Hercules CF vs Real Madrid | Preview
Real will be hoping to have better luck this time around
Real Madrid travel to the Jose Rico Perez to face a Hercules team which has done a fair bit of giant killing already this season. Victories against Barcelona at Camp Nou and Sevilla at home and not to forget the draw they mustered against Villareal have made them a potentially dangerous opponents who can pull a surprise to end our current undefeated streak.
Real are coming out of a 0-0 draw in the Copa Del Rey at Murcia where they were if not outplayed at least brought back to ground after a few high flying wins over the past few weeks. Despite the likes of Cristiano and Benzema starting the game Real failed to gain the much needed away goals that generally kills ties.
This will be the second time this season that we will be playing in Alicante following the friendly that we played there a couple of months back. Back then it was a comfortable 3-1 victory with Di Maria getting his first goal for Real and Benzema bagging a brace. A repeat performance would be much appreciated but this time around it will definitely be tougher as the likes of Nelson Valdez and the legendary French striker David Trezeguet have all but strengthened the newly promoted side.
Real are still without the services of Kaka, Gago, Garay and Lass but the much Sergio Ramos is fit and even completed the full game against Murcia without much of a trouble. Xabi Alonso, Mesut Ozil, Carvalho and Marcelo have all been recalled into the side after being rested midweek. Mourinho has left out Mateos this time around.
REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST:
Goalkeepers: Casillas, Dudek, Adan.
Defenders: Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo, Carvalho.
Midfielders: Khedira, Alonso, Ozil, Diarra, Canales, Granero, Pedro Leon, Di Maria.
Forwards: Benzema, Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Mourinho, during yesterday’s post-match press conference said that the starting lineup will change from the one in Murcia and I guess we can expect pretty much the same side that started against Racing last weekday with Sergio Ramos probably coming in for Alvaro Arbeloa.
Sami Khedira, who has become one of the mainstays of the current crop of players at Real analysed the match for Bwin revealing that team-work will be the key to our success at Alicante. He also spoke about his wretched luck with scoring as he has hit the woodwork as man times as anyone else in the side saying:
I’m sure I will score soon. I’ve had chances to but was unlucky. I come closer to netting a strike each day. I’ve analysed my team-mates on the pitch, which will help me score.
He summed up the game as follows:
We know our match against Hercules will be difficult. We faced them in the preseason. They are dangerous and strong in attack. They have Valdez, whom I knew in the Bundesliga, and Trezeguet, who always finds room in which to score.
Talking about Trezeguet, the French World Cup winner, when asked about the game said:
We are prepared mentally and emotionally to face the current best team in Spain. They are in great form. It will be a game to learn from, to see what situation we are in. In the matches agains the great teams we’ve had great games. However, it’s been different against the smaller teams. We are going to try and have a good game at the Rico Perez and obtain a positive result for the team.
It looks as though Vigo’s men will have to do without Royston Drenthe, who is on-loan from Madrid this season and has a clause in the deal which means Hercules will have to stump up a significant fee if they want to play the Dutchman though I am sure about the effect Roy will have on their side even if he plays.
Real Madrid have never lost at Hercules and average atleast two goals everytime they’ve played there. I am confident that the game tonight will be no different.
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
My heart is always with Real Madrid
Once a white always a white
Buenos dias to all and I hope your day isn’t as lousy as mine has been.
Let me get straight to the point here and its a fairly good one too. It seems to me as though Zinedine Zidane will join Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff real soon. Following weeks of kind exchange of words between our manager and the Aide to our President, it looks as though it has been decided that Zizou will play a more vital role in the club as rumor has it that Zidane will be joining Mou sooner rather than later. It all started earlier this month when, Mourinho told French TV channel TF1:
Zidane should be close to the pitch and less in the directors’ offices. I would like to see him more with me and less with Florentino.
Zidane was quick to respond and the best footballer ever known to mankind and other kinds said this in an interview to Direct Soir:
Speaking with Mourinho, one realises that he knows perfectly where he is going and how he is going to get there. I do not have the slightest doubt: Real Madrid needed someone like him.
And Zizou even went on to say that he would have loved to have been trained under The Special One at some point in my career. Following all this ruckus Marca now claims that the Frenchman would act as Mourinho’s “right-hand man” from the dugout. Zidane himself has admitted that he would like to participate more in the life of the club.
Following Roberto Carlos, Raul, Zizou, Guti and several other Galacticos, it is now DBecks23 who is still in love with Real Madrid. Three years after his departure, Antena 3 caught up with him in Los Angeles, where he offered his opinion on the current Real Madrid side, Jose Mourinho and who he feels should win the FIFA Ballon d’Or.
As much as I respect Barcelona and think it’s a great club, my heart is always with Real Madrid. I think this year, with the manager they have, Florentino Perez … I love Florentino. He is such a great man. He makes special things happen at the club. With him there and the players that they’ve got, I believe they will be number one this year.
You can find the whole thing here.
Finally to round off the post, Javier Pastore will stay in Palermo despite being linked with.. Well, what the hell. Its just rubbish. We all know that.
Until I get back to you with the Hercules preview tomorrow…
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
The Red Carpet
Its thanksgiving season isn’t it. This is the time of the year when the World of Football thanks the best players and coaches over the past year or so by showering accolades on them. Blah Blah Blah.
Good day to all,
And today its all about the awards and the nominations that our players have earned. Let me get straight to the point.
Firstly Iker Casillas, Xabi Alonso, Mesut Ozil and Cristiano Ronaldo have been included in the 23-man shortlist of finalists to win this year’s Ballon d’Or. The winner will be anounced in Zurich on 10 January 2011. FIFA announced the nominees on Tuesday, following an agreement between the entity and France Football to merge their Ballon d’Or and FIFA World Player awards. It is to be noted that there is no Englishman in the final 23. On December 6th, FIFA and France Football will announce the three players to receive the most votes from male and female national team captains and coaches, as well as representatives from the media appointed by the French magazine.
Secondly, Jose Mourinho has been included in the 10-man nominee list for the 2010 FIFA World Coach of the Year for Men’s Football. The winner of the award too will be announced in Zurich on 10 January 2011.
And finally Xabi Alonso was presented with the Lan Onari award on Monday by the President of the Basque autonomous region, Patxi Lopez. The Lan Onari acknowledges the merits of Basques who have achieved extraordinary distinction through their dedication, perseverance and initiative in the course of their professional activities.
Over to the Valdebebas and Jose Mourinho allowed those players called-up for the King’s cup match at Murcia to have the day off. On the other hand, Xabi Alonso, Ozil, Marcelo, Carvalho and Adan (who was called-up) were requested to train with Castilla. Real face off against Hercules at the Jose Rico Perez on Saturday in what will be a crucial clash with respect to the title race despite being so early in the season. It is indeed important to win clashes like these as in the end it is games such as this one which make the difference. Right now Real sit on top of the league by a marginal difference of one point over Villareal for which we might have to thank Hercules. Their 2-2 draw against the Yellow Submarine earned us the advantage. Villareal will be hoping that something similar happens to us.
Going by the Murcia game we are not in the finest of form though the game last weekend may suggest otherwise. We have an important clash in the Champions League next week and we must ensure that we are in fine nick when we travel to the San Siro. A win at the San Siro will ensure us a spot in the knock out stages and that should help us concentrate on the league until February.
Also in the news is the talk about the Clasico being conducted on a Monday. The players don’t like the idea of it and we fans don’t want it that way either. Ideally I would have preferred a Saturday but that has been ruled out. So I am hoping that it will be on a Sunday. Talking about derbies, LFP has announced that the time for the Madrid derby at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday 7 November. The game will kick off at 21:00 CET.
And that’s about it. Short and sweet wasn’t it.
Anyhoo until another day,
Para Siempre Blanco!
Hala Madrid!!
