Vinicius Junior at the double as Real Madrid win at Osasuna.

By Sports Desk March 16, 2024

Vinicius Junior scored twice as LaLiga leaders Real Mardid won 4-2 at Osasuna.

The Brazil forward, who was this week subjected to more racist abuse from rival fans, leading to his club filing a complaint with the Spanish legal authorities, fired Real in front after just four minutes.

Although Osasuna hit back through Ante Budimir, a well-taken goal from Real captain Dani Carvajal had the hosts ahead at the break.

Brahim Diaz scored a third on the break just after the hour mark before Vinicius slotted in his second of the afternoon and Iker Munoz struck a late consolation for the visitors.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side, who were missing England midfielder Jude Bellingham through suspension, made a bright start.

Vinicius gave them an early lead when he took the ball off Osasuna defender Alejandro Catena and ran through to beat the goalkeeper in the fourth minute.

The Brazilian then saw another chance saved after he tried to round keeper Sergio Herrera and Osasuna hit back when Budimir scored from a corner.

Los Blancos, though, regained the lead in the 17th minute when Carvajal latched on to a chipped pass from Federico Valverde to hook the ball in with the outside of his boot.

Following such a frantic start there was a brief lull before Osasuna forward Jose Arnaiz fired another chance over and then Vinicius saw his effort fly just wide before Antonio Rudiger’s header was blocked.

As half-time approached Arnaiz’s curling shot from outside the box was saved by Real keeper Andriy Lunin at full stretch.

Vinicius needlessly picked up a yellow card for dissent when laughing at a decision from referee Martinez Munuera before the break, meaning he will be banned for the LaLiga game against Athletic Bilbao after the international break.

Real, who will face Manchester City in the Champions League quarter-finals, further extended their lead on the hour mark when Diaz raced on to a long kick up field from Lunin, which had been flicked on by Valverde.

Vinicius got his second goal soon after as Valverde turned provider again.

He chested the ball into the path of the Brazilian, who ran into the left side of box and slotted a low shot into far corner for a sixth goal in his past four appearances.

Rodrygo saw his late effort saved before Lucas Vazquez had a goal ruled out for offside.

In stoppage time, Munoz pulled another goal back for Osasuna and 19-year-old Turkish midfielder Arda Guler almost added a fifth for Real when his long-range chip from just past the halfway line dropped on to the crossbar.

Related items

  • Simeone assures Atletico are still a work in progress Simeone assures Atletico are still a work in progress

    Diego Simeone said his revamped Atletico Madrid side are still a work in progress and going through a transition period as their new signings settle in.

    After spending more than €200million reinforcing the squad with signings like Julian Alvarez, Conor Gallagher and Robin Le Normand after a trophyless campaign.

    Atletico have started LaLiga with two wins and two draws, and Simeone said the team are going in the right direction, and he was not concerned with results as ups and downs are expected.

    Coming off the back of an international break, Atletico are fourth in the LaLiga standings, four points behind leaders Barcelona.

    "We will face a difficult task in LaLiga, especially in the beginning of the season, until our team find their rhythm, reach the form that we know we [can] achieve," Simeone told a press conference on Saturday.

    "We have many new players that have joined the team, something that has not happened in the last two seasons. But I'm not changing the objective. I'm still hoping for the best results.

    "It would have been nice if the new guys were around here, but obviously the national teams call and everyone needs to go for two weeks.

    "Our task here is to try to make them feel at home as quickly as possible so they can blend in and perform at the level that we all want.

    Simeone said having too many players was a good problem to have and that he was not worried about choosing a starting 11 as he will rotate his team during a busy schedule, with seven games between LaLiga and the Champions League in the next three weeks.

    "I see the group with enthusiasm, they all want to play and earn their space in the team and are working hard for that," Simeone added.

    "It's difficult to choose who to play, but the number of games ahead allows me to have fresh players available, coming in with a lot of energy and desire.

    "I like to think game by game, and it doesn't take me any further away from Valencia. Yes, we have new players around, but I'm not changing that mentality and our objective, which is still hoping for the best result, game by game."

  • Glenmuir stay perfect in Zone I of daCosta Cup after 2-0 win over neighbours Garvey Maceo Glenmuir stay perfect in Zone I of daCosta Cup after 2-0 win over neighbours Garvey Maceo

    Glenmuir High extended their perfect start to the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA)/Wata daCosta Cup as they blanked neighbours Garvey Maceo 2-0 in a lopsided Zone I affair in May Pen, Clarendon, on Saturday.

    Ricardo Binns’ third goal of the season in the 29th and Orel Miller’s seventh of the season in the 40th was enough to seal the three points, which kept Glenmuir atop the standings on maximum nine points.

