Promoted Pucela tied up Real Madrid, but lost in the 78 minute
The Valladolid team consolidated in the center of the field, with Joaquín positioned between the defense and that hot zone, where it was crucial not to lose balls. The Valladolid team came out eager and very focused against a Madrid that arrived at the José Zorrilla with the novelty of Nacho replacing Carvajal.
Neither of the two teams managed to approach with danger, but in a free kick, Kroos found Casemiro, who scored a header to surpass Masip. The clear goal didn't last long, as the VAR determined that it had occurred offside and the referee decisively annulled it.
The Valladolid team responded to that first warning from the Real Madrid side with an attempted Olympic goal by Míchel, which had to be deflected by Courtois. But the truth is that they hardly reached the visitors' area and, when they did, it didn't pose much danger to the Madrid defense.
However, Zidane's team didn't do enough to open the scoring either, as they found a good defensive approach from the hosts, with order and intensity, to try to counteract the strength in the center of the field of Real Madrid and to stop the possible breakthroughs of Kroos or Modric.
If Madrid lacked depth in the first half, Sergio González's team lacked that final pass to surprise the Real Madrid goalkeeper, which is why they tried in other ways, such as Raúl Carnero's center-shot that gained momentum and forced Courtois to intervene.
There was one more opportunity if you can call it that, as Joaquín managed to penetrate to the bottom of the area to deliver the pass, although he didn't find a finisher, so the first half ended with the initial scoreline.
After the break, Madrid came out with more intensity, and the game moved to the white-purples' area, in search of a victory that would allow them to distance themselves from Barcelona, after the blue-reds' setback against Valencia. Thus, Rodrygo was the first to try it, with a powerful shot that Masip saved.
Benzema followed, with a weak shot that also didn't pose a problem for the local goalkeeper. And then Isco, with the execution of a dangerous free kick on the edge of the area, which went over the crossbar, and again Benzema with a header that also missed the target.
But even though the Valladolid players continued to fight to stop the giant, Kroos found space to get close to the local area and provide a great cross to Nacho, who perfectly headed the ball, surprising Masip and thus putting the first goal of the match on the scoreboard in the 78th minute.
It was clear that it was a blow for a Real Valladolid team that had given their all, but the players didn't give up and tried to balance the match again, first with Joaquín, through a shot from outside the area that went to the left of the Madrid goal.
The clearest chance came in the 87th minute, with a header from Guardiola after a corner kick by Raúl Carnero that beat Courtois, but as happened in the first half with Casemiro, it was disallowed for being offside, just as the crowd had risen to celebrate it.
There was no more time. Zidane made the final substitution and the additional minutes passed without the hosts having any opportunity to equalize.
Match details:
0 - Real Valladolid: Masip; Antoñito, Kiko Olivas, Salisu, Raúl Carnero; Alcaraz, Míchel (Toni Villa, m.57), Joaquín, Fede San Emeterio (Miguel, m.80); Ünal (Óscar Plano, m.76) and Guardiola.
1 - Real Madrid: Courtois; Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Mendy; Kroos, Casemiro, Modric (Valverde, m.87); Rodrygo (Jovic, m.90+), Benzema, Isco (Lucas Vázquez, m.73).
Goals: 0-1, m.78: Nacho.
Referee: Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (Basque committee). Yellow card shown to Joaquín (m.10) of Real Valladolid and Varane (m.36), Modric (m.56), Nacho (m.75) of Real Madrid.
Incidents: Match corresponding to the twenty-first matchday of LaLiga Santander, played at José Zorrilla stadium with 23,304 spectators present.