Real Murcia 0-0 Real Madrid
Outnumbered
Real Madrid will have to wait until the 10th of November to find out if they will finally progress to the last 16 of the Copa Del Rey or not after drawing a blank at the Nueva Condomina against a very resilient Real Murcia side which like predicted prior to the game played for a draw. Despite the poor refereeing, the pathetic condition of the pitch and a very hostile bunch of players who were happy to take out the player if not the ball Real only have themselves to blame as they failed to capitalize on their potential superiority in a game which should have been a cakewalk considering the gulf in quality between the two teams.
The starting XI that Jose Mourinho put out signaled Real’s intention. Real had four world cup winners and a former world player of the year starting for them. Casillas was playing his first Copa game in 4 years and Ronaldo his first for Real. Albiol made his first appearance since getting injured early in the season and Sergio Ramos was back in the line up after missing a few weeks through injury. Diarra and Granero were considered as replacements for Alonso and Khedira with the latter starting on the bench and the former rested for the game along with Ozil, Marcelo and Carvalho – probably four of our best performers till now this season. Up front were Canales along with Ronaldo and Karim Benzema for whom this game was the perfect stage to prove himself and get his confidence back. Pedro Leon too started – on the right of midfield.
A former Murcia player himself, Pedro Leon won cheers from the crowd when his name was announced and the game kicked off. The initial few minutes saw Ronaldo entertain the crowd with his fancy footwork. But the players were not ready to let him do so as they went straight for his feet whenever he started dancing. Cristiano Ronaldo, who has a remarkable 44 goals in 46 games for Real Madrid, had the first chance of the game as a little exchange between him and Esteban Granero lead to his shot being parried away by Murcia’s goalkeeper, Dani Hernandez to safety. It seemed to me as though Inaki Alonso had done his fair share of home work as he employed the same tactics that Jose Mourinho used with his Inter Milan side last season when they faced Barcelona last season in the Champions League semi-final with Messi enveloped by three to five players whenever he had the ball and Inter themselves defending with 9 players. In this case it was Ronaldo who was marked by at least 5 red shirts and Murcia played with 6 at the back and three in front of the back six.
Such a strategy resulted in Canales playing deeper than one would have liked and also in players canceling out each other. One could have often seen Ronaldo and Canales fighting for the same ball and Pedro Leon and Granero in the same position. But still Real managed to retain almost all of the possession with Mahamadou Diarra being right at the center of things. Also, Real lacked the dynamism that the Alonso-Khedira partnership usually provides with Granero and Diarra being a fair bit more static and safe – it was clear that neither of them wanted to take even the slightest of risks. Karim Benzema, yet another player playing to save his place in the team failed to impress and looked out of sorts. Moreover the opposition’s style of play totally put off several of our players and the frustration was clearly visible in several of their faces. It was going to be one of those days. It looked as though the players were not familiar with each other and the team lacked the flow that was there last weekend. A couple of players did impress me though. Arbeloa and Pepe were brilliant I felt. Especially the former as he was playing at left back following weeks of playing as a right back. Arbeloa was there when you needed him – be it attack or defense.
Real continued to dominate possession but were unable to penetrate into their box. There were several efforts from range, a few saved and the rest parried away or deflected away to safety. The creativity of Alonso and Ozil was clearly missing. Canales, though potentially capable of creating good chances was unable to do so. Amaya seemed to have gotten the best of Karim Benzema as whenever the Frenchman got the ball the Murcian was all over him. And exactly when it looked as though we might just nick a goal, Esteban Granero’s shot from range hit the top of the crossbar after it comprehensively beat the goalkeeper. The move was started by Cristiano who played a good pass to Granero on the edge of the box and continued his run expecting a return pass from the El Pirata who had other things in mind. Quickly converting to his weaker foot he unleashed a shot which hit the woodwork and flew away resulting in a Murcia goal kick. Five minutes later, Pedro Leon’s magical first touch saw him race past the Murcia defense down the right wing and cross it over to a free Cristiano at the far post whose header across goal was met by no one. Benzema who was also inside the box was too close to CR to have gone for the ball. Wretched luck or poor thinking from Benzema? The chances continued to come in as this time, around the 40th minute mark, a Sergio Ramos cross was met by no one in the box. Real looked like they really are missing a number 9, someone who can win those crosses in the box. The first half was almost over when following a quick free kick Granero crossed into the box only for an open Raul Albiol to volley over the crossbar. That would be the best chance of the match for Real.
