Real Madrid 5-1 Athletic Bilbao
Real Madrid notched their 31st victory on Saturday by drubbing Athletic Bilbao in what was the Whites’ final home match of the season. With one game left to play, Higuain and Cristiano have combined for 53 of the team’s 101 goals this year.
One victory shy of 98 points
Winning was all that counted for Real Madrid if they were to keep their title hopes alive and make it to the final week of action with a chance to notch 98 points on the year. Only four minutes had ticked off the clock when Cristiano Ronaldo put Iraizoz to the test. Five minutes later the Madridsta sent another shot just wide of the post. Caparros surprisingly left Fernando Llorente on the bench, but it didn’t prevent Athletic from putting on their own pressure.
Amorebieta was sent off on 21′ and Cristiano fired home the ensuing penalty kick to put Real up 1-0. The Whites took complete control of the match with a one-man advantage and Athletic retreated in search of a deadly counterattack. Despite their numerical superiority, Real Madrid slowed their pace and Yeste managed to capitalize by beating Casillas. The teams headed into the dressing room level and one goal apiece.
Kaka stepped in for Gago at the restart, but Athletic remained well-positioned and Real couldn’t successfully complete the final pass. Granero looked in dismay as his shot from distance struck off the corner of the crossbar. Athletic grew confident and Yeste nearly gave his side the advantage, but Casillas made the frantic save.
Pellegrini replaced Granero with Benzema in search of more fire power with only 23 minutes left to play. Higuain was lucky on his third attempt and put a header by Iraizoz following a corner kick. Pipita’s 27th goal in league action was all the Whites needed to keep their title hopes alive, but they weren’t done yet.
With nine minutes left in regulation Sergio Ramos dribbled through defenders to put the third on the board and one minute later Benzema hammered home the fourth. Athletic Bilbao had been done in, but Marcelo got his name of the score sheet on 90′ after a mistake committed by the defense. The 98-point objective is now only one win away.
Lineups:
Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Albiol, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Guti H., Gago (Kaká 47′), Granero (Benzema 67′), Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín (Diarra 83′);
Athletic Club: Iraizoz, Iraola, San José, Koikili, Amorebieta, Gurpegi, Iturraspe, Javi Martínez, Yeste (Gabilondo 66′), De Marcos (Susaeta 54′), Toquero (Llorente 75′);
Goals:
Referee: Mr. Muñiz Fernandez
Booked: Guti, Gago, Arbeloa, Iraizoz, Iraola
Sent off: Amorebieta
Notes: Week 37 of La Liga played at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao | Spanish Primera Division | Round 37 | Preview
Real Madrid welcome Athletic Bilbao to the Santiago Bernabeu in what will be their final home match of the season. The Whites are sitting on 92 points and only two wins away from reaching their goal of 98.
The Whites are six points shy of 98 as they play their last home match of the season
Manuel Pellegrini and company are well aware of the fact that a victory against Athletic followed by another in La Rosaleda against Malaga will put them in a good position to win the league title. They also know that they need some help from Barcelona, who must not win their two remaining matches.
Athletic Bilbao will by no means be a pushover. Real Madrid have had to mount comebacks in their last two matches against Osasuna and Mallorca; a situation they hope to avoid against Caparros’ men. Manuel Pellegrini has called up 19 men for the second-to-last final of the year. Raul, Van der Vaart and Pepe were not included as all continue recovering from injury.
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
Defenders: Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Albiol, Garay, Metzelder
Midfielder: Gago, Diarra, Kaka, Lass, Guti, Drenthe, Xabi Alonso, Granero
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain
Los Leones are one point off qualifying for a berth in next season’s Europa League having drawn their last two matches. Real Madrid need to keep an eye on Fernando Llorente, who has had an exceptional season and is a candidate to represent Spain in this summer’s World Cup.
The Santiago Bernabeu will be packed to the brim to bid farewell to a team that has won 17 of the 18 matches already played there this year.
ATHLETIC BILBAO SQUAD LIST:
Goalkeepers: Iraizoz, Armando
Defenders: Koikili, Ustaritz, Amorebieta, San Jose, Iraola, Iturraspe
Midfielders: Yeste, Gabilondo, Susaeta, Gurpegi, Javi Martínez
Forwards: Toquero, Llorente, Muniain, De Marcos, Etxeberria
Referee: Mr. Muñiz Fernandez
Bilbao pre-preview
We are down to the last two games of the season and it has been quite a long one already. We still do not know where La Liga title is heading and this week probably will be decisive as far as the league title is concerned as Real face Athletic Bilbao at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in 21:00 CET game on Saturday and Barça face off against Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.
King of Mallorca, the leader, our hope
He is one of the best professionals I’ve seen. He’s a winner, someone who does not want to miss a game. He says what he thinks, but he also has a mindset that is focused on the collective.
He is the first to arrive and the last leave training. I see him and say to myself, ‘I have to train harder’. He’s a wonderful guy, a total leader.
– Raúl González on Cristiano Ronaldo
When someone like Raúl has that to say about you then you are definitely worth all the money in the World. And Cristiano Ronaldo is! The Portuguese single-handedly demolished Champions League chasing Mallorca by scoring a brilliant hat-trick at ONO Estadi on Wednesday in a 4-1 win for Real. It was his first hat-trick for us and they were his 23rd, 24th and 25th goals in the league this season and made brought his tally to 5 goals this week alone. His first two goals were provided by Sergio Ramos and he spoke about them on Punto Poleda:
Our first goal against Mallorca came from a sort of play we pull off often. I noticed Cristiano was leaving his markers behind and the bounce of the ball suited his speed. The second goal was similar. The ball went straight in both cases and we luckily scored.
