Real Madrid secured a flattering 2-0 win against Real Valladolid at the Bernabeu in Santiago Solari's first game in charge.
It was Madrid's first La Liga win in five weeks but the home side failed to impress for much of the game and were whistled off the pitch after a drab first half.
However, 18-year-old Brazilian Vinicius Jr. came off the bench and after jinking past three players his cross-come-shot took a cruel deflection off Kiko and nestled in the bottom-left corner of the net. It was a wicked piece of luck for Valladolid who had defended so well throughout the match and had begun to create a number of openings of their own as Madrid became evermore desperate to find a winner.
Moments after the goal, Vinicius then laid off the ball to Karim Benzema on the edge of the box who touched it past Calero before being brought down by the centre-back's trailing leg. Sergio Ramos, who had also been whistled prior to kick-off, chipped the keeper to confirm the fortunate victory.
Three points no less and an end to Real Madrid's winless run in the league secured. Yet whether the victory will do anything to convince Florentino Perez that Solari should stay in the job remains to be seen.
Relive all the action below.
FT: Real Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid
A deceiving scoreline at the Bernabeu but it's Santiago Solari's winning start which will be remembered. A huge deflection after a fine piece of trickery from Vinicius broke the deadlock after 83 minutes and Sergio Ramos' penalty, after Karim Benzema was brought down, finished the job. Whether the performance will have done anything to convince Florentino Perez that he should stay in the hot seat however remains to be seen.
Real Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid
90': It's such a harsh result on Valladolid who played so well up until that deflection. They were rigid in defence and only a cruel stroke of luck could separate them from a deserved draw.
GOAL! Real Madrid 2-0 Real Valladolid
88' (Ramos): Ramos chips it down the middle and celebrates passionately out of relief.
Penalty! Real Madrid 1-0 Real Valladolid
86': And after a penalty appeal was turned down just moments ago, now Real Madrid have the golden opportunity to put this game to bed. Benzema touched the ball past Calero as he darted into the box and the centre-back's hanging leg invited the Frenchman to tumble.
GOAL! Real Madrid 1-0 Real Valladolid
83' (Kiko og): A wicked deflection gifts Real Madrid the breakthrough. Vinicius skips past three defenders from the touchline and his cross come shot takes a huge deflection off Kiko and into the bottom-right corner of the net. It was such a cruel piece of luck for Valladolid.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
77': Finally Madrid get in behind Valladolid's defence and it's the right-back Odiozoloa, who was actually offside, who fizzes a dangerous ball in from the byline but it's well gathered by the keeper.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
73': And the final change is made just moments later as Vinicius comes on for Asensio. Solari is throwing everything at it now.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
70': And it's another change for Real Madrid as Lucas Vasquez comes on for Gareth Bale who leaves the pitch to the sounds of whistles.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
67': Valladolid are taking an increasing foothold on this game now and there's little more than 20 minutes to play as Solari looks increasingly worried on the touchline.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
63': The game is becoming much more open now as Real Madrid become more desperate to find a winner and although it's the home side who are having the best of possession, a number of last ditch tackles have been needed from Sergio Ramos to prevent Valladolid on the breakaway.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
59': And again they breach Madrid's defence and again the whistles resume. Nacho's ball set Laureano Suarez clean through but the winger slipped as he struck the ball allowing Courtois to dive to his left and make the save.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
57': But on the breakaway Valladolid hit the woodwork! After charging upfield the ball was laid back to Ruben Alcaraz whose half-volley dipped on to the cross bar with Courtois well beaten.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
55': And suddenly the home side have Valladolid under the cosh. Karim Benzema's shot is blocked by Calero with what looked like an arm before Casemiro's follow up from the edge of the box was tipped wide by the goalkeeper.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
53': Finally a great piece of interplay between Modric and Kroos creates space on the left and the latter hooks in a cross to the back post with his weaker foot. Casemiro rises to meet it first but his header is blocked when it looked like a certain goal.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
52': Isco is preparing to come on for Casemiro.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
50': Real Madrid seem to have come out with greater urgency for the second-half implementing a higher press to put Valladolid under pressure but still they're finding it hard to create space in the final third.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
47': Bale and Asensio have swapped wings now to try and open up the flanks with the away side so stern down the centre.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
And still the fans whistle as the players return to the pitch for the second-half.
HT: Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
The whistles ring out at half-time. It's a toxic atmosphere at the Bernabeu. The only positive so far has been Sergio Reguilon, the 21-year-old left-back filling in for the injured Marcelo, who has provided a consistent bustle of energy down the wing and created a number of chances only to be wasted by Bale and Benzema.
Real Madrid 0-0 Real Valladolid
42': A long-range attempt from Luka Modric sums up Real Madrid's lack of ideas this half. Their greatest creative influence, the world player of the year, blasting over as his teammates make laboured runs ahead of him.
