Ozil strikes twice as Madrid fight back for win
Mesut Ozil grabbed two goals as Real Madrid twice came from behind to
defeat Valladolid 3-2 on Saturday to close to within eight points of
Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
The German international's brace included an exquisitely-curled,
left-footed winner from a free-kick on 71 minutes to keep Madrid on the
tails of Barca and second-placed Atletico Madrid.
Former Manchester United striker Manucho twice gave Valladolid
first-half leads that Karim Benzema and Ozil cancelled out.
Barcelona go to Real Betis on Sunday while Atletico, now only two
points ahead of their city neighbours, entertain Deportivo La Coruna.
Afterwards Jose Mourinho sent out his assistant Aitor Karanka to face
the press and he was full of praise for the match winner.
“Ozil was exceptional and did a lot of work off the ball as well, I
think we saw the Mesut that we all want to see tonight. We changed it
around at half-time in search of more width and the win and it paid
off,” he said.
Earlier, Mourinho handed Nacho Fernandez his first start of the
season in the league after an impressive performance in the win over
Ajax on Wednesday while Jose Callejon, who hit a double that night, was
also included.
Madrid began well with Cristiano Ronaldo hitting a dipping drive just
over the bar before Callejon tested Dani Hernandez in the home goal. But
on seven minutes Valladolid went ahead through Manucho in their first
real attack.
When Pepe cleared a dangerous cross into the area, the resulting
corner was not dealt with by the Madrid defence and the big Angolan
striker was the quickest to react to hit his first of the evening.
Within five minutes Benzema had equalised, Callejon took advantage of
a Mikel Balenziaga slip to advance to the byeline and pull back a pass
that gave the Frenchman an easy finish. Hernandez then had to punch
clear a swerving free-kick from Ronaldo before Valladolid won another
corner at the other end. Taken on the left, the same as the opener,
German winger Patrick Ebert again whipped in a vicious inswinger that
was met by Manucho's head without a challenge. The impressive Ebert then
smashed a free-kick just wide from distance before limping off with a
muscle injury, a big loss for the home team.
Hernandez had to be sharp to tip wide a Ronaldo drive but Valladolid
were looking better organised and more capable of holding onto their
lead the second time around.
It was going to take something special to get Madrid back in the game
and it came right on half-time.
Ozil, who had been quiet until that moment, headed towards the area
on a mazy run and exchanged passes with Benzema, who returned a neat
back flick, before the German stabbed past Hernandez for the leveller.
Mourinho cut short Nacho's return at half-time, replacing him with Angel
Di Maria, as a more attack-minded formation went in search of victory.
His side were quick out of the blocks, Sergio Ramos headed wide a
Xabi Alonso free-kick before Benzema had another shot stopped by
Hernandez, who later made the save of the game from a Ramos header.
The home side also contributed to what was an open and competitive
game throughout. An Oscar Gonzalez shot that forced Iker Casillas into a
stop was the closest they came to winning it.
However, Ozil's class was again the difference and his perfectly hit
winner ensured the points went back to Madrid.
Malaga thrashed Granada 4-0 to move into fourth. Two goals in each
half, and some clinical finishing, were enough in a convincing win for
the Costa del Sol side.
AFP |