MADRID: Defensive specialist Casemiro scored his first brace for Real Madrid to ensure a 2-1 home win over Sevilla in La Liga on Saturday.

Casemiro broke the deadlock for Real in the 57th minute when the Brazil midfielder was set up by Luka Jovic.

Sevilla striker Luuk de Jong, who had a goal ruled out by a video review in the first half, leveled in the 64th before Casemiro headed the hosts back in front five minutes later.

“(I’m pleased) not only for the goals but also for the hard work of all the team against a great rival,” Casemiro said. “It was a typical Madrid-Sevilla (game). These three points are important.”

The victory provisionally lifted Real into the lead and three points ahead of second-place Barcelona.

Atletico Madrid fell further behind in third place after losing 2-0 at Eibar. Diego Simeone’s side trail Real by eight points just past the seasons midway point.Sevilla outplayed Real in the first half and thought they have gone ahead in the 30th when De Jong headed in a corner kick. But the referee reversed his initial decision to allow the goal after consulting a video review, when he spotted a foul by Nemanja Gudelj who appeared to intentionally block Real’s Eder Militao to leave De Jong free.

“What we saw was a great goal, the fruit of our work all this week, that was waived off. And I can’t understand it, Lopetegui complained after the game.”

Real enjoyed the second half against Sevilla, thanks to Casemiro’s incursions in attack.

Casemiro showed an exquisitely fine touch — for a midfielder known for his tackling skills and ability to contain opposition attacks — when he scooped the ball over goalkeeper Tomas Vaclik from a tight angle. Jovic had set him up with a superb pass with the back of his heel to finally find a way through Sevilla’s defense.

De Jong hit right back with a well-placed strike into the corner of the net.

Casemiro headed in his second goal from a cross by Lucas Vazquez after he found a hole between Sevilla’s two centre backs in one of the visitors few defensive lapses.

“In attack (Casemiro) can appear in scoring positions from time to time,” Zidane said. “The second goal surprised me more. Any of our players can make the difference in attack. Today it was Cases turn and I am happy for him.”Eibar outhustled Atletico under steady rain in northern Spain, hemming the visitors in their area early on and going in front from a set piece.

Esteban Burgos scored what proved to be the winner in the 10th when he was unmarked to tap in a corner kick headed on by Sergi Enrich to the far post.

Atletico’s late push was ended by Edu Expsito’s long strike in the 90th, ending a run of three consecutive wins in the league for the visitors.

Alaves forward Aleix Vidal scored in the second half to secure a 1-0 win at Levante.

The former Barcelona player was set up by Lucas Perez on the break in the 64th, giving the small Basque Country side its first win in six rounds.

Also, Valladolid drew 0-0 at Osasuna. Valladolid’s Sergio Guardiola came closest to scoring when he hit the crossbar.

Published in Dawn, January 20th, 2020