Wednesday saw the second match in the first group stages for Real Madrid in the Champions League seeing them travel to Rome, to play Lazio at the Stadio Olimpico. It was a full house and a full house in Italy means screaming fans and flares burning before the match and at half time. The same happened here as the game began the ground was filled with smoke from the flares from the Lazio fans. The last time the two capital giants met in the Champions league was in 2001 when the competition had the second group stage format and it was an entertaining 2-2 draw. Schuster lined up a really attacking and interesting formation. He had Van Nistelrooy back from injury, but was missing Robinho. Schuster continued with his rotation policy, with Metzelder and Pepe injured, he partnered Cannavaro with Heinze. This was the first time the Argentine was going to play as a center back at Madrid in his first Champions League match for his new team, he is used to playing this position more at his time in Man U. This helped in moving Sergio Ramos to his natural RB position and he brought in Marcelo at LB. The Brazilian has taken his chances in the team well and seems to have gained the coach's confidence.The midfield was rather surprising, schuster continued with Guti and Diarra, but played both Robben and Sneijder and almost left the Right attacking slot empty for one of these players to float. Raul joined Nistelrooy in attack. The game started well, with Real not sitting back and defending and moving the ball around.
Goals are the name of Van Nistelrooy's game, its all about getting in and being at the right place at the right time. For a free kick set piece from the left side of the pitch, Sneijder floated in a wicked ball, and it was clear that the dutch striker was rather surprised that the ball went through all the men and landed on his feet for a simple tap in. 0-1 Real Madrid.
Lazio came out of the blocks right away looking to inject some life into the game and some noise into the silenced home fans. It was some quiet inspiring football from one side of the pitch to the other, but Real were really holding on to the ball with the majority of the possession, it was on minute 31 that Lazio equalized. Real were pushed back into their half and Real was at fault in not clearing it early. Marcelo could not win the ball in the air and the cushioned pass found Goran Pandev free on the left and finished with a thunderous volley, with Cassilas stranded. The question is with Cannavaro marking Rochi, where was Sergio Ramos? In zonal marking it was definitely Ramos who was at fault. 1-1 Lazio. This is after Pandev flashed over after being one-one with the Madrid keeper and the Spanish number 1 making a point blank save from a header.
With Schuster's different formation Sergio Ramos found himself running all through the right side cutting inside two defenders but found himself in two probably two minds as to whether shoot or cross it for the rushing strikers and in the end it went wide. It was a run with some real purpose but he should have tested Lazio keeper, who incidentally is the oldest player to play in a Champions League match, who is over 43 years old. 1-1 at half time.
No changes at half time and Real were still having most of the possession of the ball, with almost 70%, definitely high for a visiting team. At 61 minutes, It was Raul again with his never ending commitment, the Madrid captain definitely wears his heart on his sleeve and was there to steal the ball in midfield and a defense splitting pass through to his strike partner Van Nistelrooy. The Dutchman one-one with the Lazio keeper showed why he is one of the best strikers currently playing the game, he kept it late, faked the keeper with a shot and once he was committed, lifted it over the keeper. 1-2 Real Madrid.
Lazio was not about to give up and they came back with more attacking football at 75 Minutes, it was the Macedonian Pandev again when he was one- one with Heinze, who should have closed him down and rather with his LB instincts started running back and giving Pandev the space, by the time Cannavaro came in with a tackle Pandev did pull the trigger and it squeezed in past a full stretch Cassillas. It was 2-2 lazio.
The fans went crazy with 15 minutes left hoping that there is still time to get all three points. Saviola, Higuain and Drenthe saw time in as substitutes but with both teams going in for three points it was to remain 2-2, another cracker in Rome between these two teams in the Champions League. A draw in such difficult away games is not a bad result for Real Madrid who head the table with 4 points from two games.
The returning Van Nistelrooy is definitely the Man of the Match. Just as a reminder of how hostile the atmosphere was for a visiting team to Italy, i have added the full match highlights also which includes the stupendous run by Sergio Ramos, a couple of brilliant saves from Casillas and Heinze.
Real will play Recreativo on Sunday, not sure if the telecast is on Gol TV. It was announced on Friday that Ruud Van Nistelrooy will extend his contract till 2010. He joined Real last year on a 2 year contract with the possibility of extension for one more year, but with a splendid year last year with 33 goals in all competitions, 3 goals in two games in the Champions League, and a couple more in league play, Real would want to keep their prized asset. Credit to Schuster to play such an attacking team in an away game, but i am not so sure of Guti's place in such games, its true that he has a killer pass, but there is a possibility as in this game where he was a no show.....
2 comments:
Van Nistelrooy and Raul is proving to be a great combination for Real but i feel if Real doesn't fill few of their gaps in defense, their efforts are going to be in vain.. (my first comments to ur blog ,viv )
Thanks Crunch for your comment, as you rightly mentioned last season, it was all Van Nistelrooy, this season Raul has formed an excellent combination with Ruud. The two other Defenders Pepe and Metzelder have been injured for a while are almost ready to be back. Considering that Real have played some solid defense not very convincing though....
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