The second half started and there were no changes neither in personnel nor strategy. And the chances continued to come. This time it was the giant Malian in midfield who initiated the move. Benzema who played a quick exchange with Pedro fed the latter with a neat pass in the box which the Spaniard failed to meet. The refereeing was as debatable as it had ever been. Call it strict but the players were just not protected enough by the ref. Real started loosing the ball too easily but not a single move from Murcia materialized into a serious threat. Continuing with the flow, Ronaldo’s header after an interplay with Benzema was deflected away for a corner. Real won several corners throughout the game but the set pieces were absolutely pathetic. Blame the pitch but corners and indirect free-kicks are aspects which this team has to work on. Neither the desperate Benzema nor the other world class players in our ranks were enough to penetrate Murcia’s defense. It did look as though both the teams would maintain their undefeated status cometh the end of the game.
Murcia were the first to make a change bringing on the fox like Pedro in for Aquino. The substitute provided the much needed pace that they needed up front but didn’t trouble Sergio Ramos as much as the Murcia faithful would have liked. As a Madridista, you have to feel bad for Granero. He, like Benzema, has all the talent in the world to be a starter here at Real. Its high time the couple proves that form is temporary while class is permanent. And exactly when I was thinking Granero and Benzema need more time to regain their form Higuain and Khedira were brought in to replace the out of form duo. The two players who needed this game more than anyone else were taken off. With little more than half an hour left the game was heading nowhere. Mario Marin was replaced by Canadas with some hope that Murcia could pull off the unexpected. But it would be Dani Hernandez who would prove to be Murcia’s hero. Crisitiano Ronaldo’s free-kick from just outside the Murcia box saw Dani Hernandez pull off not one but two brilliant saves as the rebound fell to Pedro Leon who could have and should have slotted the ball in comfortably. But Dani Hernandez got in the way to make it a wonderful double save and keep Murcia in the game.
Mourinho then made Real’s third and final substitution around the seventieth minute mark when he brought on Angel Di Maria for Cristiano Ronaldo. Its fair to assume that JM didn’t retain Ronaldo till the end of the game keeping his fitness in mind but I think the substitution was more because of the lasers that were targeted at Ronaldo than the fatigue factor. I am unsure as to whether it was Ronaldo who was hindering Pedro Leon from participating more actively in the game but his substitution saw the former Getafe man lighten up and play a more productive role. With a little over fifteen minutes left Sergio Canales was booked for making a stupid challenge as the frustration kept growing as Real missed chance after chance. And it got worse. Canadas went down for no reason and the referee didn’t bother blowing the whistle. Pedro Leon, rightfully, continued playing and saw his wild shot from wide left just outside the box clip the top of the bar again. Murcia’s men were furious for him not kicking the ball out of play but then again after seeing Canadas get up and pretend as though nothing happened just after the play was over justified Pedro Leon’s actions. Kike was then replaced by Rosquete but to no effect. In the 20 minutes that Di Maria spent on the field he made Dani Hernandez pull off three good saves proving why he is probably our best player right now form wise. His first shot came after he dribbled past a couple of players as though they weren’t there and shot from an acute angle resulting in a corner. Just when I realized that Canales had gone AWOL since moving behind Higuain (who too has had almost nothing to do), a Pedro Leon corner was headed away from the box and fell to Di Maria whose effort was saved again. Pedro Leon’s corners were very poor and JM decided that enough was enough. Canales was assigned the duty of taking corners and his corner was even worse and yet again the ball was cleared away from the box. It again fell to Di Maria whose pile driver went straight into Dani Hernandez’s arms. You’ve got to love the Angel. He has been brilliant ever since joining us.