And both will play a very vital role if we are to win tomorrow night against Athletic – Cristiano in offense and Sergio Ramos in defense. As Higuaín put it Bilbao will not be an easy game and we need to show the World how much this title means to us yet again this weekend.
Athletic Bilbao have a long history of success and they deserve credit year in and year our. We need to win this game to show how bad we want to win the league. We hope to go to Malaga as the top team in the table even though all we are thinking about is winning our next two matches.
Warnings galore
As much as we are aware of the threat they possess their players have already sent out signs warning us that they are ready for us. First up it was Ander Itturaspe who said:
We will have plenty to say at the Bernabeu. They have players of the highest standard in the world in attack. They are players who, if they get their chances usually are not forgiving
And then David Lopez:
This season we have already played very well against good teams and we have shown that we know how to cause them worry. We already won against Real Madrid at home; why can’t we do the same there? We are going to do our very best to take the three points or a draw.
Yet another team with a European dream
Athletic Bilbao are looking to qualify for Europe next season. They are currently eighth on the table, one point shy of reaching their goal. Considering their dismal away record this calendar year it doesn’t seem like happening in the next game. Bilbao have won 10 of their 18 games as locals, losing just 4 but have taken only half of those points on the road. They’ve only won 4 away games this season though but none of them in 2010.
Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao have clashed 78 times in la Liga, resulting in 50 victories for the Whites, 15 draws and 13 wins for the Basques. Real Madrid defeated them 3-2 at the Bernabeu last season thanks to two goals from Higuain.
Lass and Marcelo return; a few worries for Bilbao
Marcelo returns to Manuel Pellegrini’s squad list to face Athletic Bilbao following last week’s suspension. Lass has recovered from his back injury and has also made the cut. Raul, Van der Vaart and Pepe are the only ones who will miss the match due to injuries. No Castillla player has been called up.
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
Defenders: Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Albiol, Garay, Metzelder
Midfielder: Gago, Diarra, Kaka, Lass, Guti, Drenthe, Xabi Alonso, Granero
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuain
Probable Starting XI: Real Madrid
As far as Bilbao are concerned apart from having a few long term casualties on their injury list including the likes of Ion Velez and Aitor Ocio there are doubts over the fitness of a few regular first teamers such as Koikili, Pablo Orbaiz and Javier Martinez.
ATHLETIC CLUB SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Iraizoz, Armando
Defenders: Koikili, Ustaritz, Amorebieta, San Jose, Iraola, Iturraspe
Midfielders: Yeste, Gabilondo, Susaeta, Gurpegi, Javi Martinez
Defenders: Toquero, Llorente, Muniain, De Marcos, Etxeberria
Probable Starting XI: Athletic Bilbao
And here we go again…
Transfer speculations have begun all over again as the opening of the transfer window nears. Edin Dzeko, Steven Gerrard (!), Juan Manuel Vargas have all been linked to the club while Van der Vaart (to Liverpool) and Higuain (to Chelsea should they fail to get Torres) have been linked out of the club. I guess its time to start Season 2 of Ins and Outs.
Prediction: Real Madrid 4-2 Athletic Bilbao
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano praised the team’s hard work despute the fact that Real Madrid came up short in Bilbao. Head coach Manuel Pellegrini was pleased with his team’s performance but upset about the misfortune it had on goal. Sergio Ramos commented on Real Madrid’s defeat shortly after it concluded. Albiol and Xabi Alonso gave their thoughts on the unjust defeat in Bilbao.
Valdano:
We gave it our all during the entire match. We were up againt a solid and serious defense that prevented us from turning the score around, and that is all we did from the moment we conceded the goal. There are days you just aren’t on target, but today the team played its heart out. There is nothing to be mad about. We have faith in the team and its future. There is a lot of league left to be played and keeping pace with another team isn’t a nice feeling, but we know we have enough time to reverse the situation. Albiol and Xabi Alonso gave their thoughts on the unjust defeat in Bilbao.
Pellegrini:
It is hard to find an explanation for what took place. Athletic capitalized on an early goal and the home crowd. They cut plays short and dominated the aerial game. We had six or seven great chances but lacked accuracy. I will do individual analyses with my players.
Athletic is a strong team that knows how to defend its advantage. We were unlucky. We are a high-scoring team and we have plenty of alternatives, but we lacked precision. It isn’t easy to tear down walls with players who specialize in kicking the ball as hard as it can be kicked.
There are many matches left; a whole half season. Winning in Malaga is all that matters now. We have played very hard road games this first half. Sixty points are still in play, so everything has yet to be decided. The team is in good form in every aspect.
Athletic Club 1-0 Real Madrid
With an opportunity to move top in La Liga, Manuel Pellegrini lined up an all-star offense with Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Kaka in attack. Lass and Ramos also made their returns after not playing last weekend. The game couldn’t have gotten off to a more intense start as Gurpegui and Toquero hit back-to-back posts in the opening minute. Sixty seconds later, Llorente found the back of the net following a corner by Yeste and clearance attempt by Lass.
Athletic played at a frenetic pace but rarely held onto the ball. Real Madrid took possession but never managed to strike gold. Iraizoz got a hand to Benzema’s shot, the first of the match for Real, on 7′. Xabi Alonso distributed the ball from the midfield and nearly became the assist-man on the equalizer, but Cristiano Ronaldo’s header was off target (19’).
