Real Madrid certainly did not have things all their own way on Sunday evening as the hosts had to wait until the 81st minute to secure a hard-fought victory over Sevilla at the Bernabeu. Luka Modric, as is so often the case, proved to be the hero for Carlo Ancelotti’s side as he netted late on to seal a win that did not always look as though it was going to come.

Luka Modric of Real Madrid celebrates after scoring the team’s first goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu

Image credit: Getty Images

Luka Modric’s stunning strike sealed a 1-0 win for Real Madrid over Sevilla, sending Los Blancos eight points clear at the top of the La Liga standings.Madrid eventually got the job done at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday, with substitute Modric hammering in a wonderful goal in the 81st minute.Carlo Ancelotti’s team had been frustrated by VAR earlier on, with referee Isidro Diaz de Mera Escuderos – who later went off injured and had to be replaced by the fourth official – disallowing Lucas Vazquez’s 10th-minute goal after consulting the pitchside monitor.

Despite Madrid’s dominance, Sevilla had the best chances either side of Federico Valverde hitting the post just after half-time, with Youssef En-Nesyri slicing wide and Andriy Lunin brilliantly denying Isaac Romero.That save paved the way for Modric’s heroics, with Madrid continuing their march towards the title.En-Nesyri should have put Sevilla ahead in the eighth minute, only to skew wide from point-blank range after connecting with Romero’s cross.Madrid seemed to have punished his profligacy soon after, but the referee adjudged Nacho to have fouled En-Nesyri in the build-up to Vazquez prodding home.

Valverde’s superb strike was tipped over by Orjan Nyland, but the main action came after the interval – Madrid’s Uruguayan midfielder striking the post four minutes after the restart.A flurry of Madrid opportunities followed, though the hosts relied on Lunin to keep him level as the Ukrainian made a sprawling stop to keep out Romero’s effort.An injury to referee Escuderos meant the fourth official had to come on in his place, and Madrid ultimately turned the screw following that break in play, with Modric – after latching onto a loose clearance – creating enough space to drill in a fantastic strike off the right-hand upright from 20 yards out.Kike Salas headed wide as Sevilla pushed for an equaliser, but Madrid ultimately saw out a win that further asserts their dominance at the summit of Spain’s top tier.

Luka Modric

Image credit: Getty Images

TALKING POINT – GETTING IT DONE, JUST ABOUT

It wasn’t exactly a case of ‘No Jude Bellingham, no problem’ for Madrid, but in a season in which their new star has delivered in so many clutch moments, it was perhaps fitting that one of the old guard stepped up in his absence.Modric is set to leave Madrid at the end of the season, and vacate that famous number 10 shirt in the process (who for, we wonder…), but he delivered when it mattered most. With Bellingham due back soon, there does not appear to be any stopping Los Blancos’ title charge.

PLAYER OF THE MATCH – LUKA MODRIC (REAL MADRID)

An honourable mention for Lunin, but it is Modric who stole the show with that sensational winner, which was his only shot of the game. He had 30 touches, and completed 20 of his 21 passes (95.2 per cent).At 38 years and 169 days old, Modric became the second oldest player to score from outside of the box in LaLiga since the 2003-04 campaign, after Jorge Molina.

PLAYER RATINGS

Real Madrid: Lunin 8, Vazquez 7, Nacho 7, Rudiger 7, Mendy 6, Valverde 7, Kroos 6, Tchouameni 6, Diaz 7, Rodrygo 6, Vinicius 7. Subs: Modric 9*, Ceballos 6, Rodriguez N/A.Sevilla: Nyland 7, Navas 6, Bade 7, Ramos 8, Salas 7, Torres 7, Soumare 6, Sow 6, Ocampos 7, En-Nesyri 6, Romero 6. Subs: Suso 6, Sanchez 6, Veliz 6, Nianzou N/A, Januzaj N/A.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

8’ – WHAT A MISS! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (En-Nesyri): Oh my word, what a chance that was for Sevilla! A long ball down the left saw Romero get clear down the left, and he slid an inch-perfect cross over to the onrushing En-Nesyri, but with plenty of the goal to aim at from close range, the striker could not keep his shot down. Huge let off for Madrid!

14’ – NO GOAL! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (Vazquez): That seems incredibly harsh on Madrid, but the official has disallowed the goal. Ancelotti’s team are furious, and Sevilla get away with it.

45+2’ – WHAT A STRIKE! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (Valverde): It’s a piledriver from Valverde, who lined up his sights and hammered a shot at goal from distance. The ball swazzed and swerved, but Nyland kept his eye on it, sticking out a strong left hand to parry it over. What a goal that would have been!

49’ – OFF THE POST! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (Valverde): So close to an opener for Madrid! That’s better, as the hosts cut through Sevilla and the ball is worked back to Valverde in the area. However, at the vital moment, the midfielder stumbles, and rather skews his shot, which clips away off the right-hand upright. It remains 0-0.

52’ – SAVE! Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla (Lunin): That is absolutely brilliant from Lunin, who keeps Madrid level with an instinctive save, keeping out Romero’s effort from point-blank range. What a stop from the Ukrainian goalkeeper, and suddenly this game has burst into life!62’ –THE REF NEEDS REPLACING!Real Madrid 0-0 Sevilla: Well, you don’t see this every day! The referee is going to have to be subbed off, with what appears to be a calf injury signalling the end of his night. The fourth official – Fernandez Buergo – is going to have to replace him. What a chaotic second half this has been!

81’ – GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla (Modric): What. A. Hit! Modric the super sub has delivered! He picked up the scraps from a loose clearance and, from 20 yards out, rifled a brilliant strike in off the right-hand upright. Nyland had no chance, and Los Blancos finally have their lead! The Sevilla players are complaining, led by Ramos, apparently for an offside in the build up. Rudiger was in an offside position when the ball came in, but he did not get involved, so the goal will stand!

90’ – CLOSE! Real Madrid 1-0 Sevilla (Salas): That could have been a leveller for Sevilla! An outswinging corner delivered by Suso finds Salas’ head, but the defender can only glance his effort wide. Will that be Sevilla’s final chance?

KEY STATS

1 – At 38 years and 169 days, @realmadriden's Luka Modrić has become the second oldest player to score from outside the box in LaLiga since at least the 2003/04 season, after Jorge Molina (two goals, the last at 40 years and 15 days). Eternal. pic.twitter.com/c9yQkwG51t

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 25, 2024

17 – @realmadriden have taken 17 points after scoring in the last 15 minutes of the games in LaLiga 2023/24 – Only FC Barcelona (24) have won more this season. Agonising. pic.twitter.com/P83giUMyQy

— OptaJose (@OptaJose) February 25, 2024