Real Madrid 2-1 Atletico Madrid

Excellent debut by Real Madrid, whose technical superiority proved decisive in a thrilling derby

The Champion is already winning new hearts over. Loyal to recent tradition, the Whites had to come from behind, but now with a clear display of good football created in a midfield dominated by Guti, Robinho, and Sneidjer. Squaring off against a worthy adversary who even opened the scoreboard, Real Madrid walked away victorious thanks to goals by Raúl and Sneijder. Despite the win, the Whites deserved more goals and hushed any critics who sounded the alarm during the preseason. What a great way to kick off the campaign.

Sixty-nine days after being proclaimed the champions of the League, it was time for the 70th derby in history. Matchday 1 got of to an action-packed start and went from hot with the Madridistas welcome and presentation of last year's trophy by Raúl to cold with the early goal by Agüero. Sticking to past tradition, a worse start to the League by the reigning champions seemed impossible with such a quick disadvantage. But based on experience, it's safe to say that what matters isn't how you start, but how you finish (just look back on last season). With a clear-cut gameplan, neither the fans nor the team were shaken by the scoreboard in the opponent's favour. Guided by Guti, Madrid did what they know best: played football. They soon dominated possession and maintained constant pressure on an Atletico that had its feet glued inside its own box.
THE GAME WAS WHITE ALL OVER
The danger went from a trickle to a downpour on Leo's goal. First came a long strike by Sneijder (min. 13), then a near miss by Robinho (14’), and finally a goal by Raúl (15’), whose excellent header did justice to what was taking place on the field of play. Madrid proved to be far superior than their rival, paying special attention to the right wing where Sergio Ramos and Robinho relentlessly gave Simao and Pernía problems. The Madridista duo were responsible for the ensuing scoring chances, first by way of a superb counter which the Brazilian sent into the stands, followed by a shot of the post by the Sevilla native. Sneijder joined in on the action with a volley from outside the box that scraped the post, and Diarra had a near miss in added time.

Four messages as clear as day for whoever was taking notes: Madrid deserved going into halftime with the lead, even against this strong-standing Atletico, perhaps the most powerful in recent years. The Madridistas' first half was the among the best witnessed by the Bernabéu this year, and it should quiet any alarms that may have gone off during the preseason. During the moment of truth, the champions put their best feet forward, and although there is room for improvement, they gave sparkles of the tremendous potential they have to offer this year.

ONLY MISSING ONE THING: A GOAL
The second half began how the first had ended; Madrid monopolized the ball and the scoring chances. After Metzelder stepped in for Cannavaro, the game play drifted to the left wing, where Drenthe and Sneijder fired the first warning shots on Leo Franco. Atletico didn't hold back and also sought Casillas' net, although they couldn't hide the fact that they were happy keeping the score just the way it was. Schuster ordered his men to take the game to the flanks, where Robinho continued offering Man-of-the-Match football and Sneijder slipped by Seitaridis time and again.

With the Dutchman and Guti side by side, Madrid's technical qualities would mark the difference against the advesary. The former youth teamer's brilliant free kick struck the crossbar and bounced on the goalline for match's second save by the post. Then Diarra nearly had a repeat performance of his header against Mallorca, as the fans only grew louder and louder in support of their team. What the White brainchild didn't control, there was Raúl with his lessons of grit and class that he continues to offer with this shirt. Everything was clicking. All that was missing was another goal.

Van Nistelrooy had his opportunity in a one-on-one which Franco managed to save. The forward, still not in perfect form, was then replaced by Saviola, Schuster's man to break through the Red-and-White blanket defence. But the second of the night came by way of a set piece. Guti fooled the defence and enabled the shot by Sneidjer, whose goal finally tipped the scale in favour of the Whites. His strike would clinch the first victory of the season.

The Bernabéu was a wild party from there on out. The fans accompanied their team's efforts with ‘Oles’, while Atletico gave a last ditch effort to break a streak that dates back to the last century, when they managed their last win against the Whites. The game started off poorly but ended well with promising signs of good football. This Madrid is used to giant turnarounds. And this is the best League in the world.

MATCH SUMMARY:
2 - REAL MADRID: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro (Metzelder, 46’), Drenthe; Diarra, Guti, Sneijder (Gago, 82’), Robinho; Raúl (Saviola, 76’) and Van Nistelrooy.
1 - ATLETICO MADRID: Leo Franco; Seitaridis, Pablo, Perea, Pernía; Raúl García, Maniche, Simao (Reyes, 62’), Maxi; Kun Agüero and Forlán.
GOALS:
0-1: Min. 1: Kun Agüero headers in corner kick.
1-1: Min. 15: Raúl heads home Sergio Ramos cross.
2-1: Min. 80: Sneijder shot from outside the box following free kick taken by Guti.
REFEREE: Mejuto González (Asturian Referee Association). Booked Perea, Pepe, Guti, Raúl García and Raúl.
NOTES: Matchday 1 of the 2007/08 League. Attendance: Sold out. Before kick-off, the President of the Spanish FA Ángel María Villar presented Raúl with the 2006/07 League championship trophy. Recent Tour de France champion Alberto Contador was responsible for the honourary kick-off.

Squad list

Heinze called-up

Bernd Schuster has announced his squad list for the fixture against Villarreal on Sunday at 21:00 CET. Gabriel Heinze is now in optimum form and has been included on the list. Higuaín has recovered from his injury, but will have to wait until the following fixture to play. Arjen Robben still continues with his specific recovery work and has been left out, the same as Pepe, who is injured with a fibrilar tear on his right femoral biceps. Codina, Marcelo, Torres and Balboa have been left out for coaching decisions.

SQUAD LIST:
Goalkeepers: Casillas & Dudek.
Defenders: Heinze, Metzelder, Cannavaro, Ramos & Michel Salgado.
Midfielders: Diarra, Gago, Guti, Sneijder, Drenthe & Robinho.
Forwards: Raúl, Baptista, Soldado, Saviola & Van Nistelroo.

www.realmadrid.com

Villarreal-Real Madrid preview

Both teams will showcase their stylish football at El Madrigal Stadium

Real Madrid will play at El Madrigal Stadium for the ninth time tonight. The Whites will look to put an end to Villarreal's streak of standing undefeated since April.

Just nine seasons in the First Division have been enough for Villarreal to become one of the important teams in Spain. They have earned the respect of both Spanish and foreign sides alike. Manuel Pellegrini –who has just started his fourth season as their coach- has made them a strong contender in La Liga, in which they always fight hard to earn a spot in the European competitions. The 'Yellow Submarine' put the small town of Villa-Real on the map when they reached the semifinals of the Champions League a few seasons ago, defeating important Clubs such as Inter Milan. Tonight will see a clash of two titans; Real Madrid -who's history and success have made them a great Club- and Villarreal -who hope to climb even higher-.

Both sides had a brilliant start to the season; the Whites defeated Atletico Madrid 2-1 at the Bernabéu and Villarreal won 3-0 against Valencia at Mestalla Stadium. Coaches Manuel Pellegrini and Bernd Schuster love stylish football above anything else and like their teams to create spectacle. The German coach has travelled to Villa-Real with all his heavy artillery save Pepe, who won't be able to play for three weeks due to injury, and Robben, who still continues his specific recovery work to reach an optimum form. Villarreal will use the same line-up and system that defeated Valencia; a very offensive game with Pirés, Rossi and Tomasson leading the attack.
Real Madrid have earned points at El Madrigal in four of their last five encounters there, which means they normally do well at the stadium, but truth be told, those matches were all very tight affairs. Both sides are aware of each other's weak spots and they make good use of that knowledge, but Villarreal have proved to recover well from the departure of striker Diego Forlán, probably their most decisive player in the least few years.

Heinze will make his debut with Real Madrid because Bernd Schuster wants him to play some minutes as part of the programme he is following to reach an excellent physical form. It will also be the first visit to El Madrigal for Metzelder, Drenthe and Sneijder.

Bernd Schuster and his men want to take things slowly this season and this fixture will be perfect to see at what level both teams are really at. Villarreal will surely want to earn an impressive victory as that against Valencia, while Real Madrid will look to give an even better image than against Atletico, hoping to reach the true style Bernd Schuster seeks.

www.realmadrid.com

:rock: :first: :rock:


realmadrid won 5-0!!
that was a great game!!
:real madrid:

well realmadrid are unstoppable this season....

3-1 against almaria :real madrid:

Real Madrid 3-1 Almeria

Real Madrid stay as leaders after defeating a brave Almeria

Fifteen days after the international ‘exodus’ of players and only three days before their first Champions League match, Real Madrid faced a tactically brilliant and physically strong Almeria. Saviola scored the opener, Sneijder scored the second and Higuaín sealed the victory.

Real Madrid looked to stay at the top of the League table by defeating Almeria, who want to be this season’s most surprising team. Preparations for the match had been very different at either club; Real Madrid lacked 16 internationals, while Almeria had everyone available to prepare for one of their most important clashes of the season, looking to earn points at a stadium in which they’ve never won. Their fans seemed more awake during the encounter because most Madridistas were listening to the Spain-Greece basketball game on their radios and were thinking about the important Champions League match against Werder Bremen on Monday.
This explains why the visiting side shined brighter in the first 30 minutes. Real Madrid kept possession but were less dangerous, finding it hard to overcome the solid defensive wall of Emery Unai’s team. Almeria have a very tight system, with lines being close to each other; they have 10 men in 30 metres moving up and down like an accordion depending on their opponent’s tactics. Sneijder and Guti were closely marked, so they had a hard time trying to make their team’s game flow. As if this wasn’t enough, Almeria’s full backs sealed Real Madrid’s entry down the wings.

THE SAVIOLA EFFECT
The only player that thwarted Almeria’s defensive scheme was Saviola because they didn’t expect him to play –Ruud Van Nistelrooy needs to rest after playing with Holland-. The Argentine scored a goal on the 28-minute mark, but it was disallowed by one of the linesmen. Seven minutes later he scored the ‘official’ opener off the ricochet of a powerful shot by Raúl.

