Not much to talk about
With a round of pointless international friendlies coming up, there is not much to talk about. Unless you consider Marcelo’s venture into social networking as something worth discussing. Then of course there is the whole Cantera issue that has been going on and on for weeks now and has started getting to me as much as to Mourinho. Apart from that we can maybe ponder over whether Pepe really taunted Ballesteros or not. But in essence there is nothing worth talking about. Before you start questioning the intent behind this post let me get started.
Eight of our players have been called up by their respective national teams for friendlies most of which would be conducted on Wednesday. Nacho and Varane play on Tuesday for the U21s. Casillas, Ramos, and Albiol are in Central America, Pepe in West Africa, Di Maria is in East Asia, and Kaká in North America. With so much travel and the fatigue that is bound to be incurred I am confident that we will have yet another injury crisis as the rest of the team prepares to face Bilbao at home in the weekend and Man City away next week. That said, we had some good news at the Valdebebas with Khedira training with the first team. Benzema, who is still recovering, trained on the sidelines and would most probably stay out of the team for the weekend’s fixture. Higuaín, Özil and Ronaldo too are their respective nursing injuries. I am unsure about who would and wouldn’t be ready for this weekend’s game but I am sure I can give you a better idea in a day or two.
Marcelo is now on twitter. After his latest entry into instagram the Brazilian left back is now catching up with the rest of his up to date team mates on the mini blogging site. You can tweet him @12MarceloV. Rumor has it that he followed Cristiano before even LilWayne. Staying on the social wire and with Ronaldo, the Portuguese superstar uploaded a pic on instagram and facebook reassuring fans and warning teams that he would be back as soon as it was possible for him to see with both eyes. Knowing him, the world’s third best player, who now looks as though he got into a spat with bruce lee, should be ready to challenge Lil’ Lionel for the Pichichi this weekend.
Talking about trophies, Casillas, Ramos, and Alonso were chosen as the best goalkeeper, defender, and midfielder by the coaches in charge of the teams in the league last season. They collected their rewards in the weekend. Messi though continued to beat Ronaldo when it came to winning prizes. It now seems like a competition between the teacher’s pet and the class bully (considering how CR looks now).
Real have released an official statement about the exemplary behavior displayed by us post-game at Valencia. Levante’s overaged players complained about being taunted by Pepe in the tunnel and there were even rumors that Pepe and Ballesteros went at each other in the presence of CR while he was receiving treatment. I haven’t seen anything more petty in my life and will hence not deign to talk about it.
Till tomorrow,
Para Siempre Blanco!!
Hala Madrid!!
It is not only about football, at least not anymore
Its no longer about football alone.
Real Madrid lost 3-2 on the night and 5-4 on aggregate to eternal rivals Barcelona, ergo the Supercopa de España. Lionel Messi, as always, was the chief architect behind the Catalan success scoring two goals out of almost nothing, the second coming in the dying moments of the game, all this after setting up Andrés Iniesta for the first. Real came twice from behind through Cristiano and Benzema respectively but were unable to grab the third goal that would have turned the tie towards the better team on the night with barely anytime left. The match ended on a bitter note with two of our players sent off in Mesut Özil (who was not on the pitch at the time) and Marcelo (for a tackle on new boy Cesc Fàbregas). David Villa, who too was on the bench, was sent of as well with the game ending in a melee.
José Mourinho decided to field the same line up that lost 5-0 here in La Liga last season but for one change. New signing Coentrão started at left back, replacing Marcelo. Pep Guardiola, meanwhile, made a host of changes to his side as Xavi, Busquets, Pedro and Pique replaced Thiago, Keita, Aléxis Sánchez and Adriano from the first leg, thereby reverting back to his best starting XI available. Cesc Fàbregas was on the bench. The initial stages of the game saw both teams share equal possession and the ball sticking within 25 yards of either side of the half way line. Neither team was able to break through the opposite defense when Messi sublimely put Andrés Iniesta through on goal 1v1 with Casillas. The midfielder chipped in the ball to give Barça a 1-0 lead. Real now had to score two. But that would change within 5 minutes. Mesut Özil swung in a corner from the right which ultimately fell to Karim Benzema on the far post. The on-song Frenchman squeezed in a ball through a crowded area which was tucked into goal by Cristiano Ronaldo. There were doubts about Ronaldo being offside but replays acquitted him of such claims. It was CR7’s 100th goal for Real Madrid and his first at the Nou Camp. But for the goal and a shot that Valdes could only deflect on to the crossbar, the overall performance of Ronaldo last night was below par. He was trying too hard to flatter the Catalan crowd with his dazzling step overs only to hinder the attack of his own team. Real had the better chances of the game throughout the night but Lionel Messi was more efficient. Just before half time the little Argentine played a clever one-two with the demented Gerard Piqué to beat Iker Casillas yet again and give Barça the lead after 45 minutes of play. Messi was simply sublime last night one has to admit. Every run of his troubled our defense. One other sight which worried me especially was Coentrão’s defensive credibilities. The Portuguese at left-back was totally out of sorts and was found AWOL most of the times. Fortunately, since it was Pedro who played on the right, Barça failed to capitalize.
The second half began in similar fashion with Barça unable to play their normal tiki-taka thanks to the incredible pressure that they were under. Marcelo replaced Khedira and Coentrão moved to midfield alongside Xabi Alonso. Unlike previous encounters Madrid was not rough on them but made sure that the pressure they applied on those Catalans was immense. Xavi of all people stuttered. Piqué, Abidal, Alves were all forced to clear the ball and thus were taken out of possession. Messi hardly saw the ball. Madrid were better than any side that has ever faced this team. Özil almost pegged us level when he was put through with only Valdes to beat. The German tested the keeper but definitely should have done better. I felt there was too little sting in the shot. The game crossed the 80th minute mark. Kaká and Higuaín had come on for Özil and an out-of-sort Angel Di María. It was the Brazilian’s corner that ultimately fell to Karim Benzema through Pepe and Real were back on level terms and the match was going into extra time. Barça panicked. The fans were silent as Cesc Fàbregas came on to make his debut. Just two minutes was left for normal time to end. Fàbregas played Adriano through on the left and his cross was volleyed in by Lionel Messi to hand Barcelona the lead and an inevitable victory. The volley was too good even for someone like St. Iker.
Özil and Villa, both in the picture, were sent off from the bench.
The game ended but match didn’t end there. Marcelo made a completely unnecessary challenge on new boy Cesc which the catalans made too much out of. This invoked the Catalans and finally the inevitable brawl began. Marcelo was sent off but so were Özil, who was completely furious about some incident, and David Villa were sent off. Mourinho too was involved having a go at Tito Villanova in his usually cheeky manner capping off what has been one of the best two legged games that I have ever seen.
This defeat, as sour as it is, definitely is a sign of improvement. We were the better team over two legs and if we had been a little more efficient in front of goal we would have definitely walked out winners. The rivalry between the two sides is turning out be more bitter than ever. Piqué has had a few harsh words to say about José. The latter belittled the Supercopa by calling it a tiny little trophy. Its no longer only about football and that’s what is making this whole affair even more special.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Real Murcia vs Real Madrid | Preview
Be Quick or Be Dead
Real Madrid kick start yet another campaign of the Copa Del Rey, this time against Real Murcia. This isn’t just another Real Murcia side. This is a team which is at par with Real in at least one front if not all. Murcia along with us is the only other side in professional Spanish football that is yet to taste defeat. Murcia currently lie in Group IV of the Segunda Division B and is the team with the longest history in the Segunda Division.
But this tie is not about the league. This game is about the King’s cup. A trophy that has eluded us for ages now which has caused Mourinho to call up almost all of his best players for the game tonight. Only the likes of Xabi Alonso, Ozil, Carvalho and Marcelo have been left out. The rest of the starters have been called up. To emphasize on our intent a little more, even the almighty Iker Casillas will take part in a cup game after four years of exile. Cristiano Ronaldo will also be starting and infact will be making his Cup debut. Pepe and Arbeloa too have been confirmed as starters. Also, Sergio Ramos has been passed fit to play the game tonight.
Usually the domestic cup games are not taken seriously by the senior players at least in Spain but this time JM has signaled his intent of winning the competition. But does that mean the likes of Granero and Pedro Leon won’t be getting a chance here as well? No. That is not the case. Our manager has said that this will be the chance for Granero, Pedro and Benzema to prove their worth to him and tell him why he needs to make them a starter. Fair play isn’t it?
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Adan, Jesus.
Defenders: Albiol, Arbeloa, Pepe, Mateos, Sergio Ramos.
Midfielders: Khedira, Granero, Diarra, Canales, Pedro Leon, Di Maria, Juanfran.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuain, Benzema.
Tuesday’s match will be significant for both Pedro Leon and Raul Albiol. The midfielder returns to his place of birth and the city that saw him make his professional debut, while the defender will come face-to-face with his brother Miguel, a midfielder for Murcia.
Jorge Valdano managed to discuss Tuesday’s Copa del Rey opener ahead of the game at an event in Madrid. The Director General said that the team is heading down to Murcia with every intention of winning the competition. What interested me though was what he had to say about Karim Benzema:
Benzema is very young. Not everyone takes the same time to get going. Some like Ozil and Di Maria adjust in months, but others take longer whether it’s because of language or personality barriers. There is no doubt Benzema is talented and he will soon show us what he is capable of.
Is that the case? Hasn’t Benzema spent enough time in Spain already for him start paying back the club that spent so many millions on him? I am not questioning his talent, but I am unsure as to whether it is the language/personality barriers that prevent him from performing. I just feel that he is not working hard enough. I might be wrong but this is what I feel.
Someone who is at his peak though is little Marcelo. Marcelo recently hit the century mark in matches played for Real Madrid against Racing Santander and had kind words about the current state of affairs at the club:
I am very happy here and want to continue improving. I need to work hard if I want to play in many more matches. I am very comfortable in Madrid. I have been working just how Mourinho has asked me to. A few weeks ago I said that every training session with Mourinho is like a battle. All I need to do is put everything he tells me into play on the pitch.
And that is exactly what I feel Benzema, Granero and others wanting to start should do. Currently Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo and Higuain are performing at their best. The competition for a place in the side does not seem to be there. The bench strength we have compared to several other sides is brilliant. But that’s only on paper one has to admit. These players need to pick themselves up and get ready to battle.
Anyhoo, a cup game and a win is a must. It cannot be stressed further as to how crucial a win tomorrow will be as this is one trophy that has been eluding us for decades now. The players have a point to prove and the coach is intent on winning the trophy. The mood just can’t get better. Mourinho yesterday said that:
If last year’s situation [at Alcorcon] repeats itself, I will cross those who play off my list because they will be dead to me.
And I am pretty sure he means it.
Let’s hope that the cup misery ends tomorrow.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Marcelo press conference
Marcelo wants to give his best every day in order to make the starting eleven. The Brazilian discussed Mourinho’s working methods in a press conference.
Marcelo: "Every time we train we also fight for a spot in the lineup"
Training:
Every time we train we also fight for a spot in the lineup and the energy we put in the workouts is very helpful to the team.
Mourinho:
Mourinho is very honest and we feel very close to him. He has made us stronger.
Di Maria:
I don’t need to stress how great a player Di Maria is. He still has to improve, but I can see him becoming an important player for Real Madrid. He is a good guy on and off the pitch. It’s difficult to defend against him because he is a very fast player.
Real Madrid 2-0 Peñarol | Post-match comments
Mourinho: "To stand undefeated at the end of the preseason is very good indeed"
Jose Mourinho was satisfied with his team’s performance, but regretted Fernando Gago’s injury.
There have been positive and negative things tonight, just like in any other game. We’ve played two fixtures in three days and we had to control the amount of minutes played by all our men, including those from the academy. The worst thing tonight was Gago’s injury because it looks serious.
Tonight’s match was a realistic test because many teams in La Liga will play against us like Peñarol did tonight. They will focus on defending and will showcase positive aggressiveness. It wasn’t important to win tonight, but winning is always positive and to stand undefeated at the end of the preseason is very good indeed. We have to be more patient, move the ball better and pressurise more in attack.
Our preseason was very difficult. We’ve had little time to come up with a new style taking into account the team has a new coach and six new players. We are satisfied with our work so far and we will improve with time. It will be easier to improve by winning.
This is a very young squad, but full of quality. We have European champions, World Cup winners and Ballon d’Or players. We have the emotional quality needed to play in any competition. What matters is that we have room to grow, to be solid and to play at a medium-high level while being consistent in our style and results.
I don’t like Lass much as a full back, but he does very well nevertheless. He keeps possession. He has greater quality to construct the team’s game than natural defenders.
My decisions are the product of circumstance and of what my players have to offer. It’s a shame Mateos can’t join us, but I like him a lot and I would like him to be part of the first team.
I like Van der Vaart. He played less today because we had to play other men that needed more playing time. Cristiano had to play more today because he didn’t face Hercules.
Di Maria is going to grow as a player. He is 21 years old, creative and unbalancing. It is hard to stop him once he’s on the run.
Mallorca are the same side they were last year and they will face us at their stadium, so the game will be difficult. Nevertheless, we are Real Madrid and we will do our best to take three points.
Hercules 1-3 Real Madrid | Post-match comments
Marcelo, Granero and Di Maria agree: "The team improves with every game"
Marcelo, Di Maria and Granero shared their views on the match against Hercules with the media. Youth teamers Juanfran, Joselu and Mateos were thrilled with coming on in the second half of the match against Hercules.
Di Maria:
I’m happy because I scored my first goal with the Real Madrid shirt. We played well. Real Madrid always wants to win. We did well in the first half and we turned the score around in the last 45 minutes. Mourinho is happy and satisfied with our work. We have to carry on like this.
Marcelo:
The preseason games show Mourinho’s influence on the team. The team improves with every match.
Granero
We are doing a good job. We increasingly feel better and we are anxious for La Liga to start.
What they say about Raul
Real Madrid squad members agree that Real Madrid is bidding farewell to a one-of-a-kind captain, player and legend. Here is what they had to say about Raul.
"Raul is an icon and will forever be a part of Real Madrid"
Iker Casillas:
Raul is a symbol of Real Madrid. A great captain is defined by ups and downs, knowing how to always make the best of any situation. Raul is an example of professionalism and he helped me grow as a player and person. The incredible histories of clubs are written by great footballers, and Raul is one of them.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
Playing by Raul’s side has been an honor. I always dreamed of doing so as a kid. It was an honor to share the same dressing room and I wish him all the best.
Xabi Alonso:
Raul represents the values of Real Madrid. He is a symbol and a part of this club’s history. It isn’t easy to play for Real Madrid for 15 years, but he did because is a magnificent player.
Kaka:
Raul is an amazing player and an important member of this club. Raul will forever be a part of Madridismo and his leaving is a sad day for fans and teammates.
What they say about Guti
Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas, along with his teammates had nothing but kind words for departing teammate Guti on his last day as a Real Madrid player.
"One of the greatest footballers and a role model for Real Madrid academy players is leaving and we will really miss him because he is an exceptional person"
Florentino Perez:
As President of Real Madrid, I wish to thank Guti for everything he’s done for the Club these past 24 years. Spending a lifetime defending and fighting for our team shows the degree of loyalty and passion he has for Real Madrid. I will never forget the incredibly important offer Guti received from great club AC Milan when I entered office for the first time in 2000. He nevertheless chose to remain with us.
Guti was and is a different player who has exceptional talent. That’s why he has always had a special room in the heart of all our fans worldwide.
His career has unquestionably become part of Real Madrid history. His contribution to the title success the team has had these years proves just how lucky Madridismo has been to have him. Real Madrid will forever be his home.
I had the chance to talk to him this mornring and, as President, thanked him in the name of all Madridistas for everything he’s given us, for his talent and for the imagination he’s showcased on the pitch.
Guti begins a new stage in his life and I’m sure he will continue to prove his quality. I wish him luck in this new venture. He knows Madridismo will never forget him.
Iker Casillas:
Guti is a great player, a great person and a great captain. He leaves us now but he will always be part of Real Madrid. As a footballer, he has always been one of the most talented players I have ever seen in my life. As a person, I have known him from the past 10 years. He is very kind-hearted and I consider him to be a good friend. I am never going to forget his moves, passes and superb matches. He will always be part of Real Madrid’s history and I will miss him very much.
Marcelo press conference
Marcelo discussed Jose Mourinho’s coaching methods and the team’s objectives for the upcoming season during Monday’s press conference.
Marcelo: "We train aggressively and with everything we've got"
Training twice a day:
We train aggressively and with everything we’ve got. In order to win we must suffer in training. Mourinho makes sure that we know we cannot ever relax during training and we are very happy with him.
Mourinho:
Mourinho is a good person. He speaks to all of us and doesn’t give anyone preferential treatment.
Goals:
Our goal has always been to win titles and this season is no different. We train hard to win titles.
Real Madrid:
I love training and eating alongside my teammates. Football is my life and this is the right call.
Brazil:
I will continue training hard so that I can also get a call-up from the Brazilian national team.
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.
Marcelo press conference
One day after scoring the equalizer against Osasuna, Marcelo took the hot seat at Valdebebas to field questions from the press.
"We don't have any more easy matches, but the toughest is the Mallorca game"
Comebacks:
Whenever we play we try to win from the moment we take the pitch. It’s the easiest way to avoid having to mount a comeback.
Run-in:
We don’t have any more easy matches. We knew the Osasuna game would be tough, but not as bad as it was and that we would have to stage a comeback. We have three games left and we will do our best so as to not have to relive the situation we experienced last night.
Toughest game:
The toughest game left is the next one against Mallorca because they are fighting for a berth in next season’s Champions League. We are working hard to win La Liga. We will play our heart and souls out to win all three matches. We just hope Barcelona slip up. All we can do is wait and see what happens.
Post-match comments
Director General Jorge Valdano was very happy with the team’s victory over Osasuna, admitting the game had been “strange” because the team gave an “uneven” performance at times. Manuel Pellegrini admitted the team “suffered to win,” but was overall happy with the victory. Osasuna coach Jose Antonio Camacho was pleased with the effort of his players despite going down. Cristiano Ronaldo (2) and Marcelo scored for the Whites this evening. The squad expressed its satisfaction with the victory over Osasuna.
"That mental strength, combined with the crowd's support, is vital in the final stage of the competition"
Valdano:
My heart is pounding. It was a strange game because we were uneven, managing to sentence the match only at the end. Real Madrid never give up the fight and the crowd has been there for us. We hope to write a new chapter in this fight, which everyone used to think we had already lost.
The title would have been practically unreachable had we drawn the match, but the team would have kept on fighting to the end. This victory will help us keep Barcelona on edge. It’s never the same to face a game knowing that another team is also putting pressure on you.
Cristiano Ronaldo is very much like Real Madrid and the crowd notices. We have players with great character and Cristiano is one of them. He brings life to the team. It always seems something is about to happen whenever he gets the ball.
Juanfran seemed quite at ease in his debut. He was fast and confident with the ball. He read the game intelligently, knowing when to up the pace of the match and when to slow it down.
Our next three games will be tremendous. Barcelona must be going through the same as us. It will be a clash of titans. We hope to win the title in the end.
Pellegrini:
I think tonight we saw the worst defending we’ve done all year. We were weak at the back.
It is impossible to deny Cristiano Ronaldo makes a difference. We are lucky to have him.
I think the team is very strong, especially on a psychological level. This is vital in the final stage of the season. The crowd’s support is always great. They know as well as us that it is very important to take three points in Mallorca.
We can’t draw early conclusions now. We must stay strong to force Barcelona to take 99 points if they want the title.
Camacho:
We can take something positive from this defeat. The players are hurting but we must continue fighting.
If we play in Wednesday’s game with this level of intensity, then we must get a result.
The goal that Masoud has failed to score, I thought it was so easy that I have looked away and I saw that there hadn’t been a goal. Fate was not with us on this occasion.
Real Madrid 3-2 Osasuna
The 98 point mark becomes more visible with each passing game. Real Madrid defeated Osasuna thanks to their great drive and the skills of Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored two goals.
Ronaldo keeps Whites firm in fight for title
The game had a bad start for the Whites, who conceded a goal by Aranda on the 7-minute mark following a mistake by Albiol. The team had to make a comeback. Cristiano Ronaldo hit a header that grazed one of the posts in the 14th minute. Kaka followed suit with an individual effort that was finished off by Xabi Alonso, but the keeper saved the day (15′). The Brazilian came close to scoring his team’s first goal on the 22-minute mark from a header, but keeper Ricardo made a good save once again. A couple of minutes later, Ronaldo controlled the ball in midfield, reached the front edge of the box and scored a beauty (24′).
Kaka and Cristiano made a great venture in attack ten minutes later finished off by Granero, whose shot missed the target by inches. Nevertheless, the Madridistas’ defence wasn’t as solid as in previous games and the players failed to clear a ball that landed in Casillas’ box. Vadocz controlled it and scored a phenomenal strike (43′).
Real Madrid never give up and, just one minute later, Marcelo reacted and headed in a cross from Xabi Alonso, drawing the match just before half-time.
Thirty seconds into the second half, Osasuna’s defence was forced to clear a shot by Higuain. Real Madrid had three clear chances on goal in the opening five minutes, two by Ronaldo that were barely saved by Ricardo, and another by Granero that was marginally off target. The visitors tried to counterattack through Camuñas and Aranda, putting the Whites’ defenders to the test.
Real Madrid had many more chances, but failed to score. Victory was paramount and Marcelo and Guti came close to scoring with 15 minutes left in the game. Youth teamer Juanfran made his first team debut on the 85-minute mark as a last resort. A few minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo pullled rank to score the victory goal from a header in the very last minute of the match (his 22nd strike in La Liga).
Lineups:
Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Albiol, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso, Gago (Juanfran 87′), Granero (Guti H. 60′), Kaká (Benzema 69′), Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín;
Osasuna: Ricardo, Azpilicueta, Sergio, Monreal, Roversio (Miguel Flaño 70′), Rúper, Nekounam, Vadócz, Juanfran (Masoud 63′), Camuñas, Aranda (Calleja 77′);
Goals:
The 98 point mark becomes more visible with each`passing game. Real Madrid defeated Osasuna thanks to their great drive and the skills of Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored two goals.
The game had a bad start for the Whites, who conceded a goal by Aranda on the 7-minute mark following a mistake by Albiol. The team had to make a comeback. Cristiano Ronaldo hit a header that grazed one of the posts in the 14th minute. Kaka followed suit with an individual effort that was finished off by Xabi Alonso, but the keeper saved the day (15′). The Brazilian came close to scoring his team’s first goal on the 22-minute mark from a header, but keeper Ricardo made a good save once again. A couple of minutes later, Ronaldo controlled the ball in midfield, reached the front edge of the box and scored a beauty (24′).
Kaka and Cristiano made a great venture in attack ten minutes later finished off by Granero, whose shot missed the target by inches. Nevertheless, the Madridistas’ defence wasn’t as solid as in previous games and the players failed to clear a ball that landed in Casillas’ box. Vadocz controlled it and scored a phenomenal strike (43′).
Real Madrid never give up and, just one minute later, Marcelo reacted and headed in a cross from Xabi Alonso, drawing the match just before half-time.
Thirty seconds into the second half, Osasuna’s defence was forced to clear a shot by Higuain. Real Madrid had three clear chances on goal in the opening five minutes, two by Ronaldo that were barely saved by Ricardo, and another by Granero that was marginally off target. The visitors tried to counterattack through Camuñas and Aranda, putting the Whites’ defenders to the test.
Real Madrid had many more chances, but failed to score. Victory was paramount and Marcelo and Guti came close to scoring with 15 minutes left in the game. Youth teamer Juanfran made his first team debut on the 85-minute mark as a last resort. A few minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo pullled rank to score the victory goal from a header in the very last minute of the match (his 22nd strike in La Liga).
Post-match comments
Manuel Pellegrini was very satisfied with the victory over Valencia. The coach had words of praise for all his men. Valencia coach Unai Emery admitted that his side were simply beaten by a better team. The Real Madrid squad was happy with the victory. Everyone agrees the league is still open.
"I am proud of my men's mental strength"
Pellegrini:
We studied Valencia’s style thoroughly, so I am delighted with the victory. I am proud of my men’s mental strength and fighting spirit.
We’ve won 15 of our 16 home games in La Liga and we’ve also scored an important number of goals. I am very satisfied with what my men do both on and off the pitch. It was very important to win in Almeria and seal that victory with another one here tonight. We are a straightforward and goal-scoring team.
We try to make progress in each game. Our intention is to always win.
I am very happy for Guti. He is having a great run, but we need our 23 men to be in top form if we are to win the title.
Emery:
Madrid has been better and that is reflected on the scoreboard. At Real Madrid’s home ground it is very difficult to stop them because they have great potential. The result is fair and we have not challenged effectively.
We came with the intention of winning the game, but our opponents are competing for the league and have been better than us. The difference is how often they have chances to score and the result, that is the reason for the difference in the table between [everyone else] and Real Madrid and Barcelona.
The first thing is to get back that offensive and defensive strength. We must reinforce our home form and strengthen it on the road. We must win five games. There is no cushion whatsoever, we go match by match. Away from home we must have more chances to win, I am convinced that will change things.
Guti:
We had many chances on goal and managed to control the entire match despite facing a great team.
We are proving the league is far from over. We have to win every game to put pressure on Barcelona. We have to make them feel we are coming closer to them each week. Barcelona and Real Madrid are the two best teams in the championship. The winner of the title will be the side that does best from here on end.
Marcelo press conference
During Friday’s post-training press conference, Marcelo sent out a warning message that Real Madrid do not think about throwing in the towel any time soon.
"There is a long way to go and we will continue fighting"
Almeria game:
Last night’s victory served us well. We knew that Almeria were a tricky opponent. We need to continue fighting. The match was very complicated. We knew it would be tough because not many teams had won in that stadium. We were eager to leave there with three points. We won because we were very united.
Title hopes:
Winning the title will be hard, but there is still a long way to go. We have seen thousands of times that many things can happen down the final stretch of the season. There are many matches to be played, we have faith and we will continue fighting to win the league. We will continue doing our job, which is to win all that is left.
Run-in:
There are no more easy matches. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, they will all be difficult. Valencia will be a very tough team to beat.
Marcelo press conference
Marcelo made it clear that Real Madrid are focusing on one match at a time during Thursday’s press conference.
Clasico:
We need to take each match as it comes. We are not thinking about Barcelona right now and will only focus on them the week prior to the match. I will only pay attention to what Barcelona do during the week of the Clasico. Until then I won’t.
Current form:
The fact that we have almost scored 100 goals in all three competitions this season may motivate us, but we don’t think about scoring many goals but rather winning at all cost. We need to focus on Racing because they can really put us in a bind if we have our heads elsewhere.
Freaky injury worries galore – Getafe pre-preview
Kaka to Diarra: "Welcome to the lame-ass-injury league." Drenthe: "DUDE, Wait for me!" Benzema (to himself): "Where the hell are Guti and Lass?"
¡Hola!
In what one can call a Madridista’s nightmare, Real Madrid are going through a phase in which all its players are either falling injured or having “gastroentitis”.
On Monday and Tuesday Kaká, Diarra, Benzema and Drenthe worked out in the gym along with Pepe. Lass also trained indoors on Monday but on Tuesday was sent home with gastroenteritis. Marcelo has missed every session this week as he has traveled to Brazil to attend to personal matters. And when we thought things couldn’t get worse Guti suffered a blow to his left quadriceps and now has a contracture on the muscle. Yesterday, things got even worse when we heard that an MRI performed at Sanitas confirmed that Lass has left ankle synovitis, which will require medical treatment and physiotherapy until it has healed. So that just means no Lass, Kaká, Benzema, Guti, Marcelo, Drenthe, Pepe and Diarra for Getafe leaving us with a very few choices.
And that means, Chelsea’s £10m target Rafael van der Vaart will get yet another deserved start at the Coliseum. He discussed what is left of the season for Real Madrid with AS. After speaking about the title hopes and the game against Gijón, he said this:
I love hearing that people want me to continue playing here. I want to stay on and help this team win titles. I returned home on Saturday with the noise of all the applause still ringing in my ears. I can play well when I play frequently. I am playing often now, but I know I can improve.
Abel Hernandez (Palermo, ITA) and James Rodriguez (Banfield, ARG). Ever heard of them? They’re linked with Real.
And over to Getafe, our most dangerous Derby rivals, a team even more dangerous than Barça themselves at least according to Marca. A busy week of Derbies starts when Real Madrid face Getafe at El Coliseum on Thursday at 20:00 CET. The derby against Atletico will follow at the Bernabéu on Sunday at 21:00.
Generally when I write a preview for any Real Madrid-Getafe game it’d generally have a lot of “its the return of…” or “… will play against his former club” stuff. But this time I’ve chosen not to do so. Getafe will be without Miguel Torres, Roberto Soldado and Cata Diaz – three of their most important players.
GETAFE SQUAD LIST:
Goalkeepers: Óscar Ustari, Jordi Codina
Defenders: Mané, David Belenguer, Mario Álvarez, Fabio Celestini
Midfielders: Jaime Gavilán, Juan Albín, Manu del Moral, Rafa López, Pedro Ríos, Daniel Parejo, Derek Boateng, Miku, Pedro León
Forwards: David Cortés, Javier Casquero, Adrián González
Real like I mentioned earlier are set to miss out on Lass, Kaká, Benzema, Guti, Marcelo, Drenthe, Pepe and Diarra. So that means Lady Gago might make a start. AS reports that Lass is upset because he was substituted during the break on Saturday and which is why he hasn’t trained this week naming several lame injuries as the reason. Guti, who was almost as pathetic as he was against Alcorcon, too might miss the game through a lame ass injury. But I have a strange feeling he won’t. And we all know why Benzema and Kaká are not playing these days. Pepe is genuinely injured. Diarra, well, who gives a damn about Diarra anyways. And that leaves little Marcel. I wonder what has gone haphazard with his life. I just want him to settle everything and get back to training ASAP. We need him.
Manuel Pellegrini will name the squad list later in the day, but it is kind of obvious who will make the cut now. All I want to know is whether he will risk Marcos Alonso tonight.
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST (Unofficial):
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek
Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Metzelder, Arbeloa, Marcos Alonso
Midfielders: Gago, Granero, Xabi Alonso, Van der Vaart, Mosquera
Forwards: Raúl, Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín
Barça won last night and Ibra scored, so strange things can happen in the league. And that means we are second and there is added pressure on us. We need to stay focused and have got to do the job against Getafe. The last time we played there it ended up being a nightmare. We lost 3-1. Schuster was fired. Sneijder, Pepe and Miguel Torres got injured. And Javier Saviola scored. By no means it is a happy hunting ground for us. We just have to go out there and win the game irrespective of all that has happened before. Its time to bury our past and look ahead. Three points is what we need.
As far as the line up is concerned, I would love to see Raúl start instead of Gago. But I don’t see that happening. Higuaín is in fine form. Ronaldo wasn’t all that good on Saturday but I don’t see that form continuing. Xabi has been pivotal and will continue to be. The defense has been good except for minor slip ups and more importantly luck has favored us. Lets hope the players utilize it and get us back to where we belong – the top of the table.
Probable Starting XI: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Albiol, Garay, Arbeloa, Gago, Granero, Xabi Alonso, Van der Vaart, Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo
Prediction: Getafe 1-2 Real Madrid
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Marcelo press conference
Marcelo is confident the team can win the league title, and he doesn’t mind whether it happens with him playing as a left-back or winger.
Fouls on Cristiano:
No one wants to let him dribble past them which is why he receives so many knocks. The crowd also influence by egging players on.
Fouls on himself (who receives the most in La Liga):
Perhaps it is because they don’t want me to dribble past them.
Left-back or winger:
I am happy playing in either position because I feel like I am important to the team and that I am helping. I can play either position, but I am naturally a left-back.
Finale Madrid – Lyon pre-preview
If this team cannot turn the tables, then no other team can which is why I am going with a Real Madrid victory.
Les Gones will be bygones by this time day after tomorrow. And with that hope I start this post of mine today.
Its a do-or-die clash against the French giants Olympique Lyonnais in the second leg of the first knockout round of the Champions League. Real Madrid are required to overturn a 1-0 deficit on home turf, their fortress, the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The fans believe they can do it. The players believe they can do it. I believe they can do it. The game probably will be the turning point of our season irrespective of the result. Good or bad it will turn our season around.
Its time to abase our critics by abating the anathema that has been laid upon us. In anathema, I mean the solemn curse that has been haunting us for almost a decade now – the curse of the UEFA Champions League. Real Madrid C.F. have more European cups to its name than any other club in the World, nine in all, and are looking to make it ten this year especially with the added advantage of playing the grand final at home. And with our current form there needs to be very little doubt as to whether we are good enough to do the job when needed.
Real are finally fulfilling the expectations of the fans and the linchpin behind all this success, President Florentino Perez, who turned the club on its head after becoming the club president for a second term last summer and injecting more than €250 million on getting in Los Galacticós.
Our previous game against Sevilla spoke a lot about the team as a whole. Overcoming a 2-0 deficit, they not only displayed the strength of the squad but also displayed what we Madridistas call Madridismo – spirit of Real Madrid. The result was 3-2 when the final whistle was blown and it saw Real become leaders by virtue of a superior goal difference over Barça. With the second leg of Él Clasíco to be played at the Bernabéu our destiny lies in our own hands. Now with La Liga future secured its time to focus completely on securing Champions League progression.
Lets get ready to rumble!
I… SHOULD… NOT… BE… NERVOUS…
…I am not sure about the players, but I am nervous. It is a must win game tonight which will be followed by yet another must win game. And that is just making my fears worst. It could be the best week ever or the worst one ever. A bit of both could also happen…
I… MUST… HOPE.. FOR… THE.. … …BEST…
…Hopefully there will be no injuries and we’ll go into the midweek game with loads of ketchup and squeeze more out of Lyonnais cunts. Then probably we’ll draw Man United and smack them around the park like we always do and then maybe we’ll draw Barcelona in the semi-finals and beat the livin’ crap out of them like last time and progress to the finals where we will have Bayern Munich and big mouth Van Gaal. A neat 6-0 win in the finals would just be the icing on the cake. By then we’ll be the kings of …
I… MUST… FOCUS… ON… SEVILLA… NOT… LYON…
…As far as the game tonight is concerned, Xabi Alonso has made himself available despite having some trouble in the abdominal region yesterday after training. Marca has said that the Spanish midfielder will feature tonight. He has to. He won’t be available for midweek…
Post-match comments
Jorge Valdano expressed his thoughts on Real Madrid’s solid performance against Tenerife. Manuel Pellegrini leaves Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez Stadium a very happy coach after Real Madrid earned their sixth straight game in La Liga. Several Real Madrid squad members offered their thoughts on their 5-1 win against Tenerife.
Valdano:
We played a very serious game that allows us to continue dreaming large. We worked the open spaces really well in the first half. The three forwards moved around a lot which made midfielders’ job easier and wore Tenerife out. The second half paid dividends.
Higuain is having a brilliant season and played another excellent match.
Raul is such a role model. He plays for 14 or 15 minutes and everything he does has a sense of teamwork. It is so nice to see such an emblematic player perform well. He had a solid outing and the goal was the perfect pay off for such hard work.
Pellegrini:
Seeing the way other teams struggled here served us well. We knew Tenerife were a tough team to beat so we came out strong on the offensive front. Seeing the way this team works collectively is very satisfying, but among that teamwork those players who can really tip the scales in our favor need to show up, too.
The fact that we are the highest scoring team in the league is the result of the work we have been doing since day one. Our conviction gives us the opportunity to be where we are. We are a team of many variants.
The proof that Tenerife is a good team is that once we had the lead and didn’t mark their men as closely, they showed up and scored. They played a very complete match.
There is always room for improvement. We still aren’t the perfect team. We need to contain the ball better on defense, but we will get it taken off.
I found out about the earthquake in Chile early this morning and my heart goes out to all those affected. I hope the country comes together and overcomes this tragedy.
Post-match comments
Real Madrid cut the gap at the top to two points with a win over Xerez, and Jorge Valdano is pleased with their progress. Manuel Pellegrini pointed out the hard work and discipline displayed by his players. Saturday’s star of the show, Cristiano Ronaldo, turned all the attention to the team’s effort rather than his individual performance. Sergio Ramos and Marcelo discussed the victory against Xerez upon its conclusion. Casillas, Granero and Drenthe discussed the difficulties they faced against Xerez and turned their attention to Tuesday’s champions League match against Lyon.
Valdano:
We are right up next to Barcelona. We are in good form, with a full set of players to choose from. Ronaldo contained himself today, even when he was fouled and the referee played on. He is starting to understant the style of refereeing in Spain. He has become more intelligent as a player.
Pellegrini:
Xerez felt our pressure and luckily we had more room to work with and close out the match following the first goal.
Scoring is tough no matter who the opponent is. We were up against a good Xerez team in the first half. The field of play wasn’t in the best of shape, but we maintained our discipline. This team is mature and ready to battle for 90 minutes. We know we can’t demolish every opponent.
Cristiano Ronaldo attracts a lot of defenders. Scoring upon his return from suspension was the best that could happen to him.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
What matters most is that the team won and that we put the pressure on Barcelona. I am very pleased with my return. We need to pay attention to ourselves and continue on the path we are on.
Lets beard them – Xerez pre-preview
Hola,
First of all some team news. I cannot make it tomorrow. I am down with a calf strain. And let me tell you it hurts like a bitch. Moving on, we’ve got a lot to talk about today. Actually its about tomorrow, but since we’re talking today and because we’ve got a lot to talk about we’ve got a lot to talk about today. Haha.. jokes apart, we have got a lot to talk about.
Real Madrid will play the bottom of the league side, Xerez in the 20:00 CET kick off on Saturday. This is a team that defeated the great and mighty Mallorca and is under new head coach Gorosito.
Xerez is one of the most scored upon teams of the league. Hence they played the 4-2-3-1 and still the tradition follows. At the other end though Carlos Calvo, Moreno, Bermejo and Momo have all scored in the last four games, the latter two teaming up to become a force to be reckoned with.
They have only won two of their eleven matches played at home. But still have made the tickets for Real Madrid’s arrival there the costliest so far this season for a home game at the Chapin. The last team to visit them, Mallorca, lost the game 2-1.
Now for some team news. Guti, Benzema, Dudek, Metzelder and Pepe have been ruled out from the squad list. The vice-captain suffered a sprained right ankle and it is yet uncertain whether or not he will miss next week’s Champions League game against OL. Benzema has Enthesitis on the left adductor muscle like mentioned yesterday/day before/the day before that. Jerzy Dudek, who has picked up a contusion in his knee, is bound to miss the game.
Nineteen men have made Manuel Pellegrini’s squad list. Cristiano Ronaldo’s suspension is over and he will be able to face the Andalusian side. Garay has recovered from his injury and will travel with the team. Youth teamers Mosquera and Adan have also made the cut.
Just another Madridista
Hala Madrid 
Real Madrid 2-0 Atletico Madrid
Carvalho carried the team on this shoulders for most of the game. Here he is seen carrying Di Maria.
Real Madrid remain at the top of the Primera Division table after securing yet another regulation derby victory over Los Rojiblancos. Ricardo Carvalho scored his second goal in White and Mesut Ozil added to the scoreline from a clever free-kick with both goals coming within the first 20 minutes of the game. But as many suggest the game was marred by the lack of competition offered by the men in red and white stripes which is just another way of saying Real were at their dominating best and gave Atleti no chance of getting back into the game.
So said Quique Sanchez Flores prior to the game. As ambitious as it might sound to you it is clear that Atleti are clearly not bothered about the league title. All that they are playing for is a top 4 finish which they probably will get even if they drop all points against the top sides in Spain. But then again the gulf in quality between the two sides seemed so large that even if Atleti had wanted to stay in the game they couldn’t have. Having said that this was probably one of the toughest games we have had to play season considering the fact that Atletico breached our defense on several occasions and St.Iker had to make more saves than he had had to make in any other game of this season.
Real kicked off the game in usual fashion with Di Maria on the right and Ronaldo on the left and looking dangerous right from the first minute of the game. Forlan as expected returned to the line up and several eyes were on De Gea as many expect him to succeed Iker as the Spanish National Team’s custodian. And he would be tested as early as in the third when Xabi Alonso swung in a corner from the left for Pepe to hand our neighbors the first warning with a header which somewhat went straight at De Gea. The 80, 000 fans were at their hostile best and so was Real as in a few minutes later Ronaldo showed quick feet to find Di Maria in the box whose darting shot could only be scuppered by De Gea with the rebound falling straight to an offside Sami Khedira.
The first goal then came. In the thirteenth minute, former Madridista Jose Antonio Reyes was dispossessed by Xabi Alonso in midfield and the ball fell straight to Ricardo Carvalho who kick started yet another Real Madrid attack by passing to Higuain and continued his darting run into the box. The Argentine while trying to get past a couple of Atleti players lost the ball only to fellow Argentine Di Maria whose slightly deflected pass to Carvalho was met by the Portuguese center half. Carvalho made no mistake and expertly finished the move to net his second goal for Real Madrid and clearly hammered the all important first nail in Atletico’s coffin. And within a couple of minutes Real should have doubled the lead through Pipita when Ronaldo sent him through. But he could only find De Gea’s long legs with his shot. Carvalho was on hand post-game to comment on the game, saying:
And we didn’t. The final nail in the coffin would come a few minutes later, six to be precise. Sergio Ramos lofted a ball over Atleti’s defense for Cristiano who was marked by Dominguez. The defender fouled CR just outside the edge of their box on the right for the referee to award a free kick in favor of the Whites. Even though at first glance it just didn’t seem like a foul I have to say that Ronaldo is quick and even the slightest obstacle can bring him down pretty easily. And to everyone’s surprise the Portuguese did not line up for the free-kick. It was between Xabi and Ozil and it would be the German who would take it. Ozil’s low and curling drive defeated the Atletico custodian comprehensively going in at the far post. There were three important things to be noted with respect to this goal. Firstly, it was Reyes’ mistake again as he was Atleti’s first line of defense behind the wall and he failed to clear the low shot. To put it in a nutshell Reyes was clearly outsmarted by Ozil. Secondly, Florentino Perez’s reaction to the goal. It was clearly a “Suck on that, Gil!” kind of reaction something that you rarely see our President do. Our First Lady too seemed delighted with Ozil’s masterclass. And finally, the man himself, Mesut Ozil kissing Real Madrid’s crest. And that is what concerns me. I am a very, what you could call, conservative fan. I really do believe that kissing the crest is something that you should do only when you are Hierro-esque or Maldini-istic or Raul-ish kind of a player. Seeing Ozil do that did bring tears in my eyes as I see him as the future of this club. But if he does leave the club he would then become a cunt which I hope doesn’t happen. I hope you get my point here.
Anyhoo, moving on with the game (which was virtually over by then), Reyes the root cause for both the goals shifted the blame on to the team as a whole in what I feel was a clever move. Real’s hero of the 31st League title said during the post match presser that:
Yeah, yeah. If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we’d all have a merry Christmas.
Even though we did not have that many problems defensively there was one thing which I noticed. Almost all of their chances were created from the wings, more from their right than the left. I know that Marcelo is far better than what he was last season, defensively that is. But then again is that enough? If he is going to struggle to keep Reyes and Simao quiet I doubt what would be the case when he faces the likes of Messi, Muller and so on. Patrice Evra apparently is interested in the job, but then again he is a cunt and we need no cunts. Little Marcel is learning a lot though, which he admits:
As the match neared the half an hour mark Atletico were piling the pressure on Real with several half chances. And then they almost had a penalty. Simao’s corner from the left eventually fell to Aguero on the half volley. Maradona’s son-in-law’s shot struck Xabi Alonso on the hand in what was a completely involuntary incident. Xabi clearly had no intention of blocking the shot with his hand and it did seem like a clear accident. And thankfully the referee either didn’t see it or didn’t give two hooping hoots about it. But since that was their only real chance of getting back into the game all that Reyes could do was blame it all on that single incident.
Different, my ass.
Reyes’ effort from the edge of our box was saved well by Casillas while we ourselves should have had a penalty for Simao’s 50:50 challenge on Di Maria inside their box. And that’s just about it. The chances just stopped coming towards the last fifteen minutes of the first half for both sides.
The second half started and Real immediately signaled their intent to score as many as they possibly can. Ozil cross from the left fell perfectly for Higuain to volley it against the post from just inside the box. The ball fell harmlessly for a goal kick. That was probably the only good chance that Higuain had throughout the game. It’d be harsh to say that Pipita had a poor game as the supply just was not there. Ozil was excellent throughout the game mesmerizing their defense from time to time. But he too couldn’t provide much to our offense. Di Maria had an average game considering the standards that he has set himself. But Ronaldo, I felt, was pathetic. He wasted possession by taking lame ass shots almost every time he had the ball in attack and all his crosses fell to no one. But the manager was happy with his performance or at least that is what he told the world.
Well, even though it is sort of a round about way of saying “he works hard but just isn’t able to do anything” I should say that I unequivocally agree with JM. Ronaldo is indeed a difference maker. You can somehow feel it when he isn’t there in the game. His mere presence somehow seems to boost the rest of the players. The same applies to Kaka as well. I guess that’s what makes them superstars.
Before I start jizzing over them let me finish off what I started. On the hour mark, Atletico came closest to scoring a goal. Yet another corner from the left was cleared by our defense but only as far as Forlan who was outside the box. His Mendieta/Scholes like volley was low and hard and struck the post. A few inches to the right and it probably would have beaten St.Iker. A few minutes later Marcelo released Mesut Ozil with a superb pass from our own half. The German, tracked by former Madridista Filipe Luis, had his shot blocked resulting in a corner. A half-chance as it may be, it should have been finished off.
Atleti made the first change of the game bringing in Raul Garcia on for Tiago Mendes. And a few minutes later Real made theirs as Karim Benzema came on for Gonzalo Higuain. The game was starting to get a little boring so to speak and I started dozing off. Flores brought on Diego Costa for Sabrosa Simao to liven things up but hell it only got worse. Carvalho, who by far was probably our best player on the pitch, had to be taken off as he sustained a jagged left lower eyelid bruise with mild concussion. He was replaced by Albiol and things were no different. Momo Diarra too came on and for Di Maria indicating that the match would only get slower and might even come to a standstill.
Mourinho, speaking post-game, said that he wanted to make things slower and for us to get a hold of the game. He justified his move by admitting that Atletico were by far the team that gave us maximum trouble at home. Hell, this guy is always right and no wonder the game put me to sleep.
We could have scored five though, through Marcelo, Khedira, Benzema and Ronaldo respectively. But all the shots were saved by De Gea. Sergio Ramos had the best chance to extend our lead. Xabi’s cross came on perfectly for Ramos, who was completely unmarked in Atleti’s box, but he couldn’t hit the target with his header from close range.
And that was that. Real Madrid have not lost to Atletico Madrid in 18 games now over a 11 year time period. My man of the match choice was easy and pretty much universal. Ricardo Carvalho had a fantastic evening and surely he is on of our best signings of recent times. Valdano summed up pretty much whatever I want to say:
Match Stats:
Lineups:
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo, Ricardo Carvalho (Albiol 83′), Khedira, Xabi Alonso, Özil, Di María (Mahamadou Diarra 83′), Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín (Benzema 74′);
Atletico Madrid: De Gea, Valera, Ujfalusi, Domínguez, Filipe Luis, M. Suárez, Reyes, Tiago (Raúl García 69′), Simao (Diego Costa 76′), Forlán, Agüero;
Goals:
1-0, 13’: Carvalho;
2-0, 19’: Ozil
Notes: Week 10 of La Liga
Played at: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Attendance: 80,000
Referee: Mr. Mateu Lahoz
Booked: Tiago (66), Mario Suárez (61), Sami Khedira (72), Ricardo Carvalho (76)
Man of the match: Ricardo Carvalho
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November 8, 2010 | Categories: Match Reports, Post-match Comments, Spanish Primera División | Tags: Atlético Madrid, Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Jorge Valdano, José Antonio Reyes, José Mourinho, Marcelo Vieira, Mesut Özil, Quique Sánchez Flores, Ricardo Carvalho | Leave a comment