Match Report: Real Madrid Castilla 3-2 Valladolid B

This is a mundane portion of the season in which everything appears to become quite repetitive and long winded. The games seemingly pass by at a very fast rate, but when observing the table you get the exact opposite feeling. Still, Castilla were edging closer to an important last stretch after going unbeaten in their last four games, winning three of them. The visit of below mid-table side Valladolid B was the perfect opportunity to push further ahead. Valladolid gave Castilla a good game last time out, and Madrid had to come from behind to take all three points during their early season run of form under Solari. For this one, Manolo Díaz opted for a strong defence, but Luca Zidane came in between the sticks behind them. Further up field it became more of a 4-4-2 as Jorge De Frutos and Alberto started out wide with Seoane and Fidalgo in the middle. In form men Cristo González and Dani Gómez started up top.

It was another very energetic start for Castilla, not quite the 25 second goal we saw from the last game, but Castilla’s good play did hand them the opener and Cristo sliced open the defence with a preceise pass for Seoane to square it to Gómez for an easy finish. This kind of link up play has been evident from the first week that Manolo Díaz returned, and certainly looks to be one of the strength's of his styles. Surprisingly this was the only goal of the first half, but Alberto did come close to adding another as well as Cristo.

The second goal didn’t involve so many players, but Cristo was again on hand as he sped towards a defender and spooned the ball forwards. Jorge De Frutos was more than willing to latch onto the loose ball and smash home for two. The game was far from over however. Valladolid hit back with a pinpoint shot into the bottom corner, before being awarded a late penalty that was finished off calmly. It wouldn’t have been the first time that Castilla had bottled a comfortable lead, but more importantly - it wouldn’t have been the first time that Castilla had snatched a late winner either. After some superb play by Fran García down the left to beat two men and cross - the ball was brought down poorly by a defender and Cristo González pounced to provide Castilla with the win!

This win pushes Castilla up to third place, but more importantly means that they are strongly in contention for a play-off place at the moment, with only two games to go before the last stretch. The fact that they sit four points ahead of fifth placed Ponferradina means that they technically only need one good result to maintain the status before the final objective. Man of the match went to Fran García for an inspired performance down the left hand side. The next game is against another mid-table side at best: Internacional. This could well be the one.

Goals: Gómez, De Frutos & González.

Assists: Seoane, González & García.

MOTM: García.