The worst was over. Real Madrid had proved to be patient despite Almeria’s incessant attacks and could now change the game to their advantage. As Almeria started fading, Real Madrid started shining brighter. The visitors recovered some strength in half-time. Just before the first half was over, Spain defeated Greece in the Eurobasket and a loud cheer filled the stadium; this meant all Madridistas would now focus all their attention on the fixture.

A DIFFERENT GAME
The second half had a completely different start than the first. Real Madrid were completely into the game and had many chances on Cobeño’s goal. Schuster brought in Drenthe for Heinze and Higuaín for Robinho. Sergio Ramos’ crosses from the right wing were extremely dangerous, but most of them found no one to finish them off. But Almeria wanted to prove that their 3-0 victory against Deportivo in La Coruña hadn’t been a mirage and scored a beautiful goal in a practically identical set piece to that from which Sneijder scored against Atletico, but the referee disallowed their strike.

Real Madrid also wanted a second goal and the match grew even more exciting. Crusat tackled Saviola from behind right outside the box and was sent off with a straight red card. Real Madrid were awarded a very dangerous free-kick, but the ball hit the barrier.

ON-GOING EXCITEMENT
Sergio Ramos and Raúl came close to scoring the Whites’ second, but it was Sneijder who achieved this with a beautiful free-kick. His delivery was simply perfect. When he was replaced by Gago, the crowd gave him a standing ovation, a sign that he has already become a fan favourite.

Two minutes before the Dutchman left the pitch, Uche scored for Almeria, making the match more exciting, and right before the final blow of the whistle, Higuaín netted Real Madrid’s third and the first in his personal count of 15 goals for this season.

Third consecutive victory in the League. The team’s new motto should no doubt be ‘Enjoying themselves’.

MATCH REPORT:
3 - REAL MADRID: Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Metzelder, Cannavaro, Heinze (Drenthe, 46’); Sneijder (Gago, 75’), Diarra, Guti, Robinho (Higuaín, 46’); Raúl & Van Nistelrooy.
1 - ALMERIA: Cobeño, Bruno, C. García, Pulido, Mané; Juanito, Soriano, Ortiz (Natalio, 76’), Corona (Melo, 76’); Crusat & Kalu Uche (J. Ortiz, 78’).
REFEREE: Alfonso Javier Álvarez. Booked Guti, Sergio Ramos, Gago and Soriano. Sent off Crusat with a straight red card.
GOALS:
1-0: 35': Saviola.
2-0: 69': Sneijder, from a free-kick.
2-1: 73'. Uche.
3-1: 88': Higuaín.
HIGHLIGHTS: Matchday 3 of the Spanish League. Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, close to full capacity.

Valladolid 1-1 Real Madrid

Schuster and company remain undefeated after a very level game

What a show. Fans from Valladolid couldn't have asked for a better match between two teams who play good football and know how to take care of the ball. Real Valladolid made a major statement that they're a force to be reckoned with this season, but Real Madrid were able to grind it out against the recently-promoted side. Bernd Schuster and company remain undefeated and are still the best team in Spain's top flight.

Everyone expected a fantastic match, and neither Real Valladolid nor Real Madrid let down the more than 26,000 spectators at Nuevo José Zorrilla Stadium. It had been three years since the Whites' last visited Valladolid, and the crowd, most with split allegiances, had a great time. Real Valladolid came out firing. Not intimidated by presence of the League leaders on their pitch, the hosts were relentless during the first 15 minutes of the match. They easily dictated the pace and gave Real Madrid all they could handle in search for the three points at stake.
It was also an evening for lineup rotations. Bernd Schuster decided to rest Wesley Sneijder, who had started the three previous League matches, and Higuaín, who was given the nod for the Whites' European debut last Tuesday. Drenthe made his way into the starting eleven and occupied the left wing, while Marcelo made his League debut. With the only other new addition being Míchel Salgado, Real Madrid took the pitch in their quest for the fourth consecutive win in the competition.

Real Valladolid knew it was a statement game and were the first to create any danger. Jonathan Sesma flew in from the right and mananged to get a touch on the cross, but Casillas was there to make the save. The Whites answered back minutes later when Robinho centred a ball for Van Nistelrooy to tap home with the tip of his boot. The Dutchman was one of the main threats throughout the entire first half.

Both sides continued attacking the opponent's box. The hosts exploited the right flank with Sisi and Sesma, but the ball that came closest to finding the back of the net came off the boot of Raúl. Drenthe's centre pass found Robinho, who in turn crossed to the Real Madrid captain, but Butelle extended his full body to send the powerful shot out of bounds.

Referee Iturralde González had injured himself during the pre-match warmup, and after calling the entire first half, was replaced by the fourth referee Costas Soto for the last 45 minutes. Real Madrid looked more focused coming out of the dressing room, but Valladolid never surrendered and continued attacking Iker's goal.

Real Valladolid's intensity throughout the first half began taking its toll, and Real Madrid took advantage of the hosts' tired legs. Van Nistelrooy had a near miss from the edge of the box, and Robben zig-zagged his way through the Valladolid defence on the ensuing play. The Dutch midfielder, who had come off the bench in place of Drenthe, flew down the left wing and crossed in a ball that Raúl was unable to send to the far post. Valladolid began leaving open spaces on the pitch and Real Madrid found them. Higuaín, who substituted Robinho, also had an easy lob that would have opened the scoring, but the Argentine sent the ball just wide of Butelle's right post.

The hosts finally got the goal they had been searching for. There was nothing Iker Casillas could do to stop Pedro López's 30-metre strike from finding the far corner of the net. With nothing to lose, Schuster put it all on the line in the hope of not leaving Valladolid empty-handed. Saviola came in for Salgado, leaving three men on the back line and Cannavaro as the only centre-back. The bet paid off. Van Nistelrooy received a long pass from Guti in front of the keeper, and the Dutchman tapped it to Saviola who pushed it home for the equaliser.

The draw at José Zorrilla Stadium was a deserving result for both sides who left their hearts and souls on the pitch. Real Madrid remain undefeated and maintain a foothold on the the League lead.


MATCH SUMMARY:
Real Valladolid:Butelle, García Calvo, Borja, Sisi (Marcos, 77’), Llorente, Óscar Sánchez, Kome (Víctor, 65’), Rafa, Pedro López, Álvaro Rubio (Vivar Dorado, 83’) and Sesma.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Salgado (Saviola, 83’), Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo, Diarra, Guti, Robinho (Higuaín, 62’), Drenthe (Robben, 62’), Van Nistelrooy and Raúl.
Goals:
1-0, min.73. Pedro López from 30 metres out.
1-1, min.88. Van Nistelrooy assist and Saviola tap-in.
Referee: Iturralde González (Basque Referee Association). Booked Michel Salgado (17’), Butelle (40’), and Borja (60’).
Notes: Matchday 4 of La Liga.

Twelve Matchdays undefeated

Real Madrid haven't lost in the League since April and remain leaders in the competition

Racing Santander were the last team to defeat Real Madrid, who haven't lost since Matchday 30 last season.

Real Madrid are undefeated in the Spanish League since Matchday 30 last season. Not losing in the last eight games of the championship in the previous campaign allowed them to win the title; they won seven games and drew one.
Real Madrid must have gotten used to this because they've lost none of their first four League clashes this season, winning 2-1, 5-0 and 3-1 against Atletico Madrid, Villarreal and Almería, respectively, and drawing 1-1 with Valladolid last night. With ten points, Real Madrid are leaders in the competition.

The Madridistas and Barcelona are the only sides in the competition to be undefeated this campaign, but the latter have earned two victories and two draws. Besides, if we take into account last season's matches, Real Madrid haven't lost in 12 League clashes, a more impressive feat than the eternal rival's.

Real Madrid are also currently the top scoring side in the League with 11 strikes so far. They are closely followed by Sevilla, who have scored 9. The Whites have only conceded 3 goals.

La Liga Preview: Espanyol - Real Madrid

Who: Espanyol (5th, 13 pts) vs Real Madrid (1st, 19pts)
When: Saturday, 20th October, 2200 CET
Where: Estadi Olímpic de Montjuïc, Barcelona

Two teams on a hot winning streak are dying to get back into action as La Liga resumes after another week of International break. High-flyers Espanyol will be hoping to continue their impressive march, but standing in their way will be a Real Madrid side desperate to put on an energetic showing following a series of scrappy wins.

Ecstatic Espanyol

What a stellar few weeks it has been for humble Espanyol! After making a wobbly start to the new campaign, where they only won once in their opening four matches, Barcelona's sister club have turned things around considerably.

Three wins on the trot have propelled the Catalans up to fifth place in the table and the team's excellent form has not gone unnoticed as three of their star players, Raúl Tamudo, Albert Riera and Luis García, were called up to the national side.

Not only that, but the former two became the toast of the country last weekend, scoring a goal each in the 1-3 win over Denmark in the Euro 2008 qualifiers. In the league, Los Periquitos are already shaping themselves up nicely to be one of the surprise packages of the 2007/08 season.

Although it is very much still early days, the Catalans have already notched up two upset wins by claiming the scalps of title favourites Sevilla and Valencia - both away from home - in the space of just 12 days. And the clash with Real could not have come at a better time as they look to add possibly the biggest catch of all on to the list.

All Fired Up

Coach Ernesto Valverde is understandably psyched up about taking on and beating the reigning champions. The recent run of remarkable victories has given the squad a massive morale boost and the ex-Bilbao trainer is confident that his troops will be able to step up a gear or two on the night.

"The match against Madrid is special because it attracts a lot of attention," the coach remarked, before going on to add, "We'll need to play with all our effort because we want to win."

Raul Tamudo meanwhile, is even more excited at the prospect of ending Real's unbeaten start to the season and the striker will be counting on the home fans to serve as Espanyol's twelfth player.

"Real Madrid have not lost yet but we have just beaten Valencia and our team is strong," he justified. "Winning will be difficult and the only prediction I can make is that the atmosphere in Montjuïc will be tremendous."

Restless Real

The one week of league inactivity has caused much restlessness amongst the pro-Madrid press as the notorious transfer rumours suddenly re-emerged, linking just about anyone and everyone from Mikel Arteta to David Villa to a few young whizzkids to the capital club. Even bigger on the agenda was Raúl's exile from La Selección.

