Real Madrid took a dramatic win against Sevilla this Saturday. It was the 25th round of La Liga, and the team managed to fight back from being under 2-0 to defeating Sevilla in the end, 3-2. With the victory, the Whites took the top spot from Barcelona; the Azulgranas had tied against Almeria 2-2 - both goals scored by superstar Lionel Messi. (Messi is the top scorer of the tournament, with 19 goals.)
The victory marked the Meringues' seventh consecutive victory; the team has scored 14 goals in three games and has gained 62 points. The Blaugrana also have 62 points, but they lost the top spot through goal difference.
Both Sevilla and Real Madrid entered the game with great tactical game plans. But Sevilla was able to take advantage when Jesus Navas pushed forward before shifting the ball to Diego Capel, who centered the ball to Alvaro Negredo. Xabi Alonso, trying desperately to clear the ball, scored in a disappointing own-goal, putting the score 1-0 in favor of Sevilla at minute 10.
Real Madrid responded quickly; the Whites began to control the action, something they should have done from the beginning. However, aware of Sevilla's dangerous counterattacks, both Real's defense and midfielder were stuck in position.
At minute 20, Sevilla suffered a first setback, with an injury to Abdoulay Konko that led to his replacement by Adriano.
Pellegrini's team was able to control more and more of the game while Sevilla had no choice but to shut itself in its own area. The Whites began pushing forward into the FIlligranas' area. Kaka, Higuain, and Cristiano Ronaldo had opportunities to equalize the scoring, but an inspired Andres Palop was able to control the Meringues' attempts, ending the first half 1-0 in Sevilla's favor.
After halftime, the Rojiblancos seemed to realize that they had to change their plan of attack. But just seven minutes into the game, after a foul over Dragutinovic - a serious mistake shared between Alonso and Iker Casillas - Real Madrid went down by two goals.
The second goal was a new blow for the Meringues. Needing a change, Pellegrini tried to add more creativity in midfield, removing a defender and replacing Van der Vaart and Guti for Arbeloa and Lass.
With the changes, Real Madrid was able to return to an offensive strategy. The new tactics bore fruit just ten minutes after Sevilla's second goal, at minute 60. Ronaldo made the first point, and then, just four minutes later, Sergio Ramos headed in the second, putting the scoreboard at 2-2.
Madrid players had victory at their feet, if only they could keep pressuring Sevilla. Two more shots headed towards Sevilla's net only to ricochet off the post; the Whites had to wait until Van der Vaart was able to score in a rejected shot in the last play of the game at minute 92. The Meringues won at the last second, taking the game 3-2.
At the end of the game, Negredo acknowledged that Sevilla's loss came from Madrid's strong offensive push.
"The problem was that we were pushed back. The team was sat back and they created a lot of chances. They kept on pushing and pushing us further back and in the end that cost us the game," said Negredo.
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