Endrick scores on Madrid debut
Endrick scored on his Real Madrid debut as Carlo Ancelotti’s side secured their first La Liga victory of the season with a hard-fought home win against Real Valladolid.
The champions were frustrated for vast periods of the game in Kylian Mbappe’s home debut but hit their attacking stride when the game opened up following Federico Valverde’s second-half breakthrough.
Substitute Brahim Diaz made it 2-0 in the 88th minute, collecting a long ball from Eder Militao before dinking it over Valladolid goalkeeper, Karl Hein.
Eighteen-year-old striker, Endrick, added gloss to the scoreline by powering an effort inside the near post in the final minute of added time.
Valverde changed the momentum in the 50th minute by driving a low effort – which took a heavy deflection off Stanko Juric past goalkeeper Hein to open the scoring.
It followed a tough first half for Carlo Ancelotti’s men in which Valladolid continually sat deep, limiting the available pockets of space and nullifying Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo’s threat.
The game soon sprung into life as Valladolid’s search for an equaliser left more space for the hosts to attack.
Mbappe made a number of good runs but could not mark his home debut with a goal.
Madrid, who were held to a 1-1 draw by Mallorca in their La Liga opener last weekend, are next in action when they take on Las Palmas on Thursday (20:30 BST).
Endrick’s long-awaited first appearance for Madrid lasted just over 10 minutes, but he has already made his mark.
The Brazil forward agreed a move to Real in December 2022, however, because of FIA rules prohibiting players under the age of 18 from being transferred abroad, he only joined in July this year.
Much has been made of Mbappe’s arrival, but so too has there been hype around Endrick. He is a promising young talent – and the youngest man to ever score for Brazil.
Then plying his club trade for Palmeiras in Brazil, he netted the winner for his country in a friendly against England in March.
His cameo against Valladolid was brief but impactful. He provided a new dynamism and excelled where Mbappe – who he replaced in the 86th minute – had struggled, coupling making the right moves with proper link-up with his team-mates.
In what had otherwise been a predominantly scrappy game, Endrick’s late performance added a touch of class.-BBC
