Actual Madrid want one victory to safe La Liga after they held off a second-half comeback from Granada on Monday to win 2-1 and transfer 4 factors away from Barcelona. With two video games left, Madrid shall be topped champions in the event that they beat Villarreal at house on Thursday no matter how Barcelona fare on the Camp Nou towards Osasuna. However they have been made to sweat by a Granada group which might be gunning for Europe and have been arguably the division’s shock of the season after being promoted from second tier final yr.
Ferland Mendy and Karim Benzema regarded to have set Madrid on target for a cushty win at Los Carmenes however Granada have been reworked after the break and Darwin Machis’s 50th-minute strike gave them hope.
An more and more nervous Madrid have been clinging on by the top and wanted Sergio Ramos to clear one shot off the road as Zinedine Zidane’s aspect dug in for a ninth consecutive victory.
“Our imaginative and prescient after we begin each season is to win the league,” mentioned Zidane. “There are two video games left. We’re shut however we’re not there but.”
When the ultimate whistle blew, Zinedine Zidane roared with aid and Ramos clenched his fists after coming by way of their hardest take a look at because the restart.
“We will not calm down, we’re a bit nearer however we’ve to hold on,” mentioned Ramos afterwards.
“We let our guard down right here a bit on the second half. We received the primary half and misplaced the second and perhaps that is a warning for us. We’ve got to ensure we do not repeat that mistake.”
Madrid might win La Liga for the third time in eight years on the Alfredo di Stefano Stadium on Thursday night time. “It might imply rather a lot,” mentioned Ramos.
“It is the prize for consistency over the entire yr. Perhaps we had a interval of reflection in the course of the suspension and we got here again and reacted. We’re within the race and hopefully on Thursday we are able to rejoice.”
If Madrid slip up towards Villarreal, they are going to nonetheless have a second probability on Sunday once they end at Leganes whereas Barcelona go to Alaves.
Machis’s objective was the primary Madrid have conceded in six matches however few would have seen it coming after the primary half.
Madrid scored twice in six minutes, with each targets coming from breaks down their left.
Mendy had house in entrance of him and saved going, accelerating between Victor Diaz and Dimitri Foulquier earlier than firing excessive and into the roof of the web from an acute angle.
The second objective got here down the identical aspect, Isco’s backheel permitting Luka Modric to change left to Benzema, who this time minimize inside Diaz and shot into the far nook.
Madrid cruised by way of the remainder of the half, pushing the ball round at will, however consolation maybe created complacency and Granada improved after the break.
Machis pulled a objective again, putting by way of the legs of Courtois after Casemiro was dispossessed in midfield and Madrid have been rattled as Granada started to dictate play.
A scramble in Madrid’s six-yard field noticed a number of gamers hacking on the ball in panic and Courtois was twice required to make sensible saves late on.
The closest Granada got here was when the ball fell to Ramon Azeez on the again put up and he fired in the direction of the close to put up with Courtois stranded however Ramos was on the road to clear.
Promoted
Earlier, Villarreal’s hopes of Champions League soccer have been dashed after they misplaced 2-1 at house to Actual Sociedad to substantiate that fourth-placed Sevilla will be part of Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Actual Madrid within the competitors subsequent season.
Villarreal stay fifth, three factors forward of Getafe and Actual Sociedad, with all three hoping to safe a spot within the Europa League. Getafe drew Zero-Zero towards Alaves.
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