A late header from Nacho Fernandez saw Real Madrid edge out Real Valladolid in a hard-fought encounter at the Jose Zorrilla on Sunday night and send Los Blancos three points clear of Barcelona at the top of LaLiga.
Barca’s 2-0 defeat at Valencia on Saturday meant Zinedine Zidane’s side had the chance to finish the weekend as leaders and open up a gap on their fierce rivals.
Casemiro thought he had given Madrid the lead when he rose at the far post to head home from a Toni Kroos free-kick after 12 minutes, but the Brazilian’s effort was ruled out after a VAR check revealed he was very slightly offside.
The visitors struggled to create against a well-organised Valladolid and were missing the drive and urgency of Fede Valverde in midfield.
Karm Benzema headed just wide in the second half from a Rodrygo cross, but the moment of inspiration came from a surprise source.
Nacho, in the team for the suspended Dani Carvajal and because Alvaro Odriozola moved on loan to Bayern Munich, glanced a header inside the post following a Kroos corner after 78 minutes.
Valladolid cranked up the pressure in the closing stages.
Ferland Mendy got back to make a vital last-ditch tackle late on and Sergi Guardiola thought he had levelled after a corner when he hooked in at the far post, only to see his effort ruled out for offside.
Madrid go three points ahead of Barca after 21 rounds of LaLiga, while Valladolid stay in 16th, five clear of the drop zone.