    The defeat, Garvey Maceo’s first of the season, saw them slip to third on six points as Foga Road (seven points) jumped to second after a 6-0 beating of Porus High.

    Glenmuir’s Head coach Andrew Peart welcomed the win.

    “I am pleased with the win and the maturity shown by the players. For most of them its three years so as they get older, you expect more of them and I thought they showed that. One of the key things for us was not to get the game stretched and I thought we did that well,” Peart said in a post-game interview.

    “It is step by step where our title ambitions are concerned; for us, the main thing now is to get out of the group and then we go from there. Yes, we plan long term but we are working short term so its day by day for us right now,” he added.

    It was expected to be a close contest between two of last season’s semi-finalists, but Glenmuir had other ideas and should have won by a wider margin.

    The Champions Cup holders dominated proceedings from the start as they were enterprising in the attacking third and created numerous chances, though they struggled to apply the finishing touch.

    It wasn’t until close to the half-hour mark that they inevitably broke the deadlock from a sustained attacking spell, when Binns headed into an empty net after a decent first touch kept the ball alive ahead of the advancing Garfield Tomlinson in goal for Garvey Maceo.

    The lead was doubled 11 minutes later courtesy of Miller, who sidewined his way through four defenders before driving a firm left-footed effort past the hapless Tomlinson to make it 2-0 at the break.

    Down, but not out, Garvey Maceo showed more purpose on the attacking front on the resumption and created a few half chances, which amounted to nothing.

    From there, the contest offered very little to write home about as Glenmuir showed very little in attack, seemingly content with what they already had, while Garvey Maceo did little to trouble their opponents defensive line.

    Garvey Maceo’s head coach Lester Hibbert believes indiscipline led to their demise.

    “We gave them instructions to stay with their markers because Glenmuir was doing a lot of movements. When we started the game, we kept them behind the ball but we lost the discipline and conceded two goals, so we just have to brush ourselves off and come again for the next game on Wednesday,” Hibbert said.

    Saturday’s results

    Vere Technical 0, Kemps Hill 2

    Glenmuir 2, Garvey Maceo 0

    Foga Road 6, Porus 0

    William Knibb 5, Holland 0

    Maggotty High 1, Newell 0

    Mannings 9, Godfrey Stewart 0

    Alston 1, Troy 0

    Herbert Morrison 3, St James 0

    Anchovy 1, Rusea’s High 0

    B.B Coke 1, Munro College 0

    Lennon 0, Clarendon College 2

    Irwin High 3, Green Pond High 3

    Spot Valley 2, Cedric Titus 0

    Port Antonio 2, Wycliffe Martin High 0

    Grange Hill 1, Black River 2

    Maldon 0, Cornwall College 1

  • 'We played two different games' - Maresca hails Chelsea response in Bournemouth win 'We played two different games' - Maresca hails Chelsea response in Bournemouth win

    Enzo Maresca felt Chelsea reaped rewards for "getting your t-shirt dirty", as they snatched a late victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium.

    The Blues endured a steady start with their hosts generating the greater attacking threat for most of the contest, with Robert Sanchez keeping out Evanilson's first-half penalty.

    Marcus Tavernier and Ryan Christie also struck the woodwork for the hosts, but substitute Christopher Nkunku landed the decisive blow five minutes from time.

    And Maresca was pleased with his side's response to a difficult first-half performance.

    "We played two different games," he told Sky Sports. "The first half, we struggled. We didn't win duels; we didn't win second balls. The second half, we were much better.

    "We knew before the game that Bournemouth are very high-pressing, man-to-man orientated. We faced a team who are very aggressive, it was more off the ball that we struggled. [The] second half completely changed the picture.

    "This is football. Last time against [Crystal] Palace, we completely deserved to win the game. We had chances and we drew. Today, it was there, and, in the end, we won.

    "You cannot come here to this stadium and think about winning the game without getting your t-shirt dirty. You need to win duels, you need to fight. If we are able to do this for 95 minutes, you have more chances to win games."

    Maresca handed a debut to new signing Jadon Sancho, who was introduced as a half-time substitute before providing the assist for Nkunku's winner.

    And the Manchester United loanee lifted the lid on how he is finding life since his switch to Stamford Bridge.

    "It's amazing to make my debut for Chelsea," he told Sky Sports. "Just being back playing, I'm very grateful. The team played very well; we dug in to the end and got the three points.

    "I've been working hard for this moment, and I'm happy I got my chance. Going into this season, I wanted to have a good start, and I'm happy.

    "I have to say thank you to the staff and teammates. The first day I came in, they made me feel welcome and comfortable."

© 2024 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.