The final chance of the game fell in no man’s land. As agonizing as that sounds, yes, it did fall to nobody. Canales’ cross from the right (following yet another pathetic corner) was met at the far post by Pipita whose cushioning header across goal was cleared by Amaya. These are the kinds of chances that the players need to grab and we didn’t seem to have anyone waiting for them. The final whistle was blown and the match ended 0-0.
Following the match Jose Mourinho had this to say:
I am happy with the team. We played a serious match and tried to win. Any negative remarks out of my mouth go towards those who don’t try their hardest, but tonight that is not the case. I cannot say anything negative about my team. I am pleased with their performance despite the outcome. We always want to win.
We worked hard, played well and had plenty of chances to score. We had some limitations due to the fact we didn’t play with more creative players like Alonso and Ozil. I am satisfied with the way my men played. They did everything they could and that is all that matters.
Every team we play against closes up in defense. Racing played with five defenders, which wasn’t a problem. Murcia also played well. We didn’t win because the goalkeeper had a fantastic night. The pitch was in poor shape, just as it was against Levante.
If you look at the outcome from a two-leg perspective, this is pretty good. We will win at home and will move through to the next round. I am convinced we will win this tie.
The players too had a few words of their own. Pedro Leon, Pepe, Granero and Albiol all believe that we will progress to the next round.
Pedro Leon:
We played a good match but we weren’t able to win, but I am sure we will take care of business at the Santiago Bernabeu. It’s a shame we only managed to draw, but we played well. It was a tough game because Murcia closed up on defense and were very focused.
Pepe:
We worked hard tonight. The return leg won’t be easy but I am convinced that we will win the tie. The turf was dry and hard, which made playing very difficult. We played with a positive attitude and dominated the match despite the fact that Murcia were very motivated. We looked good and sought the win from the very start. I am sure we will win in the Bernabeu if we play like this.
Raul Albiol:
The team put in a solid effort and our attitude was much better than in previous years. We had some trouble when it came to creating plays, we weren’t able to score and we weren’t as fast as we would have liked to be, but we are committed to winning the return leg.
Esteban Granero:
This match has nothing in common with that against Alcorcon. Real Madrid players must play with the attitude we had tonight. We will go through if we play like this. We were very focused and had our chances, but the ball didn’t want to go in.
I too am confident that we can seal the deal come the second leg. But what I also like everyone else feel is that this is a game that we should have won. I wonder if it is the new XI that was fielded or whether it was the pitch and other conditions that caused us three points. Either way we have to wait till November 10 to know whether or not we will go through to the last 16 this year at least.
Match Stats:
Lineups:
Real Murcia: Dani Hernández, Gago, Luciano, Amaya, Óscar Sánchez, Carles, Richi, Albiol, Cañadas (Mario Marín 65′), Dani Aquino (Pedro 58′), Kike (Rubén Rosquete 79′);
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Arbeloa, Mahamadou Diarra, Pedro León, Canales, Granero (Khedira 63′), Cristiano Ronaldo (Di María 70′), Benzema (Higuaín 63′);
Notes: Copa del Rey, Last 32. Venue: Nueva Condomina. Attendance: 20,674.
Referee: Mr. Ayza Gamez
Booked: Diarra, Aquino, Carles, Canales
Man of the match: Cristiano Ronaldo
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!!
Just another Madridista
Hercules CF 1-3 Real Madrid
Karim Benzema (#9) produced a stellar performance in the 13 minutes that he was given.
Real Madrid remain at the top of the table and will remain there until next week at least as a late brace from Cristiano Ronaldo helped Los Merengues stage a marvelous comeback after going a goal down just three minutes into the game. Trezeguet’s header in the second minute was neutralized eight minutes into the second half when Calatayud spilled Ronaldo’s shot from range only for Angel Di Maria to tuck in the rebound. Real had to wait till the eighty second minute to take the lead through Cristiano Ronaldo after the Portuguese was assisted by Karim Benzema who played a pivotal role after coming on late in the second half. Ronaldo sealed the victory with another goal through yet another assist from Benzema three minutes later making sure that Jose Mourinho’s men left the Jose Rico Perez with all three points in the bag.