The Portuguese forward had several more chances in the first half, but the stats remained unchanged and Sevilla continue being the only team to score a first-half goal against Athletic. Near the half-hour mark, Iraizoz cleared a shot by Cristiano straight up into the air and the ball nearly crossed the goalline as it fell back to the turf. Ronaldo had another try on 31′ from distance, but the best scoring chance of the half was yet to come. Kaka provided a brilliant ball to Benzema, who sent the shot off the far post and into the hands of Iraizoz.
Manuel Pellegrini didn’t wait long to make his first change in the second half and Guti came in for Marcelo on 59′. Cristiano Ronaldo continued giving Athletic fits and could only watch as Los Leones’ goalkeeper became the star of the show following another save (59’). Iraizoz also got hands on shots by Guti and Kaka.
Granero had replaced Lass by then and Raul soon came in for Benzema. Real Madrid were bound to score, but it didn’t happen on 71′ when Cristiano combined with Kaka and the Brazilian’s shot grazed off the post. Nor did the Whites equalize when Kaka sent another strike inches wide of goal (82’), by wayward shots off the boots of Ramos and Raul or two more attempts by Cristiano. Real Madrid did not score the goal they so deserved and the three points stayed put at San Mames.
Spending most of the match trying to answer an early goal by Athletic Bilbao isn’t exactly what Real Madrid had in mind on Saturday. The Whites owned possession and gave it their all against Los Leones, but the countless attempts on goal went unrewarded.
Athletic Bilbao vs Real Madrid | Spanish Primera Division | Round 18 | Preview
There are still plenty of months before the winner of La Liga is decided, but the battle for the top of the table can’t be any hotter. Real Madrid hope to keep pace with the leader and possibly take over first place on Saturday by winning their fifth road match of the season.
The first half of the season is nearing its end and Real Madrid find themselves in second place having won all their matches at home and won four and drawn two at some of La Liga’s most hostile venues to play in.
The Madridistas launch their assault on La Catedral without the likes of some big name players but with others who are no less capable of stepping up tp the plate. Rafael van der Vaart and Gonzalo Higuain are nicked up and unavailable, but Garay and Xabi Alonso are healthy again and available for use by Manuel Pellegrini.
Guti will also be on hand after earning some playing time last week against Mallorca, as are Sergio Ramos and Lass Diarra, who missed the match against the islanders due to suspension. Real Madrid have a golden opportunity to take provisional hold of first place in the table by winning in San Mames. Barcelona can only reclaim the lead by knocking off Sevilla at the Camp Nou in Saturday’s late night matchup:
Despite the impressive season put together by Athletic Bilbao, Los Leones have only notched a defeat and a draw in 2010. The team, however, is still in 8th place and only three points off a Europa League berth. Joaquin Caparros has called up 19 men for the encounter including Etxeberria and Iturraspe, while Gabilondo will be asbsent.
Athletic last defeted Real Madrid five seasons ago if they plan on keeping their UEFA aspirations alive. Aside for Real Madrid and Barcelona, Bilbao is the only other team to play in ever edition of La Liga since 1929. The Madridistas hold the upper hand in over 80 years of clashes and 156 matches against Athletic. They have won 76 times, drawn 31 and lost 41.
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
Defenders: Albiol, Arbeloa, Garay, Marcelo, Metzelder, Ramos
Midfielders: Xabi Alonso, Gago, Granero, Drenthe, Guti, Lass, Kaka
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Raul
Fitness is a concern – Bilbao pre-preview
Real Madrid travel to Bilbao to play the home side in the Anfield of Spain, commonly known as San Mames. More than anything else the main concern will be the injuries to Rafael van der Vaart and Gonzalo Higuain who will most probably miss the next three league fixtures including this one. They join Pepe and Van Nistelrooy on the treatment table. Xabi Alonso, who was injured until yesterday, has now recovered and will travel with the team as will Ezequiel Garay and Christoph Metzelder.
Rafael van der Vaart lasted only for about half an hour in the game against Mallorca last week. The Dutchman tore his calf muscle thus ruling him out until February. The reported Liverpool target once again reiterated his desire to stay on at Real. He, while speaking to Radio Marca, said:
I have the skill and quality to play for Real Madrid. Pellegrini told me in pre-season training that I was a very good player, but he did not have much room for me because they had Kaka, Raul, many players. I said OK, but I will not leave Madrid, I want to fight, so let’s see. I am very happy in this team.
I am very happy in this team. Did you get that cunts?
Xabi Alonso was injured with a bruise on his left fibula but has not recovered in time for the game at San Mames. The player spoke to The People about this exit from Liverpool and stated that the pursuit of Gareth Barry was the final nail in the coffin.
Numero Uno: Top of the table before the Clasico!
Real Madrid reached the top of the La Liga table after a narrow 1-o win against Racing at home on a day which saw La Liga leaders Barca slip up at San Mames against Athletic Bilbao. And to add to the good news Lionel Messi went out injured and is set to miss the Inter clash midweek, a game that might see Barca knocked out of the Champions League if all goes well, and is a doubt for the weekend’s Clasico. And not only that Barca are already suffering from three Swine Flu infected cases with the likes of Rafael Marquez, Toure Yaya and Eric Abidal down with the H1N1 virus. Ibrahimovic missed the Bilbao game but will mostly be ready for both their games this week.
Valdano suggested that Cristiano Ronaldo might play a few minutes against Zurich and that he has to get some match practice in order to be able to play next week. Sergio Ramos and Raul Albiol will definitely make it next week and so will Lass who I heard was just out because of fatigue.
So that is a lot of good news. Top of the table. Opponents hit by Swine Flu and their second best player (Xavi is their best player) is a doubt for the clash. We almost have a full squad to choose from. Thinking about it, it was just the reversal last time around. We traveled with 13 fit players and had just brought in Juande Ramos. Palanca started.
