Real Madrid cruised to a comfortable 2-0 win over Canary islanders Las Palmas in La Liga on Wednesday night, hardly needing to get out of second gear at the Bernabeu.
It was the perfect way for Carlo Ancelotti's team to bounce back from the Madrid derby.
Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock in first half stoppage time after an opening 45 minutes in which the hosts had been creative but were repeatedly frustrated by Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles. Joselu doubled the advantage soon after half-time.
How the game unfolded
Madrid managed to carve out an excellent chance in the very early stages when pressure high up the pitch from Brahim forced a defensive mistake. The ball fell to Rodrygo in the middle of the box, but his shot was straight at Valles in the home goal – either side of the goalkeeper, it might have gone in.
Joselu forced a very similar save from the goalkeeper, although the offside flag was raised ensuring it wouldn't have counted anyway. But Valles was still equal to it when Joselu, this time not offside on the left of the box, was found by the advancing Antonio Rudiger.
Valles continued to frustrate Madrid when he got a strong hand to Nacho's cutback across the box and soon after performed an inch-perfect slide tackle on Brahim racing through on goal. He also kept strong palms when Nacho blasted straight at him from close range.
With no shortage of genuine chances, Joselu was denied twice more by Valles before the first half came to a close, once smothering when Federico Valverde picked the pocket of Eric Curbelo and fired across the box, and then with his feet from a low shot.
Despite Valles' heroics, it had been coming by the time Brahim's composed shot in first half stoppage time took a minor deflection and went high into the net. A switch of play had found substitute full-back Lucas Vazquez on the right, pulling back to Brahim in space in the middle of the box.
Joselu finally got his goal early in the second half when Rodrygo delivered a teasing cross in from the left and the veteran forward glanced the ball towards the far post and beyond Valles' reach.
Rodrygo himself had other opportunities after that which he was unable to take, although with Madrid cruising towards victory it was clear that the intensity of the game as a whole had dropped to little more than walking pace as the half continued to progress.
Most of Madrid's initiative in the closing stages came from Vinicius Junior, making his long awaited return to action after the best part of a month out through injury. It was fair to say the Brazilian was little rusty and short of match practice, although it offers promise for the coming weeks.
Real Madrid player ratings (4-4-2)
GK: Kepa Arrizabalaga - 6/10 - Largely a spectator.
RB: Nacho (c) - 7/10 - Got forward into good positions from right-back without making the most of them. Moved into the middle once Alaba went off.
CB: Antonio Rudiger - 7/10 - Showed a desire to bring the ball forward out of defence.
CB: David Alaba - 5/10 - Not really tested in a defensive capacity before he limped off the pitch and straight down the tunnel in the first half.
LB: Ferland Mendy - 6/10 - Made good use of theball and tried to progress it up the pitch.
DM: Aurelien Tchouameni - 6/10 - Nothing too taxing at the base of the midfield.
CM: Federico Valverde - 8/10 - Performed both sides of his midfield role well and was able to force mistakes and chances with good pressing.
CM: Eduardo Camavinga - 8/10 - Carried the ball so well with effortless quality.
AM: Brahim Diaz - 8/10 - Made the most of his opprtunity to start with quick pressing. His breakthrough goal was very well taken when it looked Valles wouldn't be beaten.
ST: Joselu - 8/10 - Seemed like he was in a personal battle with Valles and could have had a first half hat-trick on another day. Eventually got his goal soon after half-time.
ST: Rodrygo - 7/10 - Couldn't take a good early chance and it's clear the position still doesn't really suit him. But quality shone through to assist the second.
Substitutes
SUB: Lucas Vazquez (41' for Alaba) - 7/10
SUB: Dani Ceballos (57' for Brahim) - 6/10
SUB: Vinicius Junior (57' for Joselu) - 6/10
SUB: Fran Garcia (76' for Mendy) - 6/10
SUB: Toni Kroos (77' for Camavinga) - 6/10
Subs not used: Gonzalez (GK), Lunin (GK), Carvajal, Modric, Bellingham
Manager
Carlo Ancelotti - 8/10 - Decided to rest Jude Bellingham and wasn't let down by his selection.
Player of the match - Alvaro Valles (Las Palmas)
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This article was originally published on 90min as Real Madrid 2-0 Las Palmas: Player ratings as Brahim & Joselu contribute to win.
