Post-match comments
Manuel Pellegrini appeared very pleased following his team’s hard-earned victory that gives them the top spot in the table heading into next Saturday’s showdown against Barcelona. Casillas, Albiol and Metzelder dicussed the keys to beating Racing and the forthcoming Clasico shortly after tonight’s win. Real Madrid Castilla’s Marcos Alonso made his first team debut on Sunday by replacing Higuain in the late stages of the match.
Pellegrini:
We need to do what we do on a daily basis in order to win next Saturday. We cannot lose our identity. We will seek the victory and whoever makes the fewest mistakes will win.
Both of us won our matches this weekend. We are up against a great opponent, but I am sure we will win if we focus and stick to our football.
The Clasico is just another match that has to be played and it is followed by more matches. We cannot make any mistakes from here on out because we won’t be facing any easy teams.
Casillas:
Our defense was outstanding and we managed to keep a clean sheet. We did a good job. Saturday’s Clasico is just another match on the calendar. It will be fun. I am shocked about how many points we both have. It’s quite unusual.
Albiol:
We knew this would be a tough match. Racing had a lot at stake, but we knew how important it was to win and keep pace with Barcelona. Racing got few chances on goal, but we can never let our guard down with a 0-1 advantage. Once we scored the second we were able to take our foot off the gas a little.
Metzelder:
We had to win no matter what. The fact that we didn’t concede any goals and that we are leaders again is good news. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are winning all their matches, so I am sure next week’s game will be crucial. However, there are still other difficult matches to be played, meaning that Saturday’s will not decide who wins La Liga.
Marcos Alonso:
All you think about when sitting on the bench is playing. If the score is in your favor, you think it may just be your day. Today I sensed it, which is why it is the happiest day of my life.
My grandfather [Marquitos] only ever speaks about Real Madrid. My who family was here and they are thrilled, but I am even more so.
I will continue working my hardest to be here every Sunday. It’s not easy to make room for yourself in a club like Real Madrid. Castilla players are there waiting for the call, so joining the first team is the greatest thing that can happen.
“Our defense was outstanding and we managed to keep a clean sheet. We did a good job.”
“Saturday’s Clasico is just another match on the calendar. It will be fun. I am shocked about how many points we both have. It’s quite unusual.”
Albiol:
“We knew this would be a tough match. Racing had a lot at stake, but we knew how important it was to win and keep pace with Barcelona. Racing got few chances on goal, but we can never let our guard down with a 0-1 advantage. Once we scored the second we were able to take our foot off the gas a little.”
Metzelder:
“We had to win no matter what. The fact that we didn’t concede any goals and that we are leaders again is good news. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid are winning all their matches, so I am sure next week’s game will be crucial. However, there are still other difficult matches to be played, meaning that Saturday’s will not decide who wins La Liga.”
Racing Santander 0-2 Real Madrid
Real Madrid needed a win to reclaim their spot at the top of the league table and they earned it by playing a physical, lackluster match that included few scoring chances. Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo, the league’s deadliest duo, scored for the Whites, who head into the Clasico as La Liga leaders.
Real head into the Clasico as leaders
Metzelder got the nod alongside Albiol on the back line and Diarra teamed up with Gago in the midfield for the initial kick-off. Real Madrid needed little time to fire the first warning shot; a free-kick taken by Granero and that caromed off Diop and into Coltorti’s gloves. Minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo provided Higuain will a good ball that the Argentine sent over the crossbar.
Racing’s first decent scoring chance came off the boots of Canales, who lobbed in a shot after Casillas came off his line to beat Tchite to the ball. The striker then watched his header sail wide following a cross by Christian. Cristiano Ronaldo was fouled in the box as he tried to get by Moraton and the Portuguese international knocked in his 18th league goal from the penalty spot. Both teams continued battling for the ball as the first half ticked by, but neither managed to create any real threat.
The second half began the same way the first ended and neither team found it easy to reach the opponent’s box. Even when there was action close to goal, Moraton accidentally cleared a cross by Canales and Granero headered well-wide a pass by Marcelo. Miguel Angel Portugal replaced Tchite and Munitis with Ivan Bolado and Oscar Serrano, while Pellgrini made moves of his own and sat Granero for Guti and Van der Vaart for Raul. The fresh legs had quite an effect and it was number ‘14’ who provided a magical long ball to Higuain, who left the Racing defense in the dust and beat Coltorti with a low ball to the left of the keeper.
