try and play out of their skins to get some points, which could help them towards safety.

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Valladolid were unlucky to go into the break behind. It had been a tight first half with both sides putting together many attacks. Real then controlled the second half to see out the game and secure the points.

The home side started very well. Diego Costa controlled the ball well on the edge of the area before turning quickly and shooting. The ball flew towards the goal before Casillas stuck a hand out to save.

Aleman then raced into the Real penalty area before going down between Ramos and Arbeloa. The referee waved away the protests of Valladolid who were crying for a penalty. Real clearly had not woken up.

Real were not allowed to settle and were forced into some early errors. Del Horno picked up a yellow card very early on for a deliberate trip on Ronaldo. It was clear Valladolid would do what they could to get a result.

Medunjanin was the next to threat the Real goal in somewhat fluky circumstances. The winger scuffed the ball in when attempting a cross and saw it roll across the face of the goal. Casillas could do noting but hope it rolled out for a goal kick.

Real had to wait 25 minutes for their first genuine chance of the game. Granero hit a free kick from long range, which was parried by Villar. Ramos raced in for what looked like a tap in but the goalkeeper got up and smothered the ball quickly.

It did not take long for Real to get the lead once they woke up. Ronaldo struck a textbook free kick from roughly 30 yards, which flew into the top corner of the Valladolid goal. There was nothing Villar could do.

Ronaldo was then given another chance to shoot at goal from 35 yards with time in the first half quickly running out. This time, he rifled the ball wide but it was another warning sign for some sloppy Valladolid play.

Valladolid then missed a great chance to go into the break on level terms. Pele managed to bustle past some defenders before skewing a shot on target. The ball bounced a couple of times with pace in front of Casillas. The Spaniard got down quickly and turned it round the post.

They were made to pay in the worst possible way. Higuain scored the second on the stroke of the break to put Real in full control. Van der Vaart lofted in a perfect free kick, which the front man ran onto and volleyed into the net.

Real eased into the second half and wasted an early flowing move. Granero raced forward and gave the ball to Higuain. However, it had too much pace on it and Higuain struggled to cut it back for Ronaldo allowing the Valladolid defence to clear.

It did not take long for Higuain to knock on his second and Real’s third. The Argentine stroked the ball into the net after a slick passing move left him with little else to do other than tap the ball in.

To their credit Valladolid kept going and had a second penalty shout turned down on the hour mark. Aleman rifled a shot on goal, which appeared to hit Ramos on the arm as the ball was diverted. The referee gave nothing.

Real got a little sloppy as they sat on their lead, which allowed the home side to get back into the game. A fierce shot was parried by Casillas straight onto the body of Albiol and the ball rolled into the net.

This was a brief rest from the intense pressure Real had deployed. Higuain completed his hat trick with little over 20 minutes of the game left. Ronaldo fired in a ball from a short corner, which Higuain tapped in at the far post. A simple goal, a simple move.

Los Blancos then went into cruise control as they passed the ball around with ease. Pellegrini threw on a few substitutes to wind down the clock and keep legs fresh to make sure no mistakes were made.

Medunjanin then squandered a great chance late on. He burst into space as Real backed off, made space and shot. Unfortunately the ball went flying into the stands as opposed to the goal.

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