It is safe to say that the debate concerning his continued omission has now gotten out of hand with some reports suggesting that a final tribute game is being prepared for the 30 year old, as if he is on the verge of retirement. But all that will be forgotten in a heartbeat when the men in white take to the field in Montjuïc and go head to head with the high-flying Catalans.

Ever since the majestic 0-5 win at Villarreal on matchday two, Real have not encountered an opponent of their own calibre or even one that's lying in the same half of the standings they are in.

Although they may have made hard work of some of the smaller clubs such as Valladolid or Getafe, on paper, Espanyol should provide the merengues with the first meanigful test of their pedigree since they took over as league leaders. It might not be such a big worry for Los Blancos, though, as it is often the big clubs and the in-form sides that tend to bring out their best.

Familiar Woe For Schuster

Bernd Schuster's rotation policy may be getting a lot of flak, but in all fairness, he is left with little choice. The punishing schedule between La Liga, Champions League and International football has forced him to repeatedly revamp his squad selection. And the continuous injury headache is not making life any easier for the German.

Things are no different this weekend as Schuster welcomes back a brigade of International players, some of whom are carrying injuries while others are suffering from travel fatigue.

In addition, the ex-Getafe boss will once again have very little time to prepare his first team regulars for the clash in Barcelona yet at the same time, he will need to keep one eye on Wednesday's Champions League visit of Olympiakos and make sure that some of his key players remain fresh.

His right hand man, Manolo Ruiz has admitted that the International breaks are hurting the squad's consistency and as such, the team's progress to gel as a unit has been greatly affected. But with a number of the other top clubs such as Barcelona and Valencia floating in the same boat, the coach will simply have to tough it out, even if it means grinding out marginal victories.

FORM GUIDE

Espanyol

Oct 06 Valencia vs Espanyol 1-2 (La Liga)

Sep 30 Espanyol vs Deportivo La Coruña 1-0 (La Liga)

Sep 25 Sevilla vs Espanyol 2-3 (La Liga)

Sep 22 Recreativo Huelva vs Espanyol 2-1 (La Liga)

Sep 16 Espanyol vs Getafe 1-0 (La Liga)

Real Madrid

Oct 07 Real Madrid vs Recreativo Huelva 2-0 (La Liga)

Oct 03 Lazio vs Real Madrid 2-2 (Champions League)

Sep 30 Getafe vs Real Madrid 0-1 (La Liga)

Sep 27 Real Madrid vs Real Betis 2-0 (La Liga)

Sep 23 Real Valladolid vs Real Madrid 1-1 (La Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Espanyol

There's more good news on the way for Los Periquitos as Iván de la Peña is nearing a return after a long-term injury. But Valverde has already hinted that the influential playmaker, who has yet to play a game so far this season, will not be rushed straight back onto the pitch, and will instead utilize his presence to merely add options to the squad.

Rufete and Ángel Martínez are both still sidelined for a few more weeks but Valverde will welcome back defender Pablo Zabaleta and the Argentine should reclaim his spot at right back. Despite normally starting the game in a 4-4-2 formation, the 43 year old coach is likely to revert to a lone striker system as the game wears on with Luis García slotting back to midfield to double as winger-forward.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Kameni - Zabaleta, Jarque, Torrejón, Chica - Valdo, Jônatas, Moisés, Riera - Luis García, Tamudo ©

Real Madrid

Injuries continue to plague Los Merengues after Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze returned from International duty with serious injuries. The Dutch winger will be out until at least December with a torn thigh muscle while the Argentine leftback will be sidelined for roughly three months due to a groin muscle tear.

Guti remains a huge doubt for the clash after pulling his calf muscle in training in midweek and coach Schuster will have to reshuffle the pack in midfield. Wesley Sneijder could be pushed to the centre of the park with Gonzalo Higuaín and Royston Drenthe occupying the flanks. Robinho may be rested after his heavy involvement with Brazil throughout the week.

Centreback Christoph Metzelder is on course to make his long awaited comeback but Pepe is still working to regain full fitness. Fabio Cannavaro meanwhile, has shrugged off the niggle he picked up with Italy and has been cleared to play. A likely scenario for Schuster is to move Sergio Ramos back to the centre of defence if Metzelder is not deemed fit enough to start the match.

Probable Starting XI (4-1-3-2): Casillas - Torres/Salgado, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo - Diarra - Higuaín, Sneijder, Drenthe/Robinho - Raúl ©, van Nistelrooy

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Espanyol - Raúl Tamudo

There's hardly a player in Spain at the moment who is as over the moon as the Blanquiazules striker. The recently-turned 30 year old is a revitalised player after some outstanding performances for club and an even more impressive display for country last week. With his confidence at an all time high, Tamudo will be an explosive livewire for a makeshift merengue backline to cope with.

Real Madrid - Raúl

All the talk of an homage has made the Real captain uncomfortable and slightly embarrassed. This, however, will be the perfect outlet for the Madrid number 7 to respond by showing that he still has plenty to offer for club and country and he's nowhere near ready to hang up his boots and start attending tribute matches. With the team rocked with injuries and affected by fatigue, Raúl will have to do what he does best to galvanize the troops: lead by example.

PREDICTION

Results from the last five meetings between the two at the Montjuïc have been dead even, with two wins apiece and a draw. Goals, however, have been hard to find with one-nil scorelines dominating each of the last three clashes in Catalunya. But Real pulled off a double over Espanyol last season (including that memorable 4-3 comeback thriller at home) and this could very well turn out to be another highly entertaining affair.

Espanyol 2-2 Real Madrid

KS Leong

Espanyol 2-1 Real Madrid

The Whites hold on to the top spot despite losing in Montjuïc

The cold and the wind helped put bring an end to Real Madrid's unbeaten streak. Thanks to two goals by Spanish internationals Riera and Tamudo, Espanyol were able to win in front of their home crowd in Montjuïc. The Whites still sit atop the League table despite the loss.

The mountain of Montjuïc joined forces with Espanyol in Matchday 8 of the Primera Liga, as the wind swept off its side and wreaked havoc for the Whites. The Periquitos took the lead in the opening minute of the match when Riera found the back of the net off a corner, thus ending Casillas' streak of three matches without conceding a goal. With the wind blowing against them, Madrid were forced to put Plan B into action. The first step was to keep the ball rolling on the turf and not in the air. The second, to start anew, with the equaliser being the only thing in mind.
Real Madrid began their hunt for Espanyol's box with Raúl and Van Nistelrooy leading the charge in attack. Sneijder and Higuaín took their positions along the wings, and the Whites began creating football. But the hosts were in great form and impregnable in defence. Madrid's captain had the first chance on goal and almost managed to slip the ball by Kameni. The Whites settled into the match as the minutes ticked off the clock, but no one could find the spark on such a frigid night in Olympic Stadium.

The teams went into the half with the score unchanged since minute one, but loyal to their style and by sticking to their gameplan, Espanyol took the pitch for the second period determined to put the nail in the coffin. Raúl Tamudo scored the goal of the night with a beautiful lob that Casillas could do nothing to save, earning a standing ovation for the Periquito faithful.

Although down two goals, Real Madrid never threw in the towel. Drenthe was subbed in for Sneijder and Soldado replaced Higuaín minutes later. Espanyol, however, played better football throughout the entire second half and came a Casillas save away from striking gold for the third time.

Once in injury time, Sergio Ramos was able to bring the Whites within one by hitting home in what was his 100th match with Real Madrid. The Seville-native's aerobatic strike provided one last gasp of air for the visitors, who had two more chances to pull even before the final whistle.

Espanyol showed why they are in the hunt for a spot in European competition next season. Two sensational goals brought down League leaders Real Madrid who, despite losing, remain the top team in the First Division.

MATCH REPORT:
R.C.D. ESPANYOL: Kameni, Clemente, Valdo, Zabaleta, Luis García (Jonatas, 87’), Riera (Lacruz, 92’), Torrejón, Jarque, Moisés, Tamudo (Jonathan, 83’), and Lola.
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Ramos, Cannavaro, Metzelder, Marcelo, Diarra (Gago, 84’), Guti, Higuaín (Soldado, 72’), Sneijder (Drenthe, 61’), Van Nistelrooy, and Raúl.
GOALS:
1-0, min. 2. Riera header.
2-0, min. 52. Tamudo lob over Casillas.
2-1, min. 90. Ramos inside the small box.
REFEREE: Fernando Teixeira Vitienes. Booked Zabaleta, Kameni, Jonatan Soriano, Van Nistelrooy, Guti, and Ramos.
NOTES: Matchday 8 of the Spanish League. Attendance: 40,000.

La Liga Preview: Real Madrid – Deportivo

Who: Real Madrid (1st, 19 pts) vs Deportivo (16th, 8 pts)
When: Sunday, 28th October, 1700 CET
Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

After suffering their first loss of the season at Espanyol, Real Madrid’s inconsistent yet inspirational table-topping Champions League win over Olympiacos midweek proved crucial in restoring the team’s confidence.

However, equally important will be their return to form and retaining pole position domestically when facing the struggling Deportivo on Sunday.

Predictably Unpredictable

Real Madrid have had an erratic season thus far, but one thing guaranteed, game after game without fail it seems, is drama and intrigue until the very last minute. Many predicted comfortable success midweek; and though the final score would suggest that – and Madrid did indeed dominate proceedings – a few defensive lapses made things a lot more complicated than expected.

The league champions have spent much of the season experimenting with slightly varying systems and personnel; and though many of these changes were enforced by injuries, the string of inconsistency within games has greatly frustrated fans in the Spanish capital, so Deportivo will definitely consider themselves in with a shout.

The front men remain as ominously prolific as ever. Despite both having somewhat muted performances midweek, Raúl and van Nistelrooy up front seemingly guarantee at least a goal a game between them no matter who the opposition; the former scoring an astute rebound after the Dutchman’s shot was stopped by Nikopolidis, and despite previously missing a penalty, van Nistelrooy himself provided the decisive assist for Robinho to put Madrid 3-2 up.

Madrid were once again caught out from a set-piece, but more glaring was the ineffectual performance of Michel Salgado, who failed to deal with a routine cross which led to the initial equaliser, and often found himself overran on the right side of defense.