Five minutes later Guti watched in dismay as his strike rang off the crossbar. Cristiano Ronaldo had the third of the night right on the tip of his toes but sent the ball over the woodwork. There would be no more changes on the scoreboard, but the 0-2 win was enough for Real Madrid to recover the top spot in the table heading into next Saturday’s Clasico at the Bernabeu. Before the final whistle was blown, Marcos Alonso replaced Higuain to see his first action with the first team.
Lineups:
Racing de Santander: Coltorti, Pinillos, Torrejón, Moratón, Christian, Colsa, Diop, Canales, Arana (Lacen 82′), Munitis (Serrano 68′), Tchité (Iván Bolado 68′);
Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Albiol, Metzelder, Marcelo, Diarra, Gago, Granero (Guti H. 62′), Van der Vaart (Raúl 74′), Cristiano Ronaldo, Higuaín (Marcos Alonso 91′);
Goals:
0-1, 23′: Cristiano Ronaldo (Pen);
Referee: Mr. Delgado Ferreiro
Booked: Torrejón, Moratón, Diop, Serrano, Albiol;
Notes: Matchday 30 of La Liga
Played at: El Sardinero Stadium.
Attendance: Sold out
Just another Madridista
Tiri, Nando and Sebastien
What better way to start the week in which Marcos Alonso made his long awaited first team debut than by hearing the news about the club trying to bolster Castilla. Last week Real Madrid confirmed the signing of John Neeskens from some random club in a random country somewhere North of Europe and now its Tiri, Nando and Sebastien who are being targeted. Goal.com reports that Real have apparently made an offer to Cadiz for three of their youngsters in their youth system viz. left-back Jose Luis Espinosa “Tiri”, midfielder Nando, and forward Sebastien.
The latter two youngsters play in Cadiz B in the Tercera Division, while Tiri has signed with the Cadiz first team. It is to be noted that Castilla got Javier Acuña from the Andalusian club in 2008. Brilliant isn’t it? I’ve always wanted to see a strong Castilla side that is capable of producing top quality players who are capable of replacing the stars in the first team whenever necessary irrespective of whether its injuries or form. I am well aware of the fact that its not our kind of football as we usually prefer to buy the stuff we need rather than sow and grow our own food. But what the hell this is also one form of buying only and thus we are not breaking tradition. We make home grown players instead of spotting them. Fair enough. Real have their own way of doing stuff. I mean no disrespect to the current players in Castilla, but I sincerely feel that the quality there just isn’t in proportion with what we have in the first team. I don’t mean stars but in general. A mid-table position is no good whatever the reason maybe.
In an interview to AS, Jorge Valdano, and I must say rightfully so, has said that irrespective of what the result of Saturday’s Clásico is at the Bernabéu La Liga race is still wide open. Valdano said:
Valdano agreed that the match against Barça has more value than a normal match because of the potential morale boost it could give hoped to come out the victors. The comments are in concurrence with what Pep Guardiola had to say earlier regarding this game.
And here’s the reason behind their theory. If Barça nick another win on Saturday, that will not put them ahead on points but they will also be ahead on the head-to-head record. After El Clásico, Barcelona face Deportivo (H), Espanyol (A) , host Xerez, visit Villarreal, host Tenerife, visit Sevilla, and finish against Valladolid at home. Considering the current form of the clubs and the quality of the league over all the only places where they might drop points, except all those games would be the ones against Sevilla, Deportivo, Espanyol and Villareal. Apart from those games they have a fairly easy run in.
Whereas if Real win they will go ahead on points and depending upon the scoreline will be either ahead or equal with them on head-to-head. Real immediately after the Clásico make the trip to Almeria, then play Valencia at the Bernabéu the following week, travel to Zaragoza, host Osasuna, travel to the Ono Estadi to face Mallorca followed by Athletic Bilbao at home, and finally travel to Malaga. And out of these the games against Valencia, Mallorca, Zaragoza and the generally freaky games that we have against Bilbao at home pose a threat.
Ergo its Even Steven. They might lose all their games and we will win all of ours.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
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April 5, 2010 | Categories: Comments, News, Transfer Rumours | Tags: Cádiz CF, El Clásico, Jorge Valdano | Leave A Comment »