Real Madrid beat Real Valladolid 2-0 at the Bernabeu in Saturday afternoon's La Liga clash through a couple of late goals.
Los Blancos survived a couple of scares before netting via a Kiko Olivas own goal and a Sergio Ramos penalty in the final seven minutes.
Valladolid twice hit the crossbar with the game all square and looked good value for a point before being undone in the closing stages.
Relive how the 90 minutes of action unfolded with Sports Mole's live text coverage below.
Hello and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of the La Liga clash between Real Madrid and Real Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu. Los Blancos embark on their latest new chapter this afternoon as Santiago Solari - promoted from his position with the reserve side - takes charge of his first league game, less than a week on from the sacking of Julen Lopetegui.
Last weekend's 5-1 loss to arch-rivals Barcelona brought an end to Lopetegui's short-lived tenure in the Spanish capital, leaving Solari in temporary control. That is assuming the European champions can find a permanent successor within the two weeks afforded to them by the Spanish FA - if not then Solari will see the job through until the end of the campaign. Victory today will do his hopes of landing the job on a long-term basis no harm at all.
REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Courtois; Odriozola, Ramos, Nacho, Reguilon; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Asensio, Benzema, Bale
SUBS: Navas, Valverde, Lucas Vazquez, Isco, Ceballos, Vinicius, Sanchez
A new manager often attempts to put a fresh spin on things, but that is not exactly the case this afternoon as Solari has gone with a familiar-looking XI. The big news is that Sergio Reguilon is drafted into the team as emergency cover at left-back, with Nacho Fernandez required in the middle due to Raphael Varane's absence. Injuries to Marcelo, Daniel Carvajal and Varane has left Los Blancos pretty bare in that department.
Alvaro Odriozola is not the worst back-up option on the right side of the back four, but Madrid are far from their strongest in that department, with Sergio Ramos the only regular. Behind the defensive setup is Thibaut Courtois, who retains his place in goal from the heavy loss to Barcelona, despite suggestions in the Spanish press over the past few days that Keylor Navas may be restored by Solari.
Midfield and attack is also as expected, with Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio being given the nod in the forward line, either side of Karim Benzema. All three of those players have struggled in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo, who it is fair to say Los Blancos failed to replace in the summer. Luka Modric has also made a slow start to the campaign, but he is undoubtedly one of the finest midfielders on the planet, making it hard to leave him out. Casemiro and Toni Kroos complete the midfield three.
REAL VALLADOLID TEAM NEWS!
STARTING XI: Masip; Moyano, Kiko, Calero, Nacho; Antonito, Michel, Alcarez, Villa; L.Suarez, Unal
SUBS: J.Fernandez, B.Fernandez, Plano, Verde, Rodriguez, Cop, Mohamed
Switching attention to the visitors now, and boss Sergio Gonzalez has stuck with the same XI that played out a 1-1 draw with Espanyol last weekend. Gonzalez has a settled lineup and feels no need to change things for this trip to the Bernabeu, meaning that Leo Suarez and Enes Unal will start in tandem in the frontline. It is worth pointing out that Valladolid sit above Madrid in the table heading into this match.
Keko is still sidelined so Daniele Verde will provide attacking cover from the bench. Kiko Olivas was a fitness doubt ahead of this afternoon kickoff, having trained away from the rest of his teammates earlier in the week, but he is deemed fit enough to start alongside Fernando Calero in the heart of the back four, as Gonzalez once again goes with a 4-4-2 formation.
Leo Suarez has scored two goals in six appearances this season and Enes Unal alongside him has two in eight, but none since September. Those are hardly hardly the type of scoring figures to scare experienced opposition defender Sergio Ramos, but Valladolid know how to pick up wins - or avoid defeat, as was the case with their late point at Espanyol a week ago - and this will therefore be a tough test for the home side.
Despite widespread calls for him to be dropped, Gareth Bale is named in Santiago Solari's first La Liga starting lineup. Los Blancos are set out as expected, with Sergio Reguilon coming in for just a third start of the season at left-back - a month on from featuring in the 1-0 loss to CSKA Moscow. Madrid are missing the likes of Raphael Varane, Marcelo and Dani Carvajal today, so their back four is far from full strength.
Real Madrid head into this match sitting ninth in La Liga, already seven points adrift of leaders Barcelona and in a real battle to simply nail down a top-four finish. It truly has been a disastrous start to the campaign for the reigning European champions, with the 5-1 demolition at the hands of arch-rivals Barcelona last weekend proving to be the last straw. Lopetegui was gone within 24 hours.