Well, payback is a bitch!
Woooooooo!
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Where Are They Now: Rafael Alkorta
Rafael Alkorta Martinez (born September 16, 1968 in Bilbao, Biscay) is a former Spanish footballer, who played mainly as a central defender for Real Madrid between 1993 and 1997 winning the league twice and the Supercopa once in his 107 appearances for the club. He scored only 4 goals during his time at the Bernabeu.
Club career
Alkorta began playing as a junior with Athletic de Bilbao in 1978, and made his professional debut with the club’s second team seven years later, making 40 appearances before being promoted by Howard Kendall to the senior team for 1987-88. He subsequently made 172 first division appearances, and established himself as an outstanding man marker.
Alkorta attracted the attention of Real, for whom he signed in 1993-94. At Real, he formed a notable partnership with Fernando Hierro. After 107 league appearances and two titles, he returned to Athletic in 1997-98, helping the side finish second in the first season upon his return. He went on to appear regularly in the following years but, after only six matches in 2001-02, decided to retire from the game.
International career
An international since May 26, 1990 (a 1-0 friendly away win against Yugoslavia), Alkorta made 54 appearances for Spain until 1998. He played in three World Cups – 1990, 1994 and 1998 – and Euro 96, also representing Spain at U-16, U-18 and U-21 levels.
Honours
- Spanish League: 1994-95, 1996-97
- Spanish Supercup: 1994
Press comments
The Spanish press on Sunday hailed Real Madrid’s bounce-back performance against Athletic Bibao and Robben, Huntelaar and Sneijder are praised for their “Dutch connection.”
Marca:
This is Madrid.
They overcame the atmosphere in ‘another Anfield’, the rough play by Athletic and an own goal by Heinze.
Their best version on display at San Mames.
The Dutch connection worked like clockwork; grand performances by Robben, Huntelaar and Sneijder in Madrid’s authoritative victory.
Pouring the heat on Barça.
Real Madrid continue “their spectacular comeback”.
AS:
That’s how Madrid win.
Robben: The genius.
Klaas-Jan Huntelaar: Confirmed his superstar status; An outstanding performance. Drove the defense mad and displayed his incredible finishing skills.
Sneijder: Wasn’t intimidated and wanted the ball. He made his teammates play and read the match well.
El Pais:
Madrid bombard Athletic.
El Mundo:
Thrashing amid chaos.
Real Madrid stun Athletic in a match dominated by hard tackles and red cards.
Publico:
Extreme victory.
ABC:
Real Madrid recover their faith in La Catedral.
Overwhelming reaction after their European KO.
They can believe again.
Huntelaar’s magnificent second-half brace ratify the Madridista superiority in San Mames.
La Razon:
Real Madrid survive.
Everything changed when Robben appeared.
Post-match comments
Juande Ramos was pleased with his men’s victory and believes his team deserved to win. Iker Casillas was satisfied with the victory obtained at San Mames, the same stadium that witnessed his Primera Division debut. Real Madrid Sporting Director Pedja Mijatovic offered his opinion on the victory at San Mames. Huntelaar and Metzelder spoke positively about Real Madrid’s victory over Athletic Bilbao.
Juande Ramos:
The score reflects what took place on the pitch. Real Madrid were the superior team. We allowed two unfortunate goals. One was an own goal and the other a defensive mistake. It was a shame because the draw made it much more complicated. But the team responded and did what it had to. It was especially important after the intense match we played last Tuesday against Liverpool.
There’s a lot of friction and intensity in Athletic-Real Madrid matches. It was a heated contest but you have to accept it as a part of football. I don’t think the referee influenced the final result. The penalty for example was quite obvious.
I decided to play with two free-roaming players like Marcelo and Robben, which is the reason for Higuain being a sub.
If we had to choose I would have preferred to continue in the Champions League. But on a positive note, it’s clear that we now have seven days to prepare for each match and Barcelona do not. Fatigue though isn’t always a factor. It doesn’t mean we will narrow the gap sooner.
Casillas:
We were coming off a tough loss and we won a great match in a difficult place to play. We did our homework. We must continue playing like we did tonight. Winning here was the best recipe. It was a must and we took care of business. Now we need to see what Barcelona do in their visit to Almeria.
Lass and Huntelaar are two great players and tonight they proved it with solid performances. But what is most important is how well we played as a team and our desire to bounce back from two disappointing performances.
I don’t want to judge the referee’s call to send Yeste off. Fran came onto me too strong and it was a rough collision. I think he was sent off because he hit me in the face.
Athletic Bilbao is a rugged team and they sought the victory until the very end. We will fight until the very last match to win this league.
Mijatovic:
It’s important to take one match at a time in this league because every victory is crucial if we are to finish as champions.
Today’s victory, in a stadium as tough as San Mames, was important. This victory boosts our morale as we head into forthcoming matches.
We must only focus on our next opponent and win every match we have left.
We played well, which is more important than my two goals. It was a tough match, but I think we deserved to win.
We still have a chance to win La Liga. There are a lot of matches left and we will do our best. Barça must also still visit the Bernabeu.
Metzelder:
It was a heated contest but we knew how to handle all the emotion. The red card was fair in my opinion. We know we will be booked if we push a player, and in such a heated match with so many fouls we knew the referee would be quick in booking players.
It was a key play because it was easier to play against ten men, but the referee didn’t influence the match’s outcome.
We wanted to have fun playing after what took place in Liverpool. We enjoyed it out there and I am sure people had fun watching us.
Things change quickly in football. We knew we had the talent. What happened in the Champions League was a horrible defeat, but we showed that we’re still very much alive. It was important to finish this match with eleven men, to play calm and to finish off our plays successfully.