Deportivo will surely look to attack Madrid’s injury-hit back line from the first minute. Their continual lack of width is proving a problem, particularly with the injury to Arjen Robben, and fleeting appearances from Roysten Drenthe producing little. There is little doubt that Higuain and Sneijder make inadequate makeshift wingers, and Javier Balboa – a natural winger, who finished clinically in the dying minutes midweek – looks unlikely to play regularly, though Schuster may surprise us yet.

It is hard to argue with the form guide, and despite the recent loss, Real Madrid are producing the results – topping tables both domestically and in Europe to prove it. There is something to be said about picking up results when not playing well, and it goes beyond the blissfully ignorant conclusion of putting it all down to luck. However, their momentary lapses always leave them susceptible to an upset.

Despairing Depor

The liga title, Supercopa success and European aspirations all seem an eternity away now. Deportivo, like last season, now find themselves languishing in the bottom half of the table, with many of their prosperous players from the past having moved on or retired.

New manager Miguel Ángel Lotina has not yet managed to put his coaching experience to significant use. The former Champions League semi-finalists, like this weekend’s opponents, have been performing inconsistently for the majority of the campaign – only their lack of class has told, as they have only half the points tally of their more revered opposition.

Disaster struck on the opening day, as newly promoted Almeria stunned the Riazor with an emphatic 3-0 victory. Similarly dismal home form was witnessed against Recreativo, who sunk a Depor side showing little fight with goals either side of half time to take a deserved 2-0 victory.

A surprise scalp was that of Sevilla – away from home, which could be a good omen for the forthcoming journey to Madrid – where Depor snatched a 1-0 victory after showing great patience and determination, with Riki netting the winner. However, it must be noted that this was a Sevilla side amidst an incredibly poor run of form.

Their latest result showed both the Jekyll and the Hyde of their season thus far. Careless defending saw them 2-0 down at home in a heartbeat, but the team showed its fighting spirit to make some sort of game of it from there on, Bodipo showing his potential with a goal, but ultimately in vain as they lost 4-2 to the title contenders.

FORM GUIDE

Real Madrid

Oct 24 Real Madrid vs Olympiacos 4-2 (Champions League)

Oct 20 Espanyol vs Real Madrid 2-1 (La Liga)

Oct 07 Real Madrid vs Recreativo Huelva 2-0 (La Liga)

Oct 03 Lazio vs Real Madrid 2-2 (Champions League)

Sep 30 Getafe vs Real Madrid 0-1 (La Liga)

Deportivo

Oct 20 Deportivo vs Valencia 2-4 (La Liga)

Oct 07 Sevilla vs Deportivo 0-1 (La Liga)

Sep 30 Espanyol vs Deportivo 1-0 (La Liga)

Sep 26 Deportivo vs Recreativo 0-2 (La Liga)

Sep 23 Getafe vs Deportivo 0-0 (La Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Real Madrid

New signings Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze will remain on the sidelines recovering from injury; and Pepe’s lengthy spell on the sidelines looks to continue. Everybody who played midweek came through unscathed, though Diarra and Fabio Cannavaro are still recovering from knocks received in the defeat to Espanyol and are touch-and-go to start on Sunday.

Robinho is sure to retain his place due to his good form; conversely Salgado will most likely sit out the fixture following his poor performance, with Torres coming in as his most likely replacement.

The winger debate is rife, will Sneijder continue to be played out of position despite his lacklustre performances, or will Balboa or Drenthe – Madrid’s dreadlock duo on the wings – get a chance to play in the wide role? Despite the poor performances pointing toward a need for change, Schuster has failed to take the risk of dropping Guti or Sneijder for a winger so far, therefore will probably decide against the tactical change again.

Probable Starting XI (4-1-3-2) Casillas – Miguel Torres, Sergio Ramos, Metzelder, Marcelo – Diarra – Robinho, Guti, Sneijder – Raúl ©, van Nistelrooy

Deportivo

With no big injuries reported, it is suspected that Depor will revert to a flat back four after their three-man defense leaked four goals at home to Valencia last weekend.

A common tactic used against the top sides is the 4-2-3-1 and it is likely Deportivo will deploy it as well. A flat back four followed by a five-man midfield consisting of two holding players breaks down the opposition’s attacks, then two wingers and a player in the hole forming a row of three behind a sole striker.

The places of Sergio, Verdu and Guardado seem all-but certain, whereas the strikers have been in heavy rotation so far during this campaign. Riki has seen many minutes, but has made more goal-scoring impact as a substitute. Therefore it is likely Xisco – who has been the only other Depor striker to really play consistently and pose a threat – will probably start as the lone striker, with Riki likely to make an appearance from the bench.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1) Dudu Aouate – Manuel Pablo ©, Coloccini, Barragán, Filipe – Juan Rodriguez, De Guzman – Sergio, Verdu, Guardado – Xisco

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Madrid – Robinho

The Brasilian magician has been slowly but surely showing signs of fleeting brilliance this season, but has rarely had the full trust of his coach. However, following his indispensable heroics midweek he is certain to be not only full of self-confidence, but to be backed unanimously and emphatically by his coach and team mates alike.

It appears Robinho’s biggest weakness is reliance on confidence to play his natural game to full effect, but as this summer’s Copa America showed, when he has it, that reliance on confidence also proves to be his biggest strength as he becomes unstoppable terrorising opposing defenders. He will no doubt be given full license to attack Deportivo in full flow and flair on Sunday, with clear intentions of putting on another unforgettable spectacle to guide Los Blancos to victory.

Deportivo – Guardado

Arguably the biggest prospect Los Turcos have on their books right now, the Mexican winger will no doubt be eager to use this stage to attract the attention of Europe’s big boys. Somewhat ironically he will particularly be looking to impress his opponents; having stated earlier this week it is the life-long ambition of many a modern-day Mexican footballer to emulate the great Hugo Sanchez by playing for Los Merengues.

The winger has the pace and skill to cause panic among Madrid’s defensive ranks, particularly with what could be a substitute full back in place with Ramos deployed in the middle; Guardado could prove decisive on the counterattack.

PREDICTION

Deportivo have been seemingly stronger on their travels than at home, and will be motivated to try and steer themselves away from the relegation zone against league leaders Real. Madrid themselves will be feeling the pressure and desperate to cling on to and possibly extend their one point lead at the top of the table.

Unless Madrid take a gamble on a genuine winger such as Balboa or Drenthe in place of either Guti or Sneijder, they may struggle to break down Depor, who will no doubt look to crowd out Los Merengues and hit on the break. However, after an undoubtedly shaky start, Schuster will most likely make the necessary substitutions to grind out another win to keep his side top of the table.

Real Madrid 2-1 Deportivo

Real Madrid 3-1 Deportivo

The leaders defeat the Galicians at the Bernabéu

The match was entertaining and tight; Schuster's men had trouble dominating the game because Deportivo proved their quality from the opening minutes, scoring a goal soon after kick-off. Van Nistelrooy drew with a penalty and, when the same players that defeated Olympiacos on Wednesday were on the pitch, Raúl and Robinho scored two more goals that gave Real Madrid the victory.

After sealing their supremacy in Group C of the Champions League on Wednesday, Real Madrid faced Deportivo tonight in a match that was anticipated by all to be complicated because the Galician side would surely want to surprise everyone with a good performance, especially due to their desperate need of points.

Early goals
Deportivo took the pitch with drive, willing to play at Real Madrid's level. So much so, that they scored in the 2nd minute; Xisco stole the ball from the Whites, assisting Juan Rodríguez down the right wing, who in turn crossed the ball close to the end line for Xisco to score thanks to a mistake by Metzelder.

Real Madrid were very quiet until Ruud Van Nistelrroy was given the chance to score minutes later from a penalty, awarded when he was tackled inside the box by Andrés Guardado.

Nevertheless, Deportivo still dominated thanks to a veteran defensive line and an attacking front comprised of young players, such as Juan Rodríguez (25 years old), Andrés Guardado (21), Xisco (21) and Verdú (24). The latter had a good shot on goal on the 15-minute mark and made Casillas uneasy on more than one occassion.

Real Madrid were practically having no chances on goal; their attack only looked dangerous when it stemmed from Guti. The number '14' created one of the clearest chances by crossing the ball to the far post from a free-kick for Sergio Ramos to head in, but the defender missed. Guti also passed the ball to Robinho when he was all alone. The Brazilian then passed it to Van Nistelrooy once he was inside the box, but the Dutchman hit the ball with the outside of his boot and missed the shot.


The Olympiacos eleven make the team react
Van Nistelrroy had a great chance at the start of the second half, shooting after turning 180º, but keeper Dudu Aouate made a spectacular save. Deportivo reacted with a fast counterattack that ended with a shot by Juan Rodríguez in the 53rd minute that was saved by Marcelo under the posts.

Sneijder replaced Higuaín and, a bit later, Raúl came on for Saviola. This way, buy the 65th minute, the Whites had the same players on the pitch that defeated Olympiacos 4-2 on Wednesday. Real Madrid's attack became more solid and they had more chances on goal. On the 70-minute mark, Robinho took a powerful shot from outside the box that hit the crossbar.

Real Madrid reacted brilliantly and scored the victory goal in the 78th minute. Robinho started a promising play with a pass to Guti, who gave the ball to Raúl, cutting through Deportivo's defence. The captain failed to control the ball, but it luckily ended up at Van Nistelrooy's feet. He passed it back to Raúl, who was just outside the goal-line and scored. This was the captain's fourth goal against Deportivo in his 13-year career in the First Division.

Deportivo seemed crushed. Guti handled the ball and created attacks as he pleased, and Robinho eventually sealed the victory with a brilliant goal after overtaking the keeper.


MATCH REPORT
3 - REAL MADRID: Casillas; Salgado, Metzelder, Ramos, Marcelo; Gago, Guti, Robinho (Balboa, 89'), Higuaín (Sneijder, 45'); Saviola & Van Nistelrooy.
1 - DEPORTIVO: Aouate; Manuel Pablo, Piscu, Coloccini, Filipe; Juan Rodríguez (Bodipo, 73'), Sergio, De Guzmán (Taborda, 86'), Guardado; Verdú & Xisco (Riki, 61')).
GOALS:
0-1 2': Xisco.
1-1 6': Van Nistelrooy, from a penalty.
2-1 78': Raúl.
3-1 83': Robinho.
REFEREE: Carlos Clos Gómez. Booked Juan Rodríguez (22'), Salgado (47'), Riki (75'), Gago (76') and Sneijder (83'). Sent Sergio off with a double booking (72' & 80').
HIGHLIGHTS: Matchday 9 of the Spanish League. Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Attendance: 85,000.

