Marco Asensio inspires Real Madrid to 3-1 win over Leganes
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
Updated 21/02/2018 at 20:56 GMT
Butarque, La Liga - Leganes 1 (Bustinza 5') Real Madrid 3 (Vazquez 11', Casemiro 29', Ramos pen 90')
Leganes vs Real Madrid - Butarque Municipal Stadium, Leganes, Spain - February 21, 2018 Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez celebrates with Marco Asensio after scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
Real Madrid moved up to third place in La Liga with a 3-1 win over Leganes inspired by the in-form Marco Asensio.
Zinedine Zidane made a number of changes to his starting line-up for the match which the Spanish and European champions have held in hand ever since the Club World Cup, but the visitors to Butarque managed to maintain their recent momentum with a comfortable win.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/02/21/2277737-47453530-2560-1440.jpg)
Leganes vs Real Madrid - Butarque Municipal Stadium, Leganes, Spain - February 21, 2018 Real Madrid’s Casemiro celebrates scoring their second goal
Image credit: Getty Images
Unai Bustinza gave the visitors a surprise lead within the opening five minutes, improvising a diving header from a couple if yards out. However Real Madrid responded immediately, with Lucas Vazquez finding the net after good play from Karim Benzema.
From there, the away side put their foot down, with goals from Casemiro and a late penalty kick from captain Sergio Ramos claiming all three points. The result sees them move ahead of Valencia in the Liga table and to within seven points of second place Valencia.
TALKING POINT
Real Madrid remind us all of their depth. Only one member of the ‘BBC’ made an appearance this evening, with Benzema playing over an hour. There were places in the starting line-up for Theo Hernandez, Mateo Kovacic and Vazquez as Zidane rotated his squad. That has cost him a number of times over the season, but tonight the plan worked well. This was a reminder of the depth Real Madrid possess. In that respect, they are unrivalled in La Liga.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/02/21/2277735-47453490-2560-1440.jpg)
Leganes vs Real Madrid - Butarque Municipal Stadium, Leganes, Spain - February 21, 2018 Real Madrid’s Lucas Vazquez celebrates with Sergio Ramos after scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
MAN OF THE MATCH
Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) He faded in the second half, but Asensio lit up the opening 45 minutes for Real Madrid. The return of the 22-year-old has been a major factor in Real Madrid’s recent upturn in form and he demonstrated just how important he is against Leganes. With Asensio in the line-up, Real possess so much more verve and energy. He makes others around him play better.
PLAYER RATINGS
Leganes - Cuellar, Tito, Siovas, Bustinza, Rico, Gumbau, Gabriel, Eraso, El Zhar, Ramos, Beauvue. Subs - Amrabat, Perez, Mantovani.
Real Madrid - Casilla, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Theo, Casemiro, Kovacic, Isco, Lucas, Asensio, Benzema. Subs - Bale, Llorente, Ceballos.
KEY MOMENTS
5’ GOAL! Leganes 1-0 Real Madrid: That wasn't in the script! Leganes have taken an early lead, with Bustinza performing a diving header just inches off the ground to send a scramble in the box into the back of the net. Great improvisation!
11’ GOAL! Leganes 1-1 Real Madrid: An instant response from Real Madrid! Benzema pounced on a mistake by the Leganes defence, feeding Vazquez who made no mistake in sending a low shot across goal and into the far corner of the net. Good finish.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2018/02/21/2277736-47453510-2560-1440.jpg)
Leganes vs Real Madrid - Butarque Municipal Stadium, Leganes, Spain - February 21, 2018 Real Madrid’s Casemiro celebrates with Sergio Ramos after scoring their second goal
Image credit: Reuters
29’ GOAL! Leganes 1-2 Real Madrid: Real Madrid have turned this around! A one-touch passing move presents Casemiro with a shooting opportunity inside the penalty area and the Brazilian makes no mistake in converting. Cool finish from the Brazilian midfielder.
63’ BIG SAVE! Casilla makes the stop to prevent Leganes from finding the back of the net. El Zhar was played in behind and played the pass back to Beauvue. His shot from close range was saved.
90’ PENALTY KICK TO REAL MADRID! Kovacic is brought down inside the area and the referee points to the spot.
90+1’ GOAL! Leganes 1-3 Real Madrid: The Real Madrid centre back steps up to the 12 yard mark and finds the back of the net with a cool conversion. The keeper went the right way, but couldn't make the stop.
KEY STATS
Casemiro both scored and assisted in the same game for Real Madrid for the first time ever in all competitions.
Only Cristiano Ronaldo has been involved in more goals for Real Madrid than Lucas Vazquez (four goals, six assists) in 2018 in all competitions.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article