Real Madrid beats Sevilla with late Modric winner

Real Madrid extended their lead at the summit of La Liga to eight points with a hard-fought 1-0 triumph over Sevilla, as Luka Modric’s late heroics proved decisive in a contentious encounter at the Santiago Bernabeu. Sergio Ramos, returning to face his former club, endured a rare defeat against Sevilla, seeing his previously unblemished head-to-head record disrupted by the relentless determination of his old adversaries.

From the onset, Real Madrid asserted their dominance in terms of territorial advantage, but it was Sevilla who carved out the first clear opportunity of the match. Isaac Romero’s pinpoint cross found Youssef En-Nesyri in a promising position, only for the striker to squander the chance with a wayward finish, much to the relief of Real Madrid goalkeeper Andriy Lunin.

The home side appeared to have seized the initiative when Lucas Vazquez found the net with a composed finish following a swift counterattack. However, the goal was rightfully disallowed after a VAR review revealed a foul by Nacho on En-Nesyri in the buildup, prompting a collective sigh of relief from the Sevilla camp.

Sevilla’s resolute defense, anchored by the experienced presence of Sergio Ramos, frustrated Real Madrid’s attacking endeavors, stifling the creative talents of Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo. Despite their dominance in possession, Real Madrid struggled to break down their disciplined opponents, with Orjan Nyland in the Sevilla goal largely untroubled until he was forced into action to deny Federico Valverde’s long-range effort just before halftime.

The second half saw Real Madrid continue to press forward, with Brahim Diaz and Valverde both coming close to breaking the deadlock. However, it was Nyland’s heroics that kept Sevilla in the game, as he produced a stunning save to deny Valverde before Lucas Ocampos was thwarted by Lunin at the other end.

As the match approached the hour mark, referee Isidro Díaz de Mera Escuderos was forced to leave the field due to injury, paving the way for fourth official Carlos Fernandez Buergo to make his debut in the middle.

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With time running out, Carlo Ancelotti made a decisive substitution, introducing the veteran playmaker Luka Modric into the fray. The move paid dividends almost immediately, as Modric unleashed a sublime strike from outside the box to give Real Madrid the lead. However, Sevilla vehemently protested the goal, arguing that Antonio Rudiger’s offside position had influenced Loic Bade’s decision-making in the build-up.

Despite the controversy surrounding the winning goal, Real Madrid emerged victorious, extending their unbeaten run at the Santiago Bernabeu to 18 matches. With their sights set on a record-breaking 36th La Liga title, Real Madrid will look to maintain their momentum in the upcoming clash against Valencia, while Sevilla aims to bounce back against Real Sociedad.