Athletic Bilbao 2-5 Real Madrid
Two teams gave it their very all on Saturday at San Mames. Tension, passion, struggle and goals; plenty of goals. Real Madrid bounced back nicely and defeated Athletic Bilbao 2-5 with goals by Robben, Heinze, Higuain and a brace by Huntelaar. The Whites are now three points off Barcelona, who tomorrow visit Almeria.
Athletic Bilbao stuck to a game plan similar to that implemented against Sevilla in the Copa del Rey seminfinal a week and a half ago. Real Madrid however withstood the initial pressure from the direct football the hosts put forth and slowly but surely gained the upper hand.
Lass was the main lifeline in the midfield alongside Sneijder, who fed ball after ball to the attack. The majority of the Madridista offense though was produced along the right wing, where Robben was very active. On 22’ the former Chelsea star received a perfect ball from Sneijder, feinted past a defender and curled a shot into the net. Twelve minutes later, Gabi Heinze headered home a free-kick taken by Sneijder.
Athletic unsuccessfully continued trying to beat an inspired Casillas, but minutes after scoring for Madrid Heinze could only watch as his clearance attempt found the way into his own keeper’s goal. On the ensuing play Casillas was knocked to the turf by Fran Yeste, who was immediately sent off by the referee. The match increased in friction and Athletic managed to capitalize minutes before the half when Llorente brilliantly steared a cross from the right wing into the potato sack with his head.
The Whites struck quickly after the break when Huntelaar hugged the right post and beat Iraizoz. The former Ajax striker has come on strong in recent matches. He capped off the night with a lob over the keeper following a spectacular assist by Robben as the two galloped down the pitch on a counterattack.
The match was in the books. Scuffles broke out frequently and there was little football to be seen. Marcelo was tackled inside the box in the closing minutes and Higuain converted the penalty kick for his 15th goal on the year. Now it’s time to wait and see how Barcelona fare, albeit while only three points off their lead.
Pepe dislocates the ring finger on his right hand
According to Real Madrid’s medical services, Pepe dislocated the ring finger on his right hand. He will undergo further tests on Sunday to determine if there is any bone damage.
Lineups:
Athletic Club: Iraizoz, Iraola, Aitor Ocio, Amorebieta, Koikili (Balenziaga 51′), Javi Martínez, Toquero, Orbaiz (Susaeta 61′), David López (Gurpegi 57′), Yeste, Llorente;
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Metzelder, Pepe, Heinze, Marcelo, Lass, Sneijder, Robben (Faubert 72′), Huntelaar (Parejo 84′), Raúl (Higuaín 70′);
Goals:
0-1, 22′ – Robben
0-2, 34′ – Heinze
1-2, 36′ – Heinze (OG)
2-2, 45′ – Llorente
2-3, 47′ – Huntelaar
2-4, 61′ – Huntelaar
2-5, 85′ – Higuain (Pen)
Atheltic Bilbao vs Real Madrid | Spanish Primera Liga | Round 27 | Preview
Bilbao is Real Madrid’s next stop on the comeback trail. Juande Ramos and his men visit San Mames and an Athletic Bilbao side ecstatic since reaching the Copa del Rey final. The Whites can reduce the lead to three points in this duel between two of Spain’s most historic teams.
Juande Ramos has several notable absences for the crucial encounter at La Catedral, namely Fabio Cannavaro, Guti and Javi Garcia. Pepe and Wesley Sneijder can return to action after serving one match suspensions for accumulating five yellow cards; the same fate suffered by Fernando Gago and Michel Salgado, who will sit Saturday’s match out. The Madridista expedition includes a total of 20 players, all of whom are eager to extend the team’s almost three-month long unbeaten streak in La Liga.
Athletic are a happy side these days. Despite sitting eleventh in the table after falling 2-0 at the Camp Nou last weekend, Los Leones recently eliminated Sevilla to clinch their first appearance in a Copa del Rey final in 24 years. Joaquin Caparros’ game plan for the Madridistas is to maintain the same spirit that carried them to the grand finale of the Copa: direct football, commitment and a large dose of Fernando Llorente. The international striker has improved drastically over the course of the season and is the leading scorer for Bilbao.
While Llorente represents the greatest threat on behalf of tonight’s hosts, Real Madrid also have a star in the making to keep an eye on. Huntelaar has started the last four La Liga matches and scored the same number of goals.
Athletic haven’t been able to handle the Madridistas at home in the last three seasons, so the goal tonight is to extend the streak and bring home another three points from Basque country.
SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
Defenders: Pepe, Ramos, Heinze, Marcelo, Metzelder, Torres
Midfielders: Lass, Sneijder, Robben, Parejo, Faubert, Van der Vaart
Forwards: Raul, Saviola, Higuain, Huntelaar
Where Are They Now: Aitor Karanka
Aitor Karanka de la Hoz, Karanka (born September 18, 1973 in Vitoria, Álava), is a retired Spanish footballer, in the central defender position. On occasion, he occupied the left back slot. He played mostly for Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid and was also a Spain and Euskadi XI international.
Karanka began his career with junior side Corazonistas and also played at that level for Deportivo Alavés. He made his professional debut with Bilbao Athletic in 1991, and went onto make 53 appearances for the reserve side, scoring twice. Along with Julen Guerrero, he was a member of the Athletic U-19 team that won a national cup and league double in 1992.
Karanka was promoted to the senior side by Jupp Heynckes in 1993 and went on to make 118 La Liga appearances before joining Heynckes at Real Madrid in 1997. He made a further 93 league appearances and played 33 UEFA Champions League games for Real, including the 1999-2000 final. In 2002 he returned to Athletic Bilbao, switching to Major League Soccer in 2006.
In all he made 93 appearances for Real Madrid without scoring even once.
Karanka never really established himself as an international, and only played once at senior level, on April 26, 1995 against Armenia, in an Euro 1996 qualifier in Yerevan (2-0 win). He did however play 14 games for Spain’s U-21, and was a member of the team that were runners-up at the 1996 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, in a final lost to Italy. Karanka also played for Spain at the 1996 Olympic Games. Between 1994 and 2004, he also played 6 times for the Basque Country national football team.
Karanka’s younger brother, David, is also a footballer, albeit a striker. He also appeared for Bilbao’s first team.
Post-match comments
Gonzalo Higuaín scored two of his team’s three goals. The Argentine was happy with the victory and prefered not to talk about the referee. Real Madrid’s Sporting Director said he is worried about how refereeing decisions are negatively affecting the team. Rather than making any rash remarks, Míchel Salgado focused on team spirit and how Real Madrid needs to keep chugging along.
Higuain:
The good thing is that we all score. Anyone of us can perform well when someone else is injured. The important thing is that we won tonight and that we are fighting it our at the top of the table. Valencia drew and the rest of the top teams lost. That’s helped us reach the top spots.
No game is easy. They will all be tough and tonight’s encounter proved it. I hope to continue with this streak. We are all calm as long as the team continues to win.
We shouldn’t dwell more on Athletic Bilbao’s goals and instead talk about how important it was to win tonight. My first goal was wrongly disallowed, but I scored another. I don’t know if we should’ve scored more, but we had many chances on goal.
I never talk about referees. They can make mistakes like the rest of us. I just want to talk about Real Madrid and the fact that we are at the top of the table. We are happy with our performance and with the victory. Let’s hope this continues.
The teams at the top of the table have dropped points, we are just one point short of the leader, we are alive in both La Liga and the Champions League, and the King’s Cup will start on Thursday. I hope we continue playing this well to stay strong throughout the season.
Mijatovic:
I am heppy with the team’s performance and with the final score. We played very well in the second half. Nevertheless, I am not going to hide my preoccupation with the refereeing decisions that have been called against us in the past few weeks. I’m worried. I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t want to say much about it, but I don’t like this situation.
Higuaín’s disallowed goal was not offside, the penalty was very strict, so was Marcelo’s booking… That’s without mentioning how it was against Atletico and Espanyol. Referees hurt us in all cases. It seems people don’t want Real Madrid to win their third consecutive league title. We want this to change.
We prefer to believe this is just mere coincidence, but too much has happened in just a few games. The only thing we can do is move on. It seems it’s easy for referees to call something against us when in doubt. We’ve talked about it and we now express our worries. There are many games left.
This week has been tough because of our defeat against Juventus and the little time we had to prepare for tonight’s clash. Regarding Sergio Ramos’ comments, I’d like to say that players sometimes don’t think about the message they have to deliver when they speak; we all make mistakes. Nevertheless, the coach’s decision to bench him had nothing to do with what he said. Míchel Salgado is a hard worker who also deserves to play. Many of our men play in many games, so we decide to give them time to rest.
Salgado:
Barcelona won and the rest slipped up, so winning was very important. I will not discuss the tactics used. I focus on playing and training. Whatever the coach decides is a different matter altogether. I will not discuss the referee either. I will not say that he made any intentional calls, but he did make a mistake when we had the lead. By the end of the season, every team receives both the short and long end of the stick.
There is more parity in the league than ever. We thought last year was tight, and we won substantially because Valencia, Sevilla, and Barcelona didn’t start off well. This season all five of us are strong. December will be crucial because we all play one another.
This season we aren’t as strong as home as we were last year. We haven’t been able to put the icing on the cake. It happened again tonight in the second half. It was as if they had 11 men and not us. We need to learn from it and go back to being the team we were last year. Our goal is to not let any points escape from the Bernabéu.
I always feel like the doors have been left open for me. All I see is work. I want the coach to know that I am here for anything he needs. The team needs Sergio Ramos, and I’ll be the first to admit it. This is a strong squad and we’re all rowing in the same direction.
It’s a long season. We’re playing league and Champions League matches and the King’s Cup is about to begin. I don’t feel like a starter or a reserve. Today the coach decided that I should play, and Sergio will play another day. There is nothing wrong. We need everyone. This issue needs to be resolved because we need Sergio.
Schuster post-match presser
Bernd Schuster prefered not to comment on the referee and said his team was superior throughout the match.
Are you worried about having conceded so many goals?
I am because we made many mistakes.
On Saturday you said you didn’t remember this referee. Did you remember him tonight?
I don’t need to remember him.
Mijatovic said he’s worried about refereeing decisions against the team…
We all are.
Does this victory taste better thanks to the results earned by other teams?
It’s always hard to play a match immediately after a Champions League clash. This victory is very important thanks to the results earned by other teams. It doesn’t matter how we won; the important thing is to be in the top positions of the table.
Have all doubts surrounding the team after the Turin defeat been cleared?
You were the only ones who had any doubts, not us. A team doesn’t change in three days for losing or winning a game. We weren’t worried about that defeat.
Ramos didn’t play. Was it a tactical decision or a punishment?
Everything but a punishment.
Do you think his absence influenced the final score?
Decisions made by the referee hurt us and were detrimental to our game. Our opponent benefitted from this. We were nervous after the incomprehensible penalty. It was good that it happened before half-time because we were able to start all over again. We were better throughout the match and we should have finished it off earlier.
Has it surprised you to hear Cristiano Ronaldo say he will play for Manchester United next season?
It shouldn’t surprise me because he is the one who decides where he should play.
Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao | Spanish Primera Liga | Round 8 | Preview
Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, two classic sides of the Spanish league, will face each other tonight at the Santiago Bernabéu (21:00 CET). The Madridistas want a victory to forget about their Turin defeat, and the Basques need points to distance themselves from the relegation zone.
The best news for the Whites is the return of Guti and Diarra, but despite their recovery, both men will probably start the game on the bench.
Ruud van Nistelrooy will miss the encounter because of the red card he saw against Atletico Madrid last weekend. His absence will surely bring about changes on the starting line-up; Robben could be a starter and Higuaín may play as a striker with Raúl.
Miguel Torres is injured with a firbilar tear on his left thigh and hasn’t been called up. The coach has given Fabio Cannavaro some time to rest and decided not to use him tonight. The other men to miss the clash because of coaching decisions are Javi García, Jordi Codina and Rubén de la Red. The absence of the Italian centre back will probably be covered by Heinze in the centre of defence. Pepe will surely be paired with the Argentinean, and both will be flanked by Marcelo down the left wing. With Gago, Sneijder and Van der Vaart in midfield, the Madridistas will look for another victory to strengthen their position on the top part of the table.
Athletic Bilbao aren’t currently going through an easy time. Joaquín Caparrós’ men have lost four games in the league and have only scored seven goals so far in the championship. They didn’t net a single strike in their previous three matches -against Getafe, Sevilla and barcelona-, and Llorente -their best striker- has only scored one goal this season.
Currently on the 17th spot on the table, Athletic are in need of points to avoid the relegatioin zone. Morale will surely be high to try to win at the Bernabéu, although they have lost 8 of their last 9 clashes at the White Colosseum.
- Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
- Defenders: Salgado, Ramos, Pepe, Metzelder, Higuaín, Marcelo
- Midfielders: Diarra, Gago, Guti, Sneijder, Van der Vaart, Robben, Drenthe
- Forwards: Higuaín, Saviola, Raúl
Hala Bernardo!
Good morning Madridistas,
Hell, its a great morning. Not that many reasons but still it is a great morning. I was just reading Bernardo’s press conference prior to the match against Bilbao at home and I must say that I am all for this guy. The way he answers these press goofs is simply brilliant. Those who are interested please go through both Ramos to AS and Schuster Press Conference posts properly and your liking for him too will increase surely. All this started with Sergio Ramos saying to AS that he is feeling left alone on the right wing and hence all the problems seem to be backlashing at him. It is somewhat true. We do not have a player like Joaquin or someone who sticks to his wing thus helping out attacking wing backs like Ramos himself. We have been playing Higuain increasingly on the right and he hasn’t stayed there as much as anyone would’ve liked. He has been straying to the centre and our attack has shifted slightly to the center than from the wings. Thus Ramos is left exposed and if he attacks there is no sort of a cover up for him. The defensive midfielders in Diarra or Gago too have played very less and haven’t done that one thing when they did play. So I guess Schuster must try and solve that problem. Otherwise I guess we are perfectly fine.
Moving on, the Brazilian kid Douglas Costa says he dreams of playing in Spain. Manchester Cunts and us have been vying for the signature of this kid from Gremio speculated to be the next Ronaldinho. Though that title only means that Ronaldinho is old and is nothing to worry about we are looking out for kids who play good football and this guy seems to be one among them. I am looking forward to signing this Brazilian.
In other news the pursuit for Cristiano Ronaldo according to Calderon and Sky Sports News is officially over. No wonder. He has been sucking for United in the past few games. Surely he is coming here next season I think.
The squad list for Bilbao is out. Canna’s turn to stay out. Guti and Diarra are back in. Match Preview to follow.
Hala Madrid!!
Real Madrid 3-0 Athletic Bilbao
Nobody wanted to miss the party. The Bernabéu was packed with enthusiastic fans, excited about taking a victory against Athletic Bilbao despite knowing that it wouldn’t give the team the League title yet due to Villarreal’s victory over Betis. Saviola, Robben and Higuaín scored the three goals of the clash.
The players don’t mind when or where they win the title and fought tremendously hard throughout the encounter. Saviola was the new face on Bernd Schuster’s line-up and some reshuffling was done in defence due to Fabio Cannavaro’s suspension, with Pepe and Heinze teaming up as centre backs flanked by Marcelo and Sergio Ramos.
Real Madrid wanted a victory and to thrill the fans with a good show. Sneijder had the first chance from a long shot on the 10-minute mark. The keeper later deflected a strike by Raúl onto Sneijder’s boots. The Dutchman shot, the ball was cleared again by the keeper and Saviola picked it up and scored his third goal of the season (13′). A mere victory wasn’t enough for the Whites tonight and they kept putting a siege on Bilbao’s goal, especially through Robinho and Saviola; the Brazilian missed a clear chance in the 18th minute and the Argentine tested the goalie’s reflexes on many a time.
Athletic also tried to surprise Iker Casillas, who saved the day by impressively clearing Extebarría’s powerful shot from outside the box on the 29-minute mark. Both sides had one chance after the other, proving to be extremely focused on the game. At one point, Gabriel Heinze tackled Llorente late inside the box and a penalty was awarded to Bilbao, but Iker Casillas yet again pulled rank and saved Garmendia’s shot.
The second half was very similar to the first. Both sides looked for a goal and put on a great show. Gurpegui had a great chance in the 52nd minute, while Real Madrid’s most dangerous play was finished with a shot by Sneijder that was cleared for a corner kick (60′).
Six minutes later, Guti’s shot was cleared by Armando. Schuster then decided to replace Raúl and Robinho with Robben and Higuaín and the move simply couldn’t have been better; soon after taking the pitch, the Argentine crossed the ball into the centre of Bilbao’s box for Robben to slam it into the back of the net (77′). The crowd went wild and sang the victory chant, only to see how Higuaín netted the team’s third strike one minute later, buy controlling the ball beautifully and shooting it right past the near post (78′).
The three points taken tonight have put Real Madrid closer to the title than ever before this year. Despite Villarreal’s victory in Seville, excitement ruled throughout the encounter at the Bernabéu and the fans celebrated the victory as if the title had been won.
Lineups:
Real Madrid: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Heinze, Marcelo; Sneijder (Drenthe, 86’), Gago, Guti, Robinho (Robben, 72’); Saviola & Raúl (Higuaín, 72’).
Athletic: Armando; Iraola, Amorrebieta, Gurpegui, Koikili; Garmendia, Javi Martínez, Susaeta (Murillo, 79’), Gabilondo (Aduriz, 77’); Llorente & Etxeberría.
Goals:
1-0, 13′: Saviola.
2-0, 73′: Robben.
3-0, 78′: Higuaín.
Athletic Bilbao 0-1 Real Madrid
Real Madrid remain leaders in the League after defeating a hard working Athletic Bilbao side. Once again, Casillas proved to be in brilliant form by making two crucial saves. Bilbao lost at home again, but they made a good impression.
San Mamés was the best possible venue in which to break the ‘curse of the away games’ Real Madrid have recently been suffering from. Bernd Schuster lined up a team with a very solid midfield formed by Diarra and Baptista, two of the strongest men on the squad. He also made some changes in defence by allowing Torres to play as a starter in the left back position. Bilbao coach Joaquín Caparrós surprised all by making changes in his starting line-up in order to adapt his team to its rival. Both sides were very strong in midfield throughout the entire match, with gameplay mainly taking place down the wings. Robinho drove defender Ustaritz crazy all the time until the latter had to be replaced because of an injury close to the end of the first 45 minutes.
Close to 35,000 people packed San Mamés, turning the stadium into a pressure cooker, but Real Madrid managed to pull through when Robinho completely overtook Ustariz in the opening minutes. Nevertheless, the first chance was for the locals, but Iker Casillas -who returned to the venue where he made his debut with the Whites- cleared the ball with his right foot in the manner of a futsal keeper.
Robinho was the Madridistas’ most dangerous man in the first half, exasperating Bilbao’s defenders with his incredible step-overs and his speed. It seemed the fixture would be drawn 0-0 by half-time when suddenly a free-kick by Sneijder was headed into the back of the net by Ramos on the 35-minute mark, but the goal was disallowed because the Real Madrid defender was offside.
Nistelrooy scores
Real Madrid grew stronger in the final minutes of the first part and took the pitch with the same attitude after half-time. Finally, the only goal of the night arrived in the 60th minute when Van Nistelrooy scored a terrific shot from outside the box after receiving a pass from Raúl.
From then on, Real Madrid displayed their best football, but Athletic never gave up. Van Nistelrooy faced keeper Aranzubía alone soon after his goal and dribbled the ball well a couple of times, but erred in the finishing touch. On the 70-minute mark, Robinho had a practically identical shot from which the Dutchman scored, but he hit the right post.
The last few minutes of the encounter were heart-stopping. The Lions showcased drive and great strength in their pursuit of an equaliser, but Real Madrid pretty much ruled over the game. Nevertheless, Casillas was put to the test a couple of times; first, by Iraola with a powerful shot outside the box, and second, by Llorente with a very similar strike.
In the end, the three points were for Real Madrid, who now have 35 in total and continue being leaders in the competition. This will no doubt make Schuster’s team confident for the match against Lazio on Tuesday.
Lineups:
Athletic Bilbao: Aranzubía, Ustaritz (Pablo Orbaiz, 40’), Aitor Ocio, Amorrebieta, Koikili, David López, Iraola, Javi Martínez (Aduriz, 60’), Fran Yeste, Llorente & Etxeberría (Gabilondo, 63’).
Real Madrid: Casillas, Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Torres, Diarra, Sneijder (Gago, 74’), Baptista, Robinho (Robben, 85’), Raúl & Van Nistelrooy (Guti, 78’).
Referee: Luis Medina Cantalejo. Booked Sneijder (43’), Robinho (71’), Orbaiz (56’), David López (57’), Amorrebieta (58’) and Yeste (75’). Athletic’s second coach, Luciano Martínez, was sent off.
Goals:
0-1, 54’: Van Nistelrooy.
Highlights: Matchday 14 of the Spanish League.
Venue: San Mamés Stadium.
Attendance: 35,000.
Just another Madridista
Hala Madrid 
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano transmitted a message of hope following Real Madrid’s 5-1 victory against Athletic Bilbao. Manuel Pellegrini was very pleased with his team’s victory on Saturday, but he didn’t shy away from commenting on his displeasure with the score in Seville. The message is loud and clear. Members of Real Madrid’s first team still believe they have a shot at the league title and 98 points after beating Athletic Bilbao 5-1 on Saturday.
"We will fight until the end."
Valdano:
Pellegrini:
(more…)
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May 9, 2010 | Categories: Post-match Comments, Spanish Primera División | Tags: Athletic Bilbao, Álvaro Arbeloa, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Esteban Granero, Gonzalo Higuaín, Jorge Valdano, Manuel Pellegrini, Sergio Ramos | Leave a comment