Valencia 2 – Real Madrid 3, Game Recap – Karma likes merengues….

By El Maestro and von Doom

Games like this are why soccer is the greatest sport on earth. Although it wasn’t a brilliant game, Madrid left it all out on the field against a Valencia side who fought to make a statement that they can compete for the La Liga title. The game started with Valencia coming out biting the first five minutes trying to make things uncomfortable, but then eased up and sat back as Madrid began to play with the possession of the ball.  Real Madrid came out with a trivote in the center of the midfield with el senor (Xabi) in the “4” running the attack and Lass and Khedira lined up on the right and left respectively.    Faced with Valencia’s relentless pressure to start the game Real Madrid struggled to break through the Che defense, the wave of pressure culminating in a Dani Parejo header in the 7th minute that was ably blocked by Sergio Ramos with his head.   Just devastating stuff.   After this sequence, it seemed that Real Madrid got its bearings and Xabi started to put his seal on the match, effectively taking over the match for the remainder of the first half with Lass and Khedira ably nullifying the Valencia midfield.

Lass was especially devastating in the first half, showing an offensive dimension that is rarely seen from the French enforcer.  He had a penetrating run in the 11th minute across the center of the field into the box which drew two defenders and was followed by a sublime pass to CR7 who was left open and shot true but was blocked by Diego Alves, only to be followed by an absolute rocket by Benze-crack off the rebound that sailed just wide of the left post.  The sequence was reminiscent of that epic run up the wing and into the box by Redondo against Man U in the 2000 Champions League where he split two defenders deep in the opposing box to feed Baul for the wide open goal.

Jordi Alba "Get OFF Me ! " - Lass is a true "box to box" terminator.

Benze-crack who was a threat the entire time he was on the pitch finally opened the scoring after a quickly taken foul by el senor (Xabi) in the 20th minute, in  