Ozil strikes twice as Real Madrid fight back for win
MADRID — Mesut Ozil grabbed two goals as Real Madrid twice came from behind to defeat Valladolid 3-2 on Saturday to close to within eight points of Barcelona at the top of La Liga.
The German international's brace included an exquisitely-curled, left-footed winner from a free-kick on 71 minutes to keep Madrid on the tails of Barca and secondplaced Atletico Madrid.
Former Manchester United striker Manucho twice gave Valladolid first-half leads that Karim Benzema and Ozil cancelled out.
Barcelona go to Real Betis on Sunday while Atletico, now only two points ahead of their city neighbors, entertain Deportivo La Coruna.
Afterwards Real coach Jose Mourinho sent out his assistant Aitor Karanka to face the press and he was full of praise for the match winner.
“Ozil was exceptional and did a lot of work off the ball as well, I think we saw the Mesut that we all want to see tonight. We changed it around at half-time in search of more width and the win and it paid off,” he said.
Earlier, Mourinho had handed Nacho Fernandez his first start of the season in the league after an impressive performance in the win over Ajax on Wednesday while Jose Callejon, who hit a double that night, was also included.
Madrid began well with Cristiano Ronaldo hitting a dipping drive just over the bar before Callejon tested Dani Hernandez in the home goal.
But on seven minutes Valladolid went ahead through Manucho in their first real attack.
When Pepe cleared a dangerous cross into the area, the resulting corner was not dealt with by the Madrid defense and the big Angolan striker was the quickest to react to hit his first of the evening.
Within five minutes Benzema had equalized, Callejon took advantage of a Mikel Balenziaga slip to advance to the byeline and pull back a pass that gave the Frenchman an easy finish.
Hernandez then had to punch clear a swerving free-kick from Ronaldo before Valladolid won another corner at the other end.
Taken on the left, the same as the opener, German winger Patrick Ebert again whipped in a vicious inswinger that was met by Manucho's head without a challenge.
The impressive Ebert then smashed a free-kick just wide from distance before limping off with a muscle injury, a big loss for the home team.
Hernandez had to be sharp to tip wide a Ronaldo drive but Valladolid were looking better organised and more capable of holding onto their lead the second time around.