MADRID —
Vinicius Junior scored his 10th goal of the season as
Real Madrid thrashed Granada 4-1
on Sunday to shoot back to the top of La Liga.
اضافة اعلان
Marco Asensio and
Nacho Fernandez put Madrid two up inside the opening 30 minutes at Los Carmenes,
where Granada briefly made a game of it when Luis Suarez pulled a goal back,
only to be blown away in the second half.
Vinicius finished off a
sumptuous Madrid passing move and was then on the end of a rash challenge from
Granada's Monchu, who was sent off with 23 minutes left to play.
With the extra man, the lead
was never really in doubt and Ferland Mendy made it four to complete a
convincing victory, which sends Madrid two points clear at the top of the
table.
Granada sit 18th, four
points off the bottom.
Carlo Ancelotti now turns
his attention to Wednesday's Champions League game away at Sheriff, with
qualification to the last 16 not yet secured.
Inter Milan are two points
behind in Group D and Sheriff only one point further back.
Madrid, though, appear to be
hitting their stride after recording their fourth consecutive win and extending
their unbeaten run to seven in all competitions. They face second-placed
Sevilla next weekend.
Vinicius has been key and
the Brazilian was on target again versus Granada, making it double figures for
goals in a season for the first time for Madrid. He already has four more than
he managed in the entirety of last term.
With Eden Hazard ill and out
of favor and Gareth Bale injured, the third forward position, alongside
Vinicius and Karim Benzema, is one of those up for grabs in Ancelotti's
starting line-up.
Asensio furthered his claim
with a smart goal in the 19th minute as Granada were dispossessed in midfield
and Toni Kroos sent Asensio in behind the defense, the 25-year-old holding his
finish until the last moment before poking into the far corner.
Nacho made it two six
minutes later, diverting in off the crossbar at the near post after a slick
short-corner routine between the impressive Kroos and Luka Modric.
Vinicius' rougher edges were
exposed for Granada's goal as a sloppy touch allowed Suarez space to unleash
from range, with a deflection off Nacho giving Thibaut Courtois no
chance.
But any hopes of a comeback
were quickly dashed as Vinicius made it three in the 56th minute and Monchu was
sent off in the 67th.
Benzema could have gone
himself but played in Modric at the back post. The Croat then tapped inside for
Vinicius, who had an open net.
A frustrated Monchu slid in
on Vinicius giving Madrid added security. Casemiro slid in Mendy, who duly
tucked in a fourth.
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