Player ratings as Los Blancos quality shines through

Real Madrid have piled more early pressure on Barcelona in La Liga’s developing title race with a 3-1 win over a surprisingly resilient but injury-plagued Sevilla to open up a six-point at the top of the table – the Catalans have chance to respond when they face Athletic Bilbao on Sunday.

An early goal from Luka Modric was cancelled out by Erik Lamela, before substitute Lucas Vazquez restored Real’s lead late on and Federico Valverde quickly made sure there would be no further comeback with a rocket of a strike for his seventh goal of the season.

Los Blancos were missing Karim Benzema, who was honoured on the pitch with his Ballon d’Or trophy before the match, but attacking vibrancy was in strong supply straightaway.

It was a perfect start on a wet night in the Spanish capital, Vinicius Junior nicking the ball off Sevilla full-back Gonzalo Montiel high up the pitch and quickly driving forward. Crucially, he had the presence of mind to pick out Modric at the far post for an easy tap-in.

Real went close to doubling their lead inside the first 20 minutes from a David Alaba free-kick, but the left-footed effort whistled just wide of the post. Rodrygo also soon threatened when he cut in dangerously from the left – the resultant shot was high and wide, however.

Vinicius almost got in just before half-time when he latched onto Valverde’s flick and took it beyond Sevilla goalkeeper Bono, only for the ball to run long and Montiel recover. That preceded Sevilla’s very first shot of the match in the 45th minute, a comfortable save from Thibaut Courtois.

The equaliser early in the second half came virtually out of nothing. No one in the Real back-line seemed to want responsibility tracking the run of Lamela as Montiel played a through ball, with the clever first-time finish sneaking into the net despite a hand from Courtois.

Real appeared a little rattled after that, with both Isco and Lamela having chances for Sevilla that missed the target – to the relief of those inside the Bernabeu.

Following that brief malaise, the hosts did manage to recoup some attacking momentum and were close to retaking the lead when Vinicius again went round Bono after racing onto a Rodrygo backheel. But he could only hit the side netting from a very narrow angle.

The late winner came only moments after Carlo Ancelotti had made a triple substitution, with Vazquez off the bench to score it. The move was a rapid counter attack after Real had won the ball in their own half, with…