The festive season is here and the holidays are around the corner. Lights and Christmas trees are going up everywhere, but for me its been a time where my company does not seem to share the same festive mood as the rest of the world. I am working around my hectic schedule to see most of the games and as many as i possibly can, including mid week Champions League games. Normally i would love to write about the game as soon as i see it so that i have the entire game fresh off my mind and now it is taking almost 4-5 days from a game that i can even find time to write few lines.
All this standing, Saturday it was a treat when Real Madrid welcomed Racing Santander to the Bernabeu. Though Real has a mid week defeat at the hands of Werder Bremen in Germany, they were the league leaders who had won 8/8 at the Santiago Bernabeu this season and had scored the highest number of team goals. Racing on the other hand where coming off an excellent run including a latest win over Valencia and 9 games unbeaten, and the best of all they were the team to concede the minimum number of goals in the league, just 9.
Schuster had to make changes to his squad. He welcomed Cannavaro back to the center of defense and partnered him with Pepe, who has been phenomenal after his return from injury. Marcelo continued to be the first choice at LB and Sergio Ramos at RB. Schuster had problem in midfield as Guti was suspended, but i was really hoping that someone else gets a chance and the coach did exactly the same when he introduced Baptista to play in the attacking midfielder role. The Brazilian has got very few chances in competitive games for Real and this was the chance to shine for him. Diarra continued in the holding role, Schneider on the left of midfield, Robinho on the right and the most successful strike partnership of Raul and Van Nistelrooy.
Real were in no mood to glorify Racing's defensive accomplishments, but it was the visitors who were pushing for a goal and after three successive corners, Baptista justified his inclusion in the team with a splendid defense splitting pass to Van Nistelrooy who found his strike partner with a through ball that was a bit heavy, but the Captain controlled in brilliantly and finished off past an advancing keeper and that too to the near post. 1-0 Real Madrid.
Raul could have tallied his second of the game but was to be denied by an under the bar clearance from a defender. With the goal in Madrid looked really comfortable and had some good passing going on. Pepe and Cannavaro were cutting off dangerous plays to the key player for Racing, the dangerous Captain Munitis. There was someone else in the Real ranks who was having a special day and it was Iker Casillas the goal keeper. We always associate him to be a veteran player in the squad who is now the captain of the Spanish national team, but i remember him making his first team debut as a youngster. He was always an understudy for Cesar till 2002 Champions League final when Casillas got thrown into the action for the last 15 minutes or so and had to pull off some outstanding saves. The same Casillas was making his 400th appearance as a Real Madrid first team player. He made an outstanding save first off by getting off his line. The full house Bernabeu fans literally screamed when he also saved a powerful shot from Duscher.
The action was just getting started but still i could not take my eyes off the TV because of the end to end play. The counter attack started at the left wing when Marcelo cut the ball and naturally passed the Robinho who squared it for Baptista who made the second brilliant play of the night with an exquisite through ball to Sneijder who was in full stride down the right wing. Facing the keeper one-one of at a difficult angle the Dutchman tried to squeeze a shot through the legs of the keeper, but it was saved, he got a second chance and shot at goal, Sergio Sanchez in his best efforts to save it made it end to an own goal. 2-0 Real Madrid.
Racing never surrendered to the pressure that they were under but it was Real who were to strike again. A free kick in front of the D and Raul asked for the free kick from the usual kick taker Sneijder and everyone witnessed something which we are not used to. The Captain hit a sweet left foot free kick that curled into the corner past a diving keeper. Having always played in a team with numerous free kick specialists, this was a fresh feeling for a veteran in the team. He has made one of the best goal scoring starts in his career. The last time Raul had 8 goals in the same number of games he ended the season as the league top scorer with 25 goals. He is currently the pichichi with 8 goals sharing the spot with Messi and Fabiano. 3-0 Real Madrid.
As if it to honor the fight from Racing, Real guard fell and Munitis scored the consolation goal to make it 3-1 and it stood the same. It was a solid performance to say the least from Real and i was extremely happy to see Shcuster finally giving Baptista a chance and the Brazilian performing superbly as well. Even when Guti is back from suspension Baptista should be given a few chances ahead of at least having Gago and Diarra on the ground at the same time.
With Barcelona only notching a draw against Espanyol it was Real at 32 points leading by 4 points. Madrid will be playing Athletic Bilbao next...
Here is a video of the match highlights with some irritating music....
2 comments:
No update on the real barca game.Since you are a big fan of real i came here looking to find a post.Merry christmas and a happy new year
Spartan i know i was late with the posting on the Real Barca game. Please check now and comment.
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