Real Madrid-Mallorca preview

The Whites will look to lead the table for yet another week

Real Madrid will host a clash with Mallorca, against whom they won the League title on 17 June. Guti, Ramos, Robben and Dudek will miss the encounter.

Real Madrid and mallorca will face each other at the Bernabéu for the first time since the night of 17 June, when Real Madrid won their 30th League title against the islanders at the Bernabéu. Varela's goal in the 15th minute shattered some of the Madridistas' hopes for the title, but the team and its fans pulled through and won 3-1 in the end; a big party atmosphere took over the stadium at the sound of the final whistle.
Mallorca are currently 9th on the League table with 16 points, while Real Madrid are leaders, making them favourites to win the match.

Real Madrid and Mallorca have faced each other 22 times at the Bernabéu. The Whites have won 16 times, drawing and losing only three. The Madridistas haven't lost against the islanders in the Spanish capital since the 2004/05 season. The next year they won against them 3-1, and the following campaign they defeated them 4-0 with strikes by Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos (2) and Baptista.

Real Madrid have scored 52 goals against the Reds in Madrid, conceding only 20. Their largest victory over them came in the 1965/66 season (5-1) with goals by Gento (2), Amancio and Grosso (2).

A victory prior to the League stoppage
Guti, Ramos, Robben and Dudek will miss the match, the former two due to suspension and the latter due to injury. Gonzalo Higuaín has returned to Schuster’s squad list, the same as Pepe, who hasn’t been present at a League encounter since Matchday 1.

The leaders will look for yet another victory at the Bernabéu, where they haven’t lost since they were defeated by Levante 1-0 in February. The following two weeks will be marked by a stoppage in the competition and an exodus of international players, so a victory would help the Whites go through that long time without many worries.

Güiza, international with Spain
Mallorca are currently ninth with 16 points. Their striker Dani Güiza has been recently called up by Spain for the first time in his career thanks to his impressive run of late and his six strikes in the championship. The former Getafe player (where he was coached by Schuster) is one of many young, quality reinforcements Mallorca signed this summer. Güiza and Webo are the Reds most dangerous players in attack, while Arango and Ibagaza are their playmakers in midfield; Real Madrid should always watch our for Mallorca.

The islanders haven’t had a great start to the season, so they will now look to take as many points as possible before the winter break in order to have greater chances of climbing further in the table. They are two points away from taking a UEFA qualifying spot and they are having excellent performances as a visiting team; they’ve won one, drawn three and lost only one of their away games this campaign.

La Liga Preview: Real Madrid - Mallorca

What: La Liga, Matchday 12
Who: Real Madrid (1st, 25pts) vs RCD Mallorca (9th, 16pts)
When: Sunday, 11th November 2007, 1900 CET
Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

Real Madrid are back on home soil after three successive games on the road and they will be counting on home support in the Bernabéu to help the team overcome a turbulent week.

Stepping into the cauldron will be a Mallorca side, who could either regret being given this moment to visit the capital or revel in the opportunity to take advantage of their wounded opponents.

Fond Memories For Madridistas

June 17th, 2007. That is a date on the calendar that not many of the Madrid romantics would have forgotten too easily. But for those who may have, it was the day Los Merengues lifted their 30th La Liga title and their first major piece of silverware in four years.

It was also, of course, the last time these two teams met in La Liga. Fabio Capello's Madrid side marched to a 3-1 victory over the Balearic outfit on that memorable summer evening after staging their umpteenth comeback of the season en route to the crown.

The win sparked wild celebrations at the Bernabéu at the end of the 90 minutes, but it also marked the end of a chapter at the club as the curtain were brought down on the Galácticos era, paving the way for the current generation of superstars to pull on the white shirt.

Although a very different Madrid squad will take to the field this weekend against the Mallorca, coach Bernd Schuster will be hoping that his team will receive the same kind of raucous support from the home faithful as he looks to put behind a typically controversial week for the club.


It started with the 2-0 defeat at Sevilla last Saturday, which was immediately followed by the refereeing saga when the capital giants claimed defender Sergio Ramos was unjustifiably sent off, Raúl incorrectly booked and denied a penalty and other players such as Guti and Robinho were not given the proper "protection" by the officials against the Sevilla players.

Schuster and sporting director Predrag Mijatović didn't make life any easier for themselves when they went on to criticise Catalan referee Alfonso Álvarez Izquierdo - who is an Espanyol fan, by the way - after the match, although the German trainer has reiterated that his comments were made in jest.

They were then hoping to bounce back against Olympiacos midweek in the Champions League but, that did not pan out too well either as they were held to a scoreless draw. Even though it was result that was regarded as a fair and satisfactory outcome, the players still left Athens feeling frustrated, just like they had after visiting Andalucia weekend before.


Suddenly Goal Shy?

While Madrid were physically outplayed and tactically outsmarted by Sevilla, it was a completely different story against the Greeks. The men in white had chances aplenty to score in Piraeus, but a combination of world class goalkeeping and bad luck in front of goal meant that the Spanish giants went 180 minutes without hitting the back of the net.

Not at all an alarming situation but at a club like Real Madrid, even the tiniest of flaws tend to set off the loudest of alarm bells. The last time Los Blancos failed to score in successive matches was 34 competitive games ago, or approximately nine months, when they suffered back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Villarreal and Levante.

Schuster will be going all out to make sure that the current streak doesn't extend to 270 minutes, otherwise those alarm bells will really be ringing off the charts.

Flying Under The Radar

While much of the attention has been on the likes of Espanyol, Atlético de Madrid and Villarreal for their recent good form as they squabble over the "best of the rest" positions, Mallorca themselves, have been enjoying a relatively strong a start to the campaign.

They were quietly snaking up the ladder unnoticed, climbing as high as sixth place at one stage back in early October, before settling down in seventh for a few weeks. But consecutive draws with Deportivo and Espanyol followed by a home defeat to Valencia a week ago have seen Gregorio Manzano's side slowly tumble down the standings back to mid-table.

The loss to Valencia was perhaps a bit harsh on The Barralets. It was a match that they appeared to have total control of, in addition to bombarding the Ché goal. But they were eventually felled by two classic opportunistic strikes from goal poacher extraordinaire Fernando Morientes, as they crashed to a 0-2 defeat at Estadi Ono.

It was an especially bitter defeat to swallow, considering their opponents only had those two chances in front of goal all game. That statistic, however, is unlikely to be repeated against a much more adventurous Real Madrid side but their Venezuelan midfielder Juan Arango already has a gameplan up his sleeve.

"It's always nice to play at a stadium like the Santiago Bernabéu but, we're not going there with the idea of losing," the 27 year old playmaker said. "It won't be easy playing there but we need to build on our counterattack to exploit their defence and make sure we commit very few mistakes ourselves at the back."

Mallorca will have picked up a thing or two about being opportunistic as they look to inflict further damage on Madrid's battered ego and morale. But as they say, beware the wounded beast.

FORM GUIDE

Real Madrid

Olympiakos - Real Madrid 0-0 06/11/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Sevilla - Real Madrid 2-0 03/11/2007 LA LIGA
Valencia - Real Madrid 1-5 31/10/2007 LA LIGA
Real Madrid - Deportivo La Coruña 3-1 28/10/2007 LA LIGA
Real Madrid - Olympiakos 4-2 24/10/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Mallorca

Mallorca - Valencia 0-2 03/11/2007 LA LIGA
Deportivo La Coruña - Mallorca 1-1 31/10/2007 LA LIGA
Mallorca - Espanyol 2-2 27/10/2007 LA LIGA
Recreativo Huelva - Mallorca 0-2 21/10/2007 LA LIGA
Mallorca - Getafe 4-2 07/10/2007 LA LIGA


TEAM NEWS

Real Madrid

There was a mixture of good news and bad news for Madrid in midweek when Mahamadou Diarra escaped possible punishment for elbowing Sevilla leftback José Crespo in last week's heated clash, but Sergio Ramos' double yellow will stand, meaning he will miss Sunday's game.

Miguel Torres will thus be the main candidate to deputize at rightback. Guti will also be suspended after collecting his fifth booking of the season against the Andalucian club, but Wesley Sneijder, who made a successful return from injury against Olympiacos on Wednesday, should keep his place in midfield.

Christoph Metzelder looks set to be reinstated to partner Fabio Cannavaro in defence after his midweek rest and Portuguese centre-back Pepe could finally see some match time after his lengthy lay-off.

Gonzalo Higuaín, meanwhile, has resumed full training with the rest of the team and could yet feature in this game, while Arjen Robben has been given a late November date to make his comeback from a muscle tear he sustained on international duty with Holland.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Casillas - Torres, Metzelder, Cannavaro, Heinze/Marcelo - Gago, Diarra - Sneijder, Robinho, Raúl © - van Nistelrooy

Mallorca

Goalkeeper Miguel Moyá, who just returned from a one match ban, is out of the side again after picking up a thigh injury in training and he could be ruled out for up to a month. As a result, ex-River Plate keeper Germán Lux will retain his place in goal, despite his less than solid display against Valencia.

Greek midfielder Angelos Basinas, who is recuperating from an intestinal infection, is expected to be ready in time for the clash and his return could see ex-Madrid midfielder Borja Valero dropped to the bench as Manzano opts for the more experienced Guillermo Pereyra.

Striker Pierre Webó should make a comeback from injury but he is unlikely to trouble club top scorer Güiza for the lone striker position upfront.

A big question mark, however, hangs over explosive winger Jonás Gutiérrez after a contractual disagreement with his former club Vélez Sársfield appears to have unsettled the player and this could prompt Manzano to leave him out. Fernando Varela is an option to take his place in midfield.

Probable Starting XI (4-5-1): Moyá - Héctor, Ballesteros ©, Nunes, F. Navarro - Basinas, Pereyra, Jonás/Varela, Ibagaza, Arango - Güiza

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Madrid - The Three R's

Yes, this is a cop out but Madrid's attacking trident of Robinho, Raúl and Ruud (van Nistelrooy) will have the spotlight firmly on them as they try to go back to doing what they normally do best and end the team's goalless spell. The chemistry between the trio is improving with every game and they will have to be on the same wavelength throughout this encounter in order to break down Mallorca's back-four and five-man midfield.

Mallorca - Juan Arango

The unheralded Venezuelan playmaker has been in eye-catching form despite Mallorca's recent slump. His pace, agility and typical South American flair will give Real's defenders plenty to worry about. He also forms a dynamic partnership with Argentinian Ariel Ibagaza and the duo are largely the reason why striker Güiza has been so effortless in rippling the back of the net this term.

PREDICTION

Mallorca were at one point Madrid's bogey team. In four successive years between 2000 and 2004, the Merengues lost three times and drew once at home against the Balearic club, but those where the days when a certain Samuel Eto'o was still playing for the islanders.

Madrid have won the last three meetings at the Bernabéu and they'll be looking to make it four in a row. The reigning champions are the only side left with a 100 per cent home record - other than Barça - and they will also want to preserve that.

Real Madrid 3-1 Mallorca

Real Madrid 4-3 Mallorca

Shower of goals at the Bernabéu

Seven goals, excitement and, above anything else, fun. Real Madrid and Mallorca put on a marvelous show at the Santiago Bernabéu tonight. Once again, the Whites won at home and manage to stay leaders in the championship.

Mallorca returned to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for the first time since their 3-1 defeat in Madrid that gave the Madridistas the League title on 17 June. Tonight's match proved to be very exciting, finishing 2-2 at half-time and anticipating a very tense and exciting second half.

Bernd Schuster was forced to change his lineup because Guti and Ramos had to miss the game due to suspension. Cannavaro and Heinze were once again paired as the team's centre backs, and Sneijder acted as playmaker, with Gago and Diarra in midfield.

Mallorca proved to be fierce from the opening minutes on, fighting hard to take the three points at stake, but Real Madrid were also determined to win and had their first dangerous play on the 3-minute mark; Robinho gave the ball to Raúl down the left wing. The captain then crossed the ball accross to the right for Ruud van Nistelrooy to score, but the Dutchman couldn't reach it in time.

Goals and 'Brazilian connection'
The specatcle of goals began in the 11th minute when the Brazilian Marcelo-Robinho connection came to fruition; when Robinho was just inside the box, he passed the ball to Marcelo down the right wing with his heel. The left back then crossed it into the box and Robinho headed it into the back of the net.

The Bernabéu roared, but Real Madrid's joy was short lived, as Varela scored inside their box just two minutes later.

On the 16-minute mark, Robinho got a pass from Sneijder after leaving Mallorca's defence behind him; he faced keeper Lux alone and scored his second goal with his left foot.

Three goals in fifteen minutes... Real Madrid decided to stand their ground and relax their game a bit, focusing on stopping every attacking venture by Ibagaza. Both sides had several chances on goal, but Mallorca's Varela managed to score the best strike of the match from outside the box with an extremely powerful shot with his right foot.

Excitement builds
The first half came to an end with a 2-2 score, but everyone at the stadium felt more goals were coming. The first to score in the last 45 minutes was Mallorca's Dani Güiza -recently called up by Spain-, who defeated Casillas with a shot from just outside the area.

Mallorca were winning, but Real Madrid never gave up and eventually netted their third in the 62nd minute; Raúl scored from an assist by Robino on the goal-line.

Comeback
The Whites kept trying to put in the winning goal and Ruud van Nistelrooy eventually netted it from just inside the box thanks to an assist by Raúl.

This victory allows Real Madrid to be leaders in the competition for another two weeks, being that there will be a stoppage in the League next weekend due to international fixtures. The three points they took tonight enlarges the point difference between them and the other contenders for the title.


MATCH REPORT
4 - Real Madrid: Casillas; Torres, Cannavaro (Pepe, 45’), Heinze, Marcelo; Sneijder (Higuaín, 74’), Gago, Diarra, Robinho (Drenthe, 88’); Raúl & Van Nistelrooy.
3 - Mallorca: Lux; F.Navarro, Héctor, Ballesteros, Varela (Víctor, 90’); Nunes, Basinas, Pereyra (B.Valero, 51’), Arango (Webó, 76’); Ibagaza & Güiza.
GOALS:
1-0, 11'.Robinho.
1-1, 12'.Varela.
2-1, 16'.Robinho.
2-2, 35'.Varela.
2-3, 59'. Güiza.
3-3, 62'. Raúl.
4-3, 73'. Van Nistelrooy.
REFEREE: Fernández Borbalán. Booked Diarra (89’) and Higuaín (90’).
HIGHLIGHTS: Matchday 12 of the Spanish League. Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Christian Alarcón, member of the Mexican Embassy in Madrid, saw the fans make donations at desks laid out at the stadium to help victims of the Mexico floodings.

Madridista stronghold

The Santiago Bernabéu hasn't witnessed a defeat in 278 days

The Santiago Bernabéu has become an absolute stronghold for Real Madrid. The Whites haven't lost at home in 15 straight matches, a streak that spans over 270 days.

Real Madrid haven't lost at the Santiago Bernabéu since 4 February 2007, a 0-1 defeat against Levante.
This season Bernd Schuster's Real Madrid has won all six matches played at home. Atletico Madrid, Almería, Betis, Recreativo Huelva, Deportivo, and Mallorca have all suffered the wrath of playing in front of diehard Madridista fans who haven't witnessed a defeat in nine months and eight days. The Whites have notched 13 victories and two draws since their last home slip-up.

Thirteen straight wins
Real Madrid have won their last 13 matches at the Santiago Bernabéu. Seven home victories to close out last season have been followed by a six-for-six record so far this year, making the Madridista Colosseum an impossible place to for opponents win in.

The streak began with a 2-1 victory against Nastic and was extended on Sunday with a seven-goal slugfest which concluded in a 4-3 victory over Mallorca.

The best start in Club history

Bernd Schuster and company are now the greatest Real Madrid in terms of points
Nine wins, two defeats, and one draw in 12 matches. Not a bad start for a Real Madrid squad on absolute fire. Bernd Schuster's team is now the best Real Madrid in Club history -since the Spanish FA began rewarding three points per victory in 1995/96-.

Real Madrid had never tallied 28 points in 12 matchdays, but this Madridista squad has become the best in Club history having done just that with nine victories and two draws this season. Keep in mind that the Spanish FA only began rewarding three points per victory starting in the 1995/96 season. Schuster's squad is also the winningest since the 1992/93 season, when the Whites were victorious in eight of 12 matches.
Highest point total
Real Madrid have notched 28 of the 36 possible points in play so far this year. Last year's squad had only tallied 26 points at this point and was third in the League table. The 2003/04 squad also had 26 points by now and was the leader, while the 1996/97 team sat in second. The closest the Whites came to the 28-point mark was in 1997/98, when their 27 points were only good enough for second place.

... And highest win total, too
The 2007/08 Real Madrid is also the winningest since the 1992/93 season, when they notched eight wins, two defeats, and two draws in 12 games. The only difference between now and then is that this Real Madrid sit atop the League table. Of their nine wins, six have come in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, where they haven't lost since last February.

La Liga Preview: Real Madrid - Osasuna

What: La Liga, Matchday 16
Who: Real Madrid (1st, 35pts) vs Osasuna (14th, 17pts)
When: Sunday, 16th December 2007, 2100 CET
Where: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

It has taken them a while but it appears that Real Madrid have finally found that elusive top gear as they peak just in time for their date with a familiar Catalan foe. But before that, they'll be put through their paces against another bullish Basque side in Osasuna.

Full Steam Ahead

Having successfully negotiated one opponent from the Basque Country last week, Los Merengues will have to try and sidestep another, albeit this time they won't have to put up with the hot reception up north as they return to the safe haven of the Santiago Bernabéu.

Just about a year ago, a Fabio Capello-coached Madrid team were finding their own backyard anything but safe. It became almost unbearable playing infront of their own demanding throng of fans as they slaved away to perform up to acceptable Real Madrid-certified standards whilst struggling to obtain the desired results.

But under the reign of Bernd Schuster, the Blancos have been ticking away like typical German clockwork, dispatching one visiting rival after another without much fuss and playing eye-catching football to boot. The squad have also gone from strength to strength as the season progresses and with the International interruptions out of the way, the ex-Getafe coach has been able to go full throttle to fine-tune any kinks in his strategies, formation and tactics.

Perfect Ten

In the Champions League midweek, Lazio became el Real's tenth consecutive victim at home as a sublime first half performance handed the men in white a 3-1 win. It was a victory that earned them a spot in the knockout phase of the competition as the all-important group winners.

The Merengues did understandably take their foot off the gas in the second half but that had as much to do with the game being already settled as it did with the double substitution at the break.

Neither Schuster nor the Bernabéu faithful would mind too much if the players can churn out a repeat by killing off the tie against Osasuna as early as possible to avoid any injuries or silly red cards to their key players in a game that could very well turn out to be volatile and combative.

But after returning from Bilbao last week with three points in the bag and the players fairly unscathed - other than a bump or two on keeper Iker Casillas' head and a few smashed windows on the team bus - this by comparison should be a straightforward, routine encounter for Schuster's troops.

Next stop in La Liga: Camp Nou.

Osasuna In No Man's Land

In contrast to their glamorous opponents, Osasuna haven't quite found the gas pedal yet this season. After notching up their highest ever league finish in 4th place in the 2005/06 season and following it up the next term with a spectacular run to the semi-finals of the UEFA Cup, pundits were expecting the Basque outfit to continue improving and rising up the ranks in La Liga.

But things appear to have gone backwards slightly for Los Rojillos. Instead of challenging for a spot in Europe next season, Cuco Ziganda's side have been bouncing about in no man's land all season long: flirting precariously just above the relegation zone and at no point have they come close to breaking into the top ten.

Unexpected defeats to the likes of Almería, Recreativo and Getafe have pretty much undone all the hard work that they put into to grind out a point against Barcelona and three against Villarreal earlier in the season.

The opening weeks of December, however, have been by far their most impressive run. They are undefeated in their last four games; games that included well earned draws against Sevilla and Valencia in la Primera and a victory over Mallorca in the Copa del Rey in midweek.

Their biggest test of the month will undoubtedly be on Sunday when they head south to the capital to face the reigning league champions who have scored no less than three goals per game in their last five home fixtures.

FORM GUIDE

Real Madrid

Match Result Date Championship
Real Madrid - Lazio 3 - 1 11/12/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Athletic Bilbao - Real Madrid 0 - 1 08/12/2007 LA LIGA
Real Madrid - Racing 3 - 1 01/12/2007 LA LIGA
SV Werder Bremen - Real Madrid 3 - 2 28/11/2007 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
Murcia - Real Madrid 1 - 1 24/11/2007 LA LIGA
Real Madrid - Mallorca 4 - 3 11/11/2007 LA LIGA

Osasuna

Match Result Date Championship
Osasuna - Valencia 0 - 0 08/12/2007 LA LIGA
Osasuna - Sevilla 1 - 1 05/12/2007 LA LIGA
Deportivo - Osasuna 1 - 2 02/12/2007 LA LIGA
Osasuna - Espanyol 1 - 2 25/11/2007 LA LIGA
Recreativo - Osasuna 1 - 0 11/11/2007 LA LIGA
Osasuna - Getafe 0 - 2 04/11/2007 LA LIGA

TEAM NEWS

Real Madrid

Christoph Metzelder continues to recuperate from a foot ailment while Javier Balboa is still sidelined with a sprained left knee and both will be omitted from the squad.

Dutch winger Arjen Robben suffered a relapse of his muscle injury on Thursday and he has been promptly put on an intensive physiotherapy session. Although the setback is not expected to be serious, he has been deemed highly doubtful to feature this Sunday, but Gabriel Heinze could be back in contention after making a full recovery from a bruised knee.

With no further injuries and suspensions, Schuster is likely to stick to the same eleven that overcame Lazio, although the German could once again choose to alternate between Miguel Torres and Marcelo at leftback.

Probable Starting XI (4-3-3): Casillas - Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro, Marcelo/Torres - Sneijder, Diarra, Baptista - Robinho, Raul ©, van Nistelrooy

Osasuna

Ludovic Delporte has recovered from a toe infection and after making a brief appearance on Wednesday in the Copa del Rey, he will contest with Hugo Viana for a place in midfield.

Josetxo, Igotz Garde, and José Izquierdo are all out of action due to various injury woes but centreback Cesar Cruchaga should shrug off a niggle on his left thigh in time to make the squad. Java Nekounam remains on the long term casualty list at least until February as he continues his rehabilitation from surgery on a ruptured right knee.

Ex-Madrid midfielders Javi García and Juanfran are ineligible to play against their former club due to a clause in their contract.

Probable Starting XI (4-1-4-1): Ricardo - Azpilicueta, Cruchaga, Miguel Flaño, Corrales - Puñal © - Plašil, Font, Viana/Delporte, Vela - Portillo/Dady

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Madrid - Iker Casillas

It's difficult to single out one or two of Madrid's stars for special attention when they are all in full flight. But when truly and literally in full flight, hardly anyone comes close to Casillas. After his superhuman heroics at Bilbao last week was followed up with an extraordinary double save late in the game against Lazio, fans will be as eager to see Iker's acrobatics as much as Raúl, Robinho and co. strutting their stuff at the other end.

Osasuna - Javier Portillo

Even though his place in the starting line-up is not assured, one thing for certain is that the ex-Madrid starlet will be more motivated and driven than ten of his other teammates in their attempt to sink the champions. Even if the rojillos fail to leave the capital with any points, Portillo would be more than happy if he can get on the scoresheet at the Bernabéu.

PREDICTION

Osasuna may provide plenty of physical pressure but judging by Madrid's spirited performance in Bilbao a week ago and the rampant dismantling of Lazio in midweek, it would take a brave man to bet against the hosts recording their eleventh straight home win.

The capital giants have won five of their last six encounters against the Navarrans and a victory on Sunday will confirm Schuster's side as the winter "champions", regardless of what happens at the Nou Camp.

Real Madrid 3-1 Osasuna

Almeria 2-0 Real Madrid

The Whites lose against a great Almeria, but continue leading the table

Almeria's stadium is a tough venue to play in, and the team itself knows how to stand its ground against any rival. Despite their defeat tonight, Real Madrid continue being leaders with a seven point-lead over the runners-up.

Almeria deserve to remain in the First Division. They already proved their quality at the Bernabéu on Matchday 3 and, four months later, they defeated Real Madrid on their turf.
Diarra returned to the Whites' starting line-up in midfield replacing Gago, who was suspended for the game. Sneijder took Baptista's place. The rest of the team were the same players who faced Villarreal last weekend.

The first dangerous chances for both sides came in the first ten minutes after a period of time in which both teams were rather inefficient in midfield. Raúl was the first to have a go, with an amazing lob from the right wing on the 5-minute mark. Former Madridista Negredo and Juan Ortiz began to siege Iker Casillas' goal with several chances, one of which resulted in a goal after Cannavaro bumped into Negredo, fell, and a shot was efficiently taken by Juanito (16'). Iker reached the ball with an amazing stretch, but it had already gone over the goal-line.

Almeria grow strong
Pressure on Guti prevented Real Madrid's game to flow smoothly, but they still had chances, esppecially from set-pieces and in counterattacks. Van Nistelrooy came close to drawing the match from a corner by Guti, but keeper Alves grabbed the ball (21'). The Whites' clearest chance came four minutes later when Robinho passed the ball to Sergio Ramos. The defender ran with all his might diagonally towards the goal, but clashed with Alves right outside the box. A free-kick was awarded and Guti missed the top right corner of the goal by inches with a beautifully curved shot.

The second half had a bad start for Real Madrid. Negredo was pushed inside the area by Cannavaro and scored from the penalty that was awarded (1'). Van Nistelrroy had been replaced by Higuaín at the start of the last 45 minutes because he had received a hard blow from one of the locals' defenders at the end of the first half.

The Whites don't react
Schuster's men tried with all their might to turn around the score, but their hearts ruled over their minds. Baptista replaced Salgado, widening the team's scope on the pitch and bringing more speed to its game. Balboa also came on, pulling off the most dangerous chance Real Madrid enjoyed in the entire second half, crossing the ball into the box for Raúl to head in, but Alves once again saved the day for Almeria (55').

Minutes went by and Real Madrid still didn't find a way to score, while the locals wanted even more. Baptista had one of the Madridistas' last chances with a shot from just outside the box on the 87-minute mark, but the ball grazed past the post. In the end, Almeria once again stood their ground firmly against an opponent at their stadium and Real Madrid will now have to think about defeating Valladolid next weekend.

MATCH REPORT
2 - ALMERIA: Diego Alves, Bruno, Carlos García, Pulido, Mané, Juanito, Felipe Melo, Juanma Ortiz (Soriano, 80’), Corona (Ortiz, 64’) Negredo (Uche, 78’) & Crusat,
0 - REAL MADRID: Casillas, Salgado (Baptista, 63’), Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Torres, Sneijder (Balboa, 74’), Guti, Diarra, Robinho, Raúl & Van Nistelrooy (Higuaín, 45’).
GOALS:
1-0: (15') Juanito.
2-0: (46') Negredo.
REFEREE: Clos Gómez. Booked Sergio Ramos (15’), Casillas (25’), Sneijder (44’), Guti (74’), Felipe Melo (24’), Diego Alves (25’) and Soriano (87’).
HIGHLIGHTS: Matchday 22 of the Spanish League. Real Madrid wore black arm-bands in mourning for the death of Uli Stielike's son, who passed away on Thursday. Almeria's and Real Madrid's players held a banner supporting Juanma, a three-year old boy from Almería who has a degenerative illness. Attendance: 21,300. One minute's silence was held in memory of Isabel Mª Robles.

Player Ratings: Real Madrid - Real Valladolid

Goal.com's Miguel Velasco rates the performances in Real Madrid's smashing 7-0 win against Real Valladolid.

REAL MADRID

Iker Casillas - 7: Was playing with an injured hand, but made a couple of very important early saves to keep Real Madrid in it during the first fifteen minutes.

Michel Salgado - 6: Had a poor start as Valladolid found way too much space on their left, but like the rest of the team, he came into his own once Madrid took the lead.

Fabio Cannavaro - 6.5: Started nervously after his Almeria nightmare, but grew into the game. A much improved display.

Sergio Ramos - 8: Rock solid. Covered for Cannavaro and Salgado's lapses, bailed Casillas out on a couple of occasions. A real pity he will not feature in this game's highlights package.

Marcelo - 6: The Brazilian had some good moments during the game, showing that he has the potential to be the next Roberto Carlos. However, he failed to answer some questions defensively, and must improve on that front.

Fernando Gago - 6: Was somewhat overshadowed by those around him, but still put in a solid midfield display, quickly giving the ball to those who could do the damage.

Guti - 8.5: When he gets it right, there are few who can produce more sublime football than him. The striker-turned-midfielder had two superbly taken goals to show for a quality display.

Julio Baptista - 8: The man who started it all with a goal that brought back memories of the one he scored against Barcelona. Burst through from midfield and unleashed a clinical finish, just when Real Madrid were threatening to concede. Was a constant menace, and worked hard to free up his teammates.

Robinho - 6.5: Had some impressive moments, but was sadly injured and unable to celebrate Madrid's biggest win of the season.

Arjen Robben - 9: He has barely featured this season, but timed his return to form to perfection, putting on a five star display for Real Madrid just when their squad was beginning to look threadbare.

Raul - 8.5: A classy display up front in the absence of Ruud van Nistelrooy. Led the team from the front, in every sense of the term.

Subs: Drenthe: 7, Diarra: 6.5; Soldado N.A.

REAL VALLADOLID

Serjio Asenjo - 5: Could have done nothing to prevent six of the seven that went past him, but he must bear the brunt of his team's defensive collapse.