Jose Mourinho made seven changes to the side that started against Murcia midweek in the Copa Del Rey with Carvalho, Marcelo, Khedira, Alonso, Ozil, Di Maria and Higuain replacing Albiol, Arbeloa, Diarra, Granero, Canales, Pedro Leon and Benzema respectively. Real stuck to the usual 4-2-3-1 formation with the trio of Ronaldo, Ozil and Di Maria playing behind Higuain. Hercules deployed a similar formation which saw Trezeguet play the central role up front just ahead of Valdez, Tiago and Thomert.
Hercules dominated the first couple of minutes and were given a dream start when Cortes’ cross from the right was met by a waiting David Trezeguet. The former Juventus man’s looping header defeated Saint Iker raising questions as to why there wasn’t a single white shirt challenging for the ball inside our own box. And as a result Real Madrid went down by a goal for the first time this season. A comeback was mandatory if three points had to be taken.
The fan support for the Alicante club was tremendous as the crowd tried their best to make sure that Real never really got into the groove. Credit, though, must be given to Hercules for not trying to sit on their lead and for making it a compelling contest. I felt that Real were losing the ball quite easily unlike the previous games. Hercules though didn’t capitalize on it and continued to give the ball back. Real slowly started looking like the side that beat Santander 6-1 and started making use of the superior possession as the game progressed. Hercules were happy to have little possession of the ball and it looked as though their plan was to counter attack Real on the break. But the tiring legs of Trezeguet and the Valdez’s agility was well matched by the Portuguese central defenders.
With a little over twenty minutes gone Real had their first real chance on goal. Cristiano’s shot from distance was parried by Calatayud and his save fell right into the feet of Higuain whose low curling shot went straight to the keeper. And almost instantly Hercules almost had their second goal. Cortes released Tiago Gomes on the right hand side of midfield and Gomes’ searching cross fell to Thomert on the other side of the box. Thomert somehow managed to cross the ball over to Trezeguet to the center of the six yard box and thankfully his header was directed straight at Saint Iker. Close call and yet again Trezeguet was left unmarked. JM clearly was upset.
Trezeguet seemed to provide Hercules with what Real currently lack. Aerial Prowess. Throughout the game one can see several crosses from the likes of Di Maria, Alonso and Marcelo fall into no man’s land as only Ronaldo has the ability in our front four to meet such crosses. Higuain as we all know cannot head to save his life. Either Real should stop wasting possession by crossing or go out there and get a real #9.
Half an hour had gone by and some good passing by Real led to Higuain crossing for Ronaldo to shoot into an open goal only to be blocked Cortes in a last ditch effort. It wasn’t the best of chances but that was all that we had. Hercules’ wide players and especially Thomert was posing a serious threat to the Real defense. Sergio Ramos unlike Arbeloa was concentrating more on attacking duty that defensive ones. Real on the other hand had failed to make any use of the possession that they had and the game was nearing the halfway mark. It looked as though Hercules were playing to Esteban Vigo’s script. A minute was added on to the first half and Real’s last attack would be Marcelo’s low shot which went wide. It was half time and the Alicante crowd went frantic.
The second half started with no changes made by either side but that wouldn’t last long as Olivier Thomert was stretchered off after the Frenchman had pulled a muscle or so it seemed. Sendoa replaced him and in the meantime Di Maria had tested Calatayud twice within a span of 60 seconds. A minute later the Argentine got the better of the custodian as Cristiano’s shot from range was too hot for the keeper to hold. But the spill would be costlier. Di Maria tucked in the rebound and Real were level with a little more than 40 minutes to play. Real should have rightfully gone ahead when Xabi Alonso’s beautiful long ball left Ronaldo one on one with the keeper but the number 7 was adjudged to be offside when in fact he wasn’t.