Decisive action was needed, especially considering that many felt Lopetegui was fortunate to still be in the job by the time El Clasico had come around. The ex-Spain boss lasted just four months in the Bernabeu hotseat, overseeing one of the worst runs in this proud club's history. Madrid pointed out in their statement that Lopetegui had failed, having been left a squad boasting eight Ballon d'Or nominees, but in his defence Mariano Diaz is no replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo.
Vinicius Junior has also been brought in, and there are big hopes for the Brazilian youngster, but Madrid really did need to spend in the £150/200m bracket to land a player of Harry Kane or Robert Lewandowski's quality. As it is, three months into 2018-19 their campaign is already crumbling - is Solari, plucked from the Castilla side, really the man to steady the ship? Time will tell on that front, as it does not look as though Antonio Conte or Mauricio Pochettino will be arriving anytime soon.
Madrid were champions of Spain and Europe in 2016-17, but they went on to finish 17 points behind Barcelona last season in third place. That was even with Ronaldo in their ranks, who guarantees around 40 goals in all competitions each year, so Lopetegui was always going to have a big task on his hands with the squad left to him. That said, the likes of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio have all failed to push on in the absence of club-record goalscorer Ronaldo.
The capital club have lost four and drawn one of their last five matches in La Liga, conceding 11 goals and scoring just two in that time - both of their goal coming via Marcelo, who also netted in the Champions League win against Viktoria Plzen. In all competitions it is two wins in their last eight, having also brushed aside lower-league outfit Melilla in the Copa del Rey in midweek to somewhat paper over the cracks.
That cup win did at least inject some confidence into Madrid's players - those that were involved in both that game and this afternoon's, at least - and they now desperately need some momentum in what is a huge week for them. After taking on an in-form Valladolid side this afternoon, Los Blancos then travel to Viktoria Plzen in the Champions League and Celta Vigo in La Liga. Three wins from that run is an absolute must.
Madrid are still on course to make it through to the last 16 of the Champions League thanks to their slender win over Plzen last week and, despite the mess that they find themselves in, you would not bet against the reigning European champions making it an unprecedented four in a row in their home city next year. Challenging for the La Liga title is surely already out of the question, though, as they are seven points behind Barcelona and five off both Sevilla and Atletico Madrid.
DID YOU KNOW? Real Madrid have failed to win any of their last five La Liga matches - the last time they went six or more was in October 1999, when failing to pick up three points in eight successive games. Based on October's results alone, meanwhile, Los Blancos would be bottom of the division on zero points, level with Huesca and Real Betis but with an inferior goal difference.
This is the first time that Madrid have had a negative goal difference after 10 La Liga matches, currently finding themselves on exactly zero after scoring 14 and conceding 14 so far, since 1947-48 when they were on -8. Of those 14 goals conceded across the first three months, just four of them have come in the second half of matches - the lowest-such tally in the division - suggesting that they are slow starters.
Real Madrid have conceded 14 goals in La Liga this season to leave them with a non-positive goal difference after 10 matches for the first time since 1947. Equally as worrying for stand-in boss Santiago Solari, Los Blancos have scored just three goals in their last eight La Liga and Champions League matches, all coming via injured defender Marcelo. Whichever way you look at it, the Spanish giants are in serious trouble.
Real Valladolid are in a far better shape than their opponents heading into this match, sitting two points and three places better off after more than a quarter of the season. The White and Violets finished fifth in the Segunda Division last time out before earning promotion via the playoffs, and it is fair to say that the have exceeded all expectations in the early stages of their return to the top flight.
The visitors collected just three points from the first 15 on offer, with the vast majority of those games against mid-to-lower-table sides - Barcelona being the obvious exception - but they have since taken 13 from the last 15. Valladolid beat Levante, Villarreal, Huesca and Real Betis, before rescuing a late draw against Espanyol eight days ago - Daniele Verde cancelling out Borja Iglesias's opener in the closing stages.
Only Sevilla are in better form that Valladolid over the past six matches, in fact, which only Huesca and Rayo Vallecano - who host Barcelona later today - are in worse form that Real Madrid during the same timeframe. Gonzalez's men have gone seven matches without defeat in all competitions, having also won 2-1 at Mallorca in the first leg of their Copa del Rey last-32 tie in midweek.
The White and Violets must now prepare for games against Madrid, Eibar and Sevilla before the month is over - two tough fixtures which, on paper, should see them drop down the table come the start of December. That is not to take away from what has been an impressive past couple of months, with their run of six matches without a defeat in La Liga their best run in the competition since December 2003. They went seven matches without losing on that occasion.