Pedro Lopez - 3: Was absolutely clueless on Valladolid's right as anyone and everyone went past him.

Rafa - 5: The best of the back four, which isn't saying much. He still allowed Baptista through for the first, and was at fault for Robben's goal as well.

Garcia Calvo - 4: Struggled against Raul throughout the game. What is surprising is that seven goals were scored, and none of Valladolid's defenders even picked up a booking. Whatever happened to fouling your opponents!

Marcos - 3: Was run ragged by Robben, Robinho and later Drenthe, dragged out of position as his opponents swapped position.

Vivar Dorado - 6: Tried to do the best he could as everything fell apart around him. There was simply too much to do. Kept working until the final minute.

Alvaro Rubio - 4: Missing in action. Left his teammates with plenty to cover. Failed to do anything to limit Guti's movements.

Sisi - 7: The 21-year-old was perhaps Valladolid's best player, working hard to create chances whenever his team got the ball through to him. Tormented the Madrid defenders, particularly during the first 15 minutes, with his creativity.

Jose Capdevila - 6: Combined well with Sisi whenever Valladolid went on the attack, but did not do enough to win the ball back for his team.

Victor - 5.5: Made an impact early on, causing some problems for Cannavaro, but faded away as the game progressed.

Joseba Llorente - 5.5: The result could have been a lot different if the Basque striker had put away even one of his two early chances. He will be left to wonder: what if.

Subs: Oscar Sanchez: 6.5; Borja: 6; Jonathan Sesma: 6

Miguel Velasco

Real Madrid 7-0 Valladolid

The Whites win in convincing fashion and are eight points clear of second place

There was cause for celebration at the Santiago Bernabéu on Sunday, and no better reasons to party than an absolute goalfest. Guti, Raúl, Baptista, Robben... each and every player contributed his two cents in leading Real Madrid to a very important victory. The point cushion is now back to eight, and any concerns and doubts raised following last week's defeat against Almería have quickly been dispelled. The Bernabéu hasn't witnessed its team lose in over a year.

The anniversary being celebrated in the Santiago Bernabéu this Sunday deserved a great party. Completing one full year without losing at home was more than enough reason for Bernd Schuster to unleash the lions against Real Valladolid. More than 365 days have past since a visiting team has left the Madridista stadium with three points in hand. Many successful matchdays which first led to last season's league title and now have the Whites sitting on an eight-point cushion in Primera Division. One year of victories deserved one scintillating drubbing.

The stadium scoreboards went haywire in the first half with five goals by Real Madrid, who continue commanding with an iron fist and capitalizing on every opportunity they get. Tonight's victim was Real Valladolid, who never surrendered despite the thrashing. The recently-promoted side displayed courage, fighting spirit, and tremendous potential. Sisi and Llorente were their two primary threats in the first half and both tested Iker Casillas on more than one occasion. The experienced defense also looked organized and provoked five offside calls in the first 45 minutes alone.
But tonight was Real Madrid's night. Well aware that they could regain a significant lead in the table, the Whites kicked into high gear and immediately went in for the kill. Robinho created the first opportunity with a low shot that clipped Asenjo's post. One minute later, Robben trapped the ball at the top of the box and slipped it through to Baptista, who buried the first of the night (min. 10).

Break out the champagne
Robinho retired on the quarter-hour mark and was substituted by Drenthe, who was one of the most active players all night. Despite their deficit, Valladolid continued attacking with the same boldness displayed in the opening minutes.

The visitors allowed so much open space that it was only a matter of time before the goals began raining down. Four in fifteen minutes, in fact. It was the captain's turn. Raúl received a pass from Guti -his eighth assist on the year- inside the box, dribbled around the charging keeper, and put the right-footed shot into the back of the net for his tenth in league play (min.30). Only two minutes had ticked off the clock when Guti -ninth assist- found Robben in full stride and on his way to his first league goal with Real Madrid (min. 32).

Plenty of time remained for Madrid to increase the lead. The fourth was scored from the penalty spot after Baptista was tackled by Asenjo (min. 38). Raúl was given the task of taking the kick and slipped it between the keeper and the right post. In the final minute before halftime, Guti capped off his brilliant performance with a goal of his own following a long pass by Drenthe from the right wing. The players made their way to the dressing room amid a standing ovation from the Bernabéu.

The party rolls on
Five goals to close out the first party and maximum concentration to begin the second. A mistake by Iker Casillas forced Míchel Salgado to intervene between the posts to keep the clean sheet intact. Guti kept the party alive with his second goal of the night. The midfielder received a Robben pass at the top the box and the ensuing strike careened off the post and in (min. 62).

Sergio Ramos and Gago were replaced by Diarra and Soldado, but Valladolid couldn't stop the bleeding. The seventh of the night was hammered home by Drenthe, who had little trouble finishing off another Guti pass (min. 79).


A match for the history books. Real Madrid have tallied eleven 7-0 victories in the Santiago Bernabéu, the last against Las Palmas in 2001/02. Seven goals which help increase the distance between the Whites and their closest pursuers. Seven goals which tighten Madrid's hold on the top spot in the table.

MATCH SUMMARY:
REAL MADRID: Casillas, Míchel Salgado, Sergio Ramos (Diarra, 57’), Cannavaro, Marcelo, Robinho (Drenthe, 15’), Gago (Soldado, 74’), Guti, Robben, Baptista, and Raúl.
REAL VALLADOLID: Asenjo, Marcos, García Calvo, Rafa, Pedro López, Álvaro Rubio, Vivar Dorado, Capdevila (Óscar Sánchez, 57’), Víctor (Borja, 45’), Sisi (Sesma, 72’), and Llorente.
GOALS:
1-0, (Min. 9) Baptista
2-0, (Min. 30) Raúli
3-0, (Min. 32) Robben
4-0, (Min. 38) Raúl
5-0, (Min. 44) Guti
6-0, (Min. 62) Guti
7-0, (Min. 79) Drenthe.
REFEREE: Ramírez Domínguez. Booked Sergio Ramos (22’) and Asenjo (38’)
NOTES: La Liga Matchday 23 played at the Santiago Bernabéu

www.realmadrid.com

Real Madrid Too Much For Sorry Sevilla
Real Madrid 3 - 1 Sevilla

A much-improved performance from the Bernabeu men saw them re-establish a six point gap at the top of the Liga as they overcame Sevilla...

Madrid took advantage of some over-adventurous play from Sevilla, as well as some fine buildup of their own, to run out deserved 3-1 winners.

There were a few scary moment for home coach Bernd Schuster, who at times must have envisioned a repeat of last week's debacle against Valencia, but overall Madrid had enough to pick up all three points.

First Half

Both sides started brightly on the flanks, but it was Madrid that drew first blood.

With Arjen Robben in full flight down the left, Crespo pulled him back - earning a yellow card and a free-kick for his troubles.

The deep free kick came in, and with a couple of players offside, Gabriel Heinze - himself just on - snuck through the shocked Sevilla defence to head past Palop.

It should have been 2-0 minutes later. Robben, again looking active, played Guti down the right flank on the counter-attack, but the playmaker dithered slightly too long on the edge of the box before David Prieto slid in with a fine saving tackle.

Sevilla were having trouble stamping their authority on the game, although there was the lingering sense that a second goal was required to make things safe.

The visitors' defence was porous enough to provide yet more chances as the back four began to look overrun. Sergio Ramos played Higuain through 24 minutes in on goal, but he was muscled off the ball when he should have shot. The ball broke to Raul, but Palop got down low to save, and then did the same again for Guti.

It was exhausting stuff, and it was even moreso a minute later when Robben - having left his injury behind him - weaved his way down the left flank before seeing his shot charged down for a corner.

Seconds after that, Higuain showed some skill down the right to play the ball across goal for Raul, but Palop was off his line quickly to snuff out the danger.

However, Sevilla had their chances, too. Gabriel Heinze had to come to the rescue after Kanouté and Fabiano carved out a fine chance at the other end, only for the Argentine to slide in and snuff out the chance.

Sevilla boss Manolo Jiménez clearly felt that change was needed, and Crespo - who had laboured against the effervescent Robben - was swiftly withdrawn for Jesus Navas, and this seemed to perk the visitors up a bit.

Still, it came as a massive shock to the dominant home side when Sevilla equalised. Almost inevitably, it came from Fredi Kanouté, who poked the ball home from close range after Mosquera tipped on a clearance in his direction after Daniel Alves' deep free-kick.

But the silence in the stands didn't last for long as Raul made it 16 for the season almost straight from kick-off. Again the set-up ame from Sneijder, who hefted the ball above Adriano for captain marvel Raul to hammer in a volley.

Navas fired in a shot straight at Casillas just before the break, but Madrid were to hold the advantage heading into the second half.

Second Half

They almost threw it away, though, as Cannavaro inexplicably failed to meet a simple cross, allowing Kanouté sight at goal. However, the Malian, amazed by his good luck, tripped over the bar.

Then Heinze was easily turned by Fabiano, who unleashed a goalward shot, but the Argentine recovered brilliantly to block the effort.

At the other end, Higuain found himself presented with a golden chance after Guti squared the ball across goal, but he slid just short of it.

And then came a great through ball that saw him put one-on-one, only to fire straight at Palop. The ball arrived back at Gonzalo's feet, only for Palop to rise and deny him again.

This sort of profligacy was always apt to cost Madrid, given that they've failed to hold onto leads at home already in recent weeks, and coach Bernd Schuster, while no doubt delighted with the build-up, would have been furious with the final product - not to mention defensive lapses.

Sevilla coach Manolo Jiménez, meanwhile, would have much the same concerns, but with less to lose, his side were beginning to play without nerves.

However, that was to cost them as yet again they were torn up on the flanks, and this time even Higuain couldn't miss. Sneijder sent a pinpoint ball out wide for Guti, who in turn was able to play it across goal to the far post. There was Higuain, who slid in with confidence to net.

Madrid looked the better side after that, with only a dodgy clearance from Gago and some stand-off defending allowing Keita and Kanoute to have chances, but the first went over and Casillas was the equal of the second.

Overall, then, the home side ran down the clock in relative comfort in front of their own fans - and how often can we say that?