The match was sixty five minutes old when Xabi Alonso was booked for stretchering off Abel Aguilar. The player was hurt but was fit enough to continue and Vigo then decided to make his second change of the game. One veteran for another and Francisco Rufete, the former Valencia and Espanyol winger was brought in for the goal scorer Trezeguet. Real continued to dominate possession and had several half chances but it looked like one of those days when you dominate a game but still end up with nothing. A few minutes later an Ozil corner was headed straight at Calatayud (I just love typing that name) by Sergio Ramos and that was as close as we could get. Hercules then brought on former Madridista Javier Portillo on for Nelson Valdez who was injured by the ball and had to be stretchered off.
A change was on the cards as Karim Benzema suited up on the sidelines. He was brought in for Pepe (when everybody thought it would be Higuain who would be taken off) showing how intent Real were on bagging three points. But why Benzema I am sure many Madridistas wondered. The French striker was coming under immense criticism for underperforming and was coming out of a poor show against Murcia in the King’s Cup game. And just then the number 9 played a quick exchange with little Marcel inside the Hercules box and took a shot which Calatayud spilled straight to the waiting Cristiano Ronaldo who was happy to slot home his 11th goal in 8 games this month alone. Benzema had made an immediate impact against a team at a ground in which he scored a brace only a couple of months back and his team mates clearly showed how happy they really were with him.
JM immediately brought in Arbeloa and Albiol for Ozil and Higuain with Marcelo moving to midfield and Sergio Ramos was playing right back again. The clock struck eighty five minutes and a Sergio Ramos stole the ball from Hercules and released Di Maria who set Benzema free into their box. Ronaldo was waiting inside the box and Benzema made the right pass for the Portuguese to score his 12th goal of the season making October 2010 the best ever month in his illustrious career. Benzema’s second assist in ten minutes of coming on. Game, set and match Real Madrid. Ronaldo should have and could have scored his third of the night when a combined effort from Di Maria and Benzema put Ronaldo through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat which he did but shot high over the bar. It wouldn’t matter as Real completed a well fought victory over a very good side which fought right till the end.
Mourinho had this to say about the match:
He was quick to appreciate Benzema’s performance and also commented on the fact that Mano Menenzes did not call up Marcelo for Brazil’s upcoming friendly against Argentina in Doha.
Director General Jorge Valdano shared his satisfaction with the victory.
The players then commented on their performance with Ronaldo heaping praise on Benzema as well as talking about his current rich vein of form. He revealed that it was Mourinho’s half time talk that changed things around. Di Maria too was delighted with the win and said that the team will shift its focus to Milan.
Cristiano Ronaldo:
Di Maria:
Benzema:
Casillas:
Alonso:
In all it was a good win. A new kind of victory somewhat so to speak as this was our first comeback win of the season. The rarer the better I’d say. I am very happy with Benzema’s performance in particular. He came on and worked hard for the ball and almost whatever he did was productive. I hope he continues to work the same way and give Pipita a good run for his money. Its time to focus on Milan now as Real heads to the San Siro on Tuesday. A win there would take us through. A draw should also do. But I am looking at revenge and hence I would love for Real to get all three points when they get back home.
Match Stats:
Hércules: Calatayud, Cortés, Pamarot, Rodríguez, Peña, Abel Aguilar, Fritzler, Tiago Gomes, Valdez (Portillo 82′), Thomert (Sendoa 51′), Trezeguet (Rufete 70′);
Real Madrid: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Carvalho, Pepe (Benzema 77′), Marcelo, Alonso, Khedira, Ronaldo, Ozil (Arbeloa 85′), Di Maria, Higuain (Albiol 85′);
Goals:
1-0, 3′: Trezeguet
1-1, 53′: Di Maria;
1-2, 82′: Ronaldo;
1-3, 85′: Ronaldo;
Notes: La Liga, Matchday 9.
Venue: Jose Rico Perez
Referee: Mr. Clos Gomez
Booked: Carvalho, Marcelo, Alonso;
Man of the match: Karim Benzema
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October 31, 2010 | Categories: Match Reports, Post-match Comments, Spanish Primera División | Tags: Ángel di María, Cristiano Ronaldo, Hércules CF, Iker Casillas, Jorge Valdano, José Mourinho, José Rico Pérez, Karim Benzema, Xabi Alonso | Leave A Comment »