Another string to Valladolid's bow is their ability to punish opponents from set pieces, as they are the only La Liga side to have scored directly from two free kicks this season. Ruben Alcaraz and Daniele Verde have both done so, and the former will undoubtedly put his name forward for any such opportunities this afternoon. The visitors may have scored just nine times this term - a tally bettered by 14 other sides in the division - but at the other end they have conceded just seven times.
Atletico Madrid, surprise surprise, are the only side to boast a better defensive record than Valladolid's. Speaking of which, the Rojiblancos have already played today, being held to a 1-1 draw by Leganes at the Estadio Municipal de Butarque. That is a good result for Madrid, as well as leaders Barcelona, who we will be covering later today. La Liga may slowly start to take shape over the next few rounds of matches.
MANAGERS' COMMENTS!
Santiago Solari: "The team played with joy, enthusiasm and commitment and the result [against Melilla] was the fruit of that. They are great champions, they are very committed. If not, you do not earn everything you have earned. They are hurt because this is sport, there are dynamics that are bad and it has to be reversed. We have done many things well."
Sergio Gonzalez: "The change of coach is a double-edged sword, I know from my own experience, the tree is always shaken: those who play are quick, those who do not play want to participate, the coach makes changes. We arrive at the most complicated moment, the most difficult Madrid that we can find."
Valladolid boss Gonzalez insists that his side will be taking on "the most difficult Madrid", despite Los Blancos being in terrible form over the past month-and-a-half. Gonzalez, who has lost all three of his managerial games against Los Blancos in La Liga, conceding 13 goals in all, believes that Solari's arrival will give the hosts an added edge. Solari, meanwhile, was pleased by what he saw in the win over Melilla.
PREVIOUS MEETINGS! Real Madrid have won their last seven La Liga games against Real Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu, scoring three or more in six of those matches. The visitors have won only one of their last 15 league away matches in this fixture - a 1-0 triumph in May 2000 - and they last avoided defeat here in September 2001 when earning a 2-2 draw.
KICKOFF: Real Madrid get us up and running in the Spanish capital, aiming to get their La Liga campaign back on track. Will Los Blancos' nightmare continue, or can they finally show signs of revival? This is a massive afternoon for the home side.
A reminder that Valladolid have scored just nine goals this season, having badly struggled in the opening month, but they have the second-best defensive record. The big task for Los Blancos will be knocking down the wall over the 90 minutes.
CLOSE! An early chance for Karim Benzema to make it goals in back-to-back games. Marco Asensio slips the ball through for the Frenchman, whose shot takes a slight touch on its way across the face of goal. The officials did not spot the deflection and a goal-kick is awarded.
It is not only a big day for Madrid, but also for Asensio on the left of Los Blancos' front three. The Spaniard has been brought into the side in place of compatriot Isco in one of three changes from the 5-1 loss to Barcelona last week.
It is been a positive start from Madrid, who have lacked any real attacking inspiration in recent weeks. No Marcelo to ship in with goals today, of course, though a side of Los Blancos' calibre should not have to rely on a full-back for goals.
Sergio Reguilon, the third-choice left-back in this Madrid side, gets forward down the wing and sends in a brilliant cross. Karim Benzema was the closest player in white to it, but nobody could make any telling contact in the end.
SAVE! Here he goes again - Sergio Reguilon, who looked very shaky in the 1-0 loss to CSKA Moscow last month, sends in another delightful delivery that is met by Gareth Bale. Not a bad headed attempt from the Welshman, but it was too central and Jordi Masip was able to grab it.
Santiago Solari will be pleased with his side's start. Los Blancos have been on top from the off and are growing in confidence, with Karim Benzema dragging a shot wide and Gareth Bale seeing a headed effort kept out by Jordi Masip.
CLOSE! Toni Kroos stands over the free kick out on the right and manages to pick out Casemiro in the middle with his delivery. The defensive midfielder got under it and the ball ended a yard over the opposition crossbar.
SAVE! Sergio Reguilon has a brilliant left boot. This latest cross from out wide is met by Karim Benzema, but he lost his balance and did not make the contact he was after - the ball rather bounced off his head and was stopped by Jordi Masip on the line.
Valladolid, as you would expect, are remaining strong in a defensive sense. That said, Los Blancos have already got a couple of attempts on target and come close through two more. It is surely only a matter of time before the make a breakthrough.
A quarter of the match played and the first real whistles from the home fans can be heard following a misplaced pass. Los Blancos could do with a goal before half time just to get their supporters back on their side, or else it will be a long afternoon.
Just the one chance for Gareth Bale so far today, which ended with his leaping header being comfortably dealt with by Jordi Masip.
Madrid started the game well by pinning their opponents back but, while they are still on top, they no longer look as threatening. All their best play is coming through La Liga debutant Sergio Reguilon down the left-hand side.
Valladolid, who have a pretty poor goal return this term, have yet to really get forward. Gonzalez will want his side to see through the next 15 minutes and get to the midway point unscathed.
It is all very frustrating for Los Blancos at the moment, as they are struggling to create any openings. A third of the way through the match and visiting boss Gonzalez will be moderately happy with the way his side have contained Madrid.
SAVE! Alvaro Odriozola, filling in for Dani Carvajal today, attempts to swing in a cross from the right but it is blocked on the edge of the area for a corner. From the set-piece, Casemiro again gets his head to his but cannot beat Jordi Masip.
CHANCE! The whistles are ringing out around the Santiago Bernabeu as Valladolid come close to opening the scoring. Antonito is played through, taking advantage of Alvaro Odriozola's poor positioning, but his chipped shot ends over the crossbar.
SHOT! Having kept their opponents at bay for 35 minutes, Valladolid are now growing in confidence and starting to create chances of their own. Villa finds himself in some space in the 18-yard box, but his shot is dragged wide of the target.
Marco Asensio sends a cross towards the back post, where Gareth Bale throws his body at it and takes a clattering in the process. The Welsh forward remains on the ground in some pain - he is paying the price for showing some bravery.
CLOSE! The White and Violets have arguably edged the last 10 minutes, explaining the constant whistles from the home fans - they are not at all pleased! Enes Unal so nearly sends a diving header into the net, missing by a yard.
Two minutes of the first half to play and, following a bright start to the match, on the whole it has no been good enough from the hosts' perspective. Los Blancos have looked strong down the flanks but weak everywhere else on the field.
HALF TIME: REAL MADRID 0-0 REAL VALLADOLID
The sides go into the break all square at 0-0. Real Madrid had the better of the first-half chances, coming particularly close through a Gareth Bale header, but Real Valladolid have made life tough for their opponents and also had one or two openings of their own.
On their best run of form in La Liga since 2003, having gone seven without defeat ahead of this trip to the capital, Valladolid spent the opening quarter of the match aiming to contain their opponents. They managed to do exactly that, with Karim Benzema's dragged shot ending wide of the target and Gareth Bale's diving header being aimed too close to Jordi Masip from Los Blancos' best first-half openings.
Casemiro also sent a couple of headers over the bar from Toni Kroos set-pieces, but Madrid's best work was coming down the left-hand flank through the deliveries of La Liga debutant Sergio Reguilon. The youngster, effectively Los Blancos' third choice in that position, sent in a number of dangerous crosses, one of which Benzema could only head at a grateful Masip.
Valladolid, with just nine league goals to their name this term, offered more attacking intent as the match wore on as Antonito chipped a shot over the bar from a promising position and Toni Villa placed his effort wide from eight yards. Madrid left the field to whistles from the home fans at the end of the first half after coming close to conceding 41 minutes in through Enes Unal's diving header, which ended inches wide of the post.
BENCH WATCH!
REAL MADRID SUBS: Navas, Valverde, Lucas Vazquez, Isco, Ceballos, Vinicius, Sanchez
REAL VALLADOLID SUBS: J.Fernandez, B.Fernandez, Plano, Verde, Rodriguez, Cop, Mohamed
KICKOFF: Real Valladolid, on course for a rare point at the Bernabeu, get us back up and running. The hosts are lacking in confidence and now have 45 to rescue themselves from another embarrassing result.
Gareth Bale and Marco Asensio have swapped flanks in the early stages of the second half. Madrid's best play in the opening 45 minutes came down the left, where youngster Sergio Reguilon linked well with Asensio.
Madrid have patiently probed away in the opening five minutes of the second half, without find a way through. Unlike in the first half when they were on top, there is now pressure on Los Blancos to create something at the end of each attack.
Valladolid have clearly grown in confidence the longer this game has gone on. The visitors are getting bodies forward when they can, though scoring goals has not been easy for them this season - even if they are sat in sixth place.
Sergio Reguilon has been Madrid's best player this afternoon on what is, remember, his first full La Liga debut. Plenty of probing from Los Blancos, but they have yet to create anything in the opening nine minutes of the second half.
CHANCE! A third headed chance of the evening goes begging for Casemiro. Toni Kroos chipped the ball to the back post, but the Brazilian failed to keep the ball on target - it hit a Vallecano player on its way over the crossbar.
