Ruthless Madrid buries Manager-less Valencia

Real Madrid played the first of the two games this week on Wednesday when they travelled to play Valencia at the Mestalla. The second tough game for Real Madrid would be another away game to Sevilla over the weekend. Going in to the match Real were leading the pack in Spain by two points and wanted to come out of both the fixtures without losing 6 points. Did they do better than that and that too in style. Valencia have been in real trouble after the board sacked coach Sanchez Flores after defeats to Rosenborg in the Champions League and a defeat to Sevilla last week in the Spanish League. Valencia had their second coach on the bench as stand in manager. Schuster on the other hand welcomed back Cannavaro, Heinze and Diarra back from injuries. He lined up a different looking squad especially in midfield. Cannavaro partnered Metzelder in defense, Marcelo at LB and Sergio Ramos moved back to RB. The big change was in midfield as Schuster played both Diarra and Gago along with Guti, this was to prove the tactical winner in this titan clash. Robinho, Raul and Van Nistelrooy finished the starting 11. Valencia was struggling with injuries as Baraja, David Villa and Cannizares all out due to injuries. They had former Real Madrid players Morientes and Helguera starting.

Valencia fans hoping for a good start were to be silenced by Real 50 seconds from kick off. Raul found Robinho, the fast move saw Robinho screaming past a slow off the block Valencia and an unmarked Captain at the end of the Valencia box, Raul with a sweet left foot shot scored with a little assist from the post. It was not the last time the post would favor Real Madrid. Real Madrid having conceded a goal in the first 10 minutes of the last 3 games played but this time it was their opponents who were on the receiving end. 0-1 Real Madrid.

Valencia tried to get off the block, but Real with the two midfielders in Gago and Diarra allowed Guti to be more effective in attack and was controlling the attacking moves for Real. Van Nistelrooy found himself in a shooting position twice, once to be saved by the Valencia keeper and then the second time blocked by the defense. There was just one chance from Angulo which was to be the only chance for Valencia in the first half. Diarra controlled the center of midfield beautifully and Gago supported the wing backs for some extra cover.

Raul put in a lobbed pass to Van Nistelrooy and who was under constant pressure from Helguera who was trying to wrestle him to the floor. Once inside the penalty box Van Nistelrooy could have played for a Penalty instead he showed some brute power to hold off Helguera and Chip the advancing keeper and made sure it stayed in for Real's second goal. 0-2 Real Madrid.

Real Madrid moved the ball and the mid field put their heart into one of the best performances from Real in such a tough match. From a Guti free kick Metzelder found the ball and the goal at his mercy but the German slashed wide into the stands, that was the only open chance missed by Real, as they were in no intention to make it a habit and was looking to kill the game in the first half itself.

It was Guti again who found Sergio Ramos near the Valencia box, and the youngster with no angle for a shot, took one nonetheless and the ball ricocheted off the far post into the net. 0-3 Real Madrid at the 30 minute mark.

This was not to be the last piece of productive action for Madrid in the first half, minute 36 and the 3 Rs were dancing around, constantly changing positions in and around the Valencia box. Again it was Guti who faked a shot and then made and exquisite pass to Robinho who fired in first time on the volley and it was Van Nistelrooy who would turn it in for his second goal of the night and the 4th for Madrid. Real players were in for demolition and it was evident after the first goal from Raul that they smelled blood and each attacking move was with an intent to score. The is was evident when Van Nistelrooy scored, Raul was also sliding in, incase the Dutchman missed. 0-4 Real Madrid and it was to remain at half time.

Real looked to consolidate the win in the second half by trying to hold on to possession as much as possible and defending deep waiting for the counter attack. Valencia finally got something to cheer about when Joaquin who had been kept quiet all through by Gago and Marcelo slipped away from the Argentine and crossed in for Angulo, with Metzelder ball watching the striker finished with a superlative left foot shot giving Cassilas no chance. 1-4 Valencia.

If Real had knocked down Valencia in the first 45 minutes with 4 punches, the knock out punch the fifth one came few minutes later. Again some brilliant passing between Gago and Guti saw the Spaniard threading in a superb pass to Robinho who made a superb trick on Miguel and still had the ball in his feet to take a shot and score for Madrid's 5th of the night.

Schuster quickly removed Marcelo and replaced him for Heinze, giving the Argentine some playing time in a comfortable situation. He also replaced Sergio Ramos by Torres for some well earned rest for the superb Ramos. Schuster made the final change by taking out Van Nistelrooy and giving Baptista some time on the pitch. When Real Madrid's finishing and the intent to win has to be appreciated, it was Schuster's tactical change in the midfield that was the key. He first took out Valencia's attacking play through the center with Diarra and had Gago supporting the wing backs to cover the likes of Joaquin. With Gago being a better link player it helped Guti to float around and he almost created 4 of the 5 goals for Madrid. As always when Guti has a bad day he is invisible on the pitch, but when he has a good day he is unstoppable.

Real have put extra pressure on Barca who play Valladolid on Thursday. This is the second time Real has scored 5 goals in an away game and against the likes of Villareal and Valencia who are in the top 5 in Spain is no child's play.

Here are all the goals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHZHcaaJEDQ