Wednesday 30 January 2013

El Classico - Copa de Rey Semifinal at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Real Madrid and its fierce rival Barcelona played out to an electrifying 1-1 draw in their Copa del Rey semifinal. While Barcelona enjoyed the majority of the ball possession, the match grew in intensity with both teams counterattacking another at a rapid pace.  With Captain Madrid Iker Casillas injured with a broken hand, Jose Mourinho named team star Cristiano Ronaldo as captain.  The scoring opened with none other than Barcelona’s Lionel Messi intercepting a clearance and setting up Cesc Fabregas in the 50th minute. 19-year-old Raphael Varane closed an excellent game; heading an equalizer in the 81st. Madrid was able to suffocate Messi ending his prolific scoring streak in which he had found the back of the net in his previous 16 starts.

Madrid began the match attacking, and Gerard Pique fouled a charging Ronaldo in the first minute to concede a free kick. Barcelona then began to come into the game and its first chance came from a pass by Andres Iniesta that Joredi Alba ran onto, beating the offside trap, but he shot wide of the far post. Followed by Xavi Hernandez striking a free kick that hit the crossbar in the 21st.  The second half also began with Madrid attacking, but Karim Benzema shot was too high.  Madrid coach Jose Mourinho trying to revitalize his midfield brought on Luka Modric for Jose Callejon and his attack with Gonzalo Higuain substituting Benzema.  Madrid's were able to sustain pressure towards the end of the match as they were trying for a game winning goal but there attack was stopped when Dani Alves stopped Mesut Oezil's ball reaching Ronaldo in the 84th.

The second leg will be at the Camp Nou on Feb. 27.

Monday 21 January 2013

Valencia downed 5-0 by Real Madrid

On January 20th Real Madrid finally showed its critics they are still a team with a lot of fight left in them.  Entering into the weekend Madrid took advantage of a rare Barcelona loss to make up some points in the La Liga standings, now 15 points behind the leaders.  Madrid was rampant straight from the kick-off with a sense urgency to take full points from the match.  Higuain hit the target first when he slotted in Di Maria's cutback following a rapid counter-attack to make it 1-0. By the 34th minute Madrid made it 2-0 with the trick footed Ronaldo turning Ricardo Costa inside out before sending over a low cross that an unmarked Di Maria tapped home at the far post.  Madrid relentless pressure allowed Ronaldo to scamper free from the halfway line and drill a low shot past the keepers near post. It was 4-0 in the 41st minute when Di Maria's cross to the far post was knocked back by Ozil to Ronaldo, who thrashed home his second of the night. Madrid were not finished there either, and on the stroke of half-time Di Maria added his second after being put through by Ozil and coolly slotting past the keeper.   This stunning first half in which Madrid scored all 5 of his goals was fueled by 2 individuals that have come under some scrutiny this season; Di Maria and Ronaldo.  Let’s hope that this will be the start to a great second half of the season!!!!