half, Casemiro twice put the Whites ahead to clinch all three points and place Madrid provisionally top of the pile.
The game kicked off with real intensity as neither side seemed able to exert control over the centre of the pitch. Rodrygo was the first to get in behind the Sevilla lines, laying the ball back to Jović, whose shot was charged down by a defender. Kroos recorded the first effort on goal in the 11th minute as Madrid slowly eased their way into the clash. Lucas Vázquez and Carvajal were looking dangerous down the right flank and Casemiro tried to catch Vaclik out from distance in a repeat of last season's strike.
Casemiro steps up
Sevilla then looked to have taken the lead when De Jong rose highest to meet a corner, but the referee ruled the goal out following a VAR check. This proved a shot in the arm for the visitors, who rained down a series of dangerous balls on Courtois' area, but they found nobody to get on the end of them. The start of the second period was somewhat disjointed amid several fouls which disrupted the play. That was, until the 57th minute, when Casemiro popped up in the box for the first time to put the Whites in front.
Sevilla then looked to have taken the lead when De Jong rose highest to meet a corner, but the referee ruled the goal out following a VAR check. This proved a shot in the arm for the visitors, who rained down a series of dangerous balls on Courtois' area, but they found nobody to get on the end of them. The start of the second period was somewhat disjointed amid several fouls which disrupted the play. That was, until the 57th minute, when Casemiro popped up in the box for the first time to put the Whites in front.
He latched on to Jović's sumptuous back-heel and lifted the ball beautifully over Vaclik to make it 1-0.