SAVE! Madrid have finally managed to step things up at the Bernabeu. Karim Benzema is picked out in the middle and has plenty of the goal to aim for, but he blasted his shot into Fernando Calero. Jordi Masip was needed from the next move, sprawling across to his left to keep out Sergio Reguilon.
OFF THE BAR! Real Madrid, who had been knocking on the door over the past five minutes, are fortunate not to be behind. Ruben Alcaraz's effort from range took a deflection and caught out Thibaut Courtois - the crossbar coming to the Belgian's rescue.
In the midst of all that, Santiago Solari took Casemiro off for Isco. That is a brave call from the stand-in Madrid boss, and it is not a decision that went down well with the departing player, who is very rarely sacrificed.
SAVE! Not the best of efforts from Toni Villa, but one that required stopping from Thibaut Courtois down to his left. That opening goal of the match looks as though it will arrive anytime now - which way it will go is anyone's guess.
This match is finely poised as we enter the final quarter. It may be goalless but you cannot take your eyes off it at the moment - there are opportunities at both ends of the field as both teams press for a breakthrough goal.
OFF THE BAR! Incredible! Toni Vila, who has already seen Alcaraz hit the crossbar in this second half, strikes a peach of a shot that crashed against the crossbar. Real Madrid are seriously holding on now, while Valladolid are growing more and more in confidence.
This match really is on a knife edge, with just 20 minutes left to go at the Bernabeu. Valladolid are good value for their point as things stand, but they want more. Daniele Verde, who netted against Espanyol last week, comes on for Toni Vila.
Los Blancos look incredibly rattled, almost unable to get the ball into the final third. Gareth Bale, who has had another bad afternoon, is replaced by Lucas Vasquez for the final 18 minutes. Solari has one change available to make - Vinicius Junior, maybe?
This has been a very good game of football, even if we are still awaiting a first goal of the afternoon. Both sides have had chances, and with just over 15 minutes to go it really could go either way. A game between two sides that have struggle for goals, a goalless draw should have been predicted.
REAL MADRID SUB! The majority of Madrid fans wanted Vinicius Junior to start today - well he has 15 minutes or so to make an impact. Marco Asensio is the man to make way in the hosts' third and final change.
Valladolid have focused on defending over the past four or five minutes. The visitors could easily have snatched all three points, but it appears as though they will now hold on for a point, which would still be a very good result.
Alvaro Odriozola gets in behind down the left, but his cross was plucked out of the air by Jordi Masip. The match is going through a bit of a quiet spell now, which will suit the visitors as they will see this as a good point.
SAVE! Thibaut Courtois has another save to make, this time flapping at substitute Daniele Verde's shot. Maybe I spoke too soon when suggesting that the visiting side will happily take a point - all three could be there for the taking.
GOAL! REAL MADRID 1-0 REAL VALLADOLID (KIKO OLIVAS, OG)
Vinicius Junior introduces himself to Real Madrid fans in the best way possible - by rescuing them with five minutes to go here. The Brazilian youngster cut inside from the left, very much taking matters into his own hands, and his deflected shot left Jordi Masip rooted to the spot.
That goal looks as though it will go down as a Kiko Olivas own goal - it was he who got in the way of Vinicius Junior's shot, succeeding only in helping it past his own goalkeeper. The visitors have gone with three at the back for the final throes.
PENALTY! Real Madrid have a chance to wrap up the points as Fernando Calero stuck out a leg, Karim Benzema went over it and the referee pointed to the spot. Sergio Ramos, who has come under fire this season, will step up to take it...
GOAL! REAL MADRID 2-0 REAL VALLADOLID (SERGIO RAMOS, PEN)
As cool as you like from Sergio Ramos, who chips the ball right down the middle, sending Jordi Masip the wrong way in the process. That should do it for Los Blancos on an afternoon where they have again been far form their best.
Madrid on the brink of a much-needed league win, then, in a match that has seen them ride their luck. That second goal, coming via the penalty spot, has knocked the confidence out of Valladolid.
FULL TIME: REAL MADRID 2-0 REAL VALLADOLID
Real Madrid had to ride their luck at times this afternoon, with Real Valladolid twice hitting the frame of the goal, but in the end they come out on top 2-0 winners. Vinicius Junior's shot deflected in off Kiko Olivas and Sergio Ramos added an even later second via the penalty spot.
That concludes Sports Mole's live text coverage of events from the Santiago Bernabeu. An on-the-whistle report can be found by clicking here, and be sure to join us again in a little over an hour's time for updates from Barcelona's trip to La Liga strugglers Rayo Vallecano. See you then!
