Rodrygo proved to be the hero for Real Madrid as his brace secured a crucial 2-1 win over Sevilla in a thrilling La Liga encounter on Saturday.
The victory propelled Real Madrid four points clear of their third-place rivals, Atletico Madrid.
Missing injured stars Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, and Vinicius Junior, who had been subjected to racial abuse the previous week, Carlo Ancelotti’s side relied heavily on Rodrygo in the attacking department.
After Rafa Mir gave Sevilla the early lead, Rodrygo stepped up and showcased his talent by scoring two goals, with the first coming from a well-executed free kick.
“It’s hard to choose. They were both nice goals, maybe the second a little bit more, but scoring from a free kick is always special,” Rodrygo expressed to DAZN. “We always practice them and talk about it before, whoever is the most confidence takes it, and I took the ball.”
With just 10 minutes remaining, Ancelotti made the surprising decision to substitute Rodrygo, much to the disappointment of the young forward who was eager to complete a hat-trick. Nevertheless, Rodrygo’s contributions had already secured the victory for Real Madrid.
Sevilla coach Jose Luis Mendilibar opted to rotate several key players in preparation for the upcoming final against Jose Mourinho’s side, which contributed to the intense rain-soaked clash at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium.
Mir opened the scoring for Sevilla in the third minute after Bryan Gil’s shot was blocked, but Rodrygo had an opportunity to equalize soon after. Although he initially missed the target, the Brazilian quickly made amends by curling a splendid free-kick past the goalkeeper, levelling the score.
Early in the second half, Mir came close to reclaiming the lead for Sevilla, narrowly missing the target with a powerful effort. However, it was Rodrygo who once again stole the spotlight, showcasing his skill and composure as he glided past Sevilla defender Gonzalo Montiel before calmly slotting home his second goal.
With Sevilla reduced to ten men following Marcos Acuna’s late red card for a reckless tackle on Dani Ceballos, Real Madrid maintained control to secure the victory. The tense match saw tempers flare, leading to heated exchanges between players during the nine minutes of stoppage time.
Ancelotti praised the Sevilla fans for creating a positive atmosphere and emphasized the importance of maintaining respectful behavior in stadiums. Real Madrid’s triumph helps them solidify their position above cross-town rivals Atletico Madrid, who still have a match to play.
While Sevilla faced a challenging start to the season, the appointment of Mendilibar brought stability and lifted them to a respectable 10th position. Additionally, their journey to the Europa League final is a testament to their resilience and unity as a team.
“We’re a family, we’ve shown it. We’ve had some very bad moments, but the last quarter of the season has been spectacular,” Mir remarked. “Now we have the prize of the final, and we want to come back here with the cup.”
Real Madrid’s victory not only strengthens their position in the league but also provides a positive end to a season that saw them lose in the Champions League and relinquish the La Liga title to Barcelona.
