I decided to go slow on my blog, as i was creating my own website dedicated as a fan website on Real Madrid. With the limited time i am having these days to write i end up writing mostly match reports of the games that Real play and i thought that is a bit unfair with the name of the blog being "World Club Football". Well after the initial dedication, the website has hit a road block of finalizing the lay out and a bit of fine tuning. The help that was extended my friend seems to be far away as he is neck deep in work. I will start with the Real Madrid V Lazio Game which happened on Tuesday. Real were heading the group and Lazio needed to win by two goals to keep their hopes alive of reaching the knock-out stages. Scoring against Real Madrid is never an issue and the way Italian teams are known for their discipline in defense it should not be a problem to win by 2 goals against Madrid. But right before kick off the statistics were something that Lazio would not want to go by.
At the Santiago Bernabeu Real have not lost a competitive game since February 2007, this is including La Liga games and the Champions League. In the Champions League it was a bit more scary for Lazio, Real have only lost one match in the last 26 Champions league. That reverse coming at the hands of Arsenal when Henry scored the wonder goal. The Italians were specially strong in attack with Rocchi and Pandev. Pandev having scored both the goals in the earlier fixture between the two clubs in Rome.
Lazio started cool and organized and almost scored immediately and that would have been one of the goals that they needed to win by as the finishing was not up to the same level as the pass.
Schuster made only a couple of changes and that was to replace Torres with Marcelo and Guti by Baptista. The Beast immediately made an impact and continued his terrific form, pass from Robinho on the left, Baptista feinted a shot, left the defender flat footed, and the unleashed a superlative shot to the corner. The 43 year old Lazio keeper did not stand a chance. 1-0 Real Madrid.
This was the beginning, Real Madrid wanted to make sure that they bury their opposition two minutes from the Baptista goal, a corner beautifully worked out between Sneijder and Robinho saw the Brazilian floating in a cross only for the Captain to rise un marked and head in the second of the night. It was Raul's 59th goal in the Champions League and 11th for the season in all competitions. Raul is a player in Madrid who is re-inventing himself under Schuster and has found his scoring touch again. 2-0 Real Madrid.
Real did not still take their foot away from the gas pedal as they were still pushing for more goals and Lazio seemed dead and buried with some sporatic advances at the Real goal. Cannavaro and Pepe were keeping Rocchi and Pandev quiet and they were drifting wide to see if they could create something from there. It was time for Bernabeu fans to celebrate again as a drifting Robinho on the right side of the pitch saw Van Nistelrooy free between two defenders. The dutch man had the option to shoot with the right and left foot but instead passes it Robinho who was following up through the centre who blasted it past the keeper. It was one of the best worked out goals i have seen the entire season. 3-0 Real Madrid.
The first half that Real played against Lazio was the best 45 minute performance i have seen from Real the entire season. The passing was crisp, quick and the defense was sure of what they were doing. I am not sure what Shcuster told the players and Real came out after the break with no intend to play any positive football and let Lazio dominate plays. The obvious reasoning would be that Real just now needed to walk away with the 3 points and it was highly unlikely that Lazio would score 5 goals against Madrid in the second half.
Schuster gave an appearance to Robben, Guti and Higuain in the second half. Robben seemed very lively and created some panic especially when Real was absorbing all the pressure from Lazio and were concentrating on counter attacks. Robben had a chance at goal when the Lazio keeper made a spectacular save and another attempt by the Dutchman fell on top of the roof.
It was time for the Italians to have some consolation to the entire match and it was to come through Rocchi who made a screaming run on the right beat Marcelo who was not so surprisingly out of position and he chipped the advancing Cassilas and it would have not gone it had it not been for his strike partner who came sliding in and put the ball in though that was his last touch of the match. Pandev collided with the post and had to be substituted. 3-1
A freak hand ball by Pepe in stoppage time awarded the Italians a penalty and a chance for someone who has not seen the game to say "oh that was a close match", Rocchi stepped up to take the penalty, the weak shot was saved by Casillas and he also saved the follow up shot and the referee went for the final whistle.
Real buried Lazio with a classy and polished performance and ended as top of the group. The knock out draws have not been taken yet. This will be starting only in March.
Here is a video of full match highlight and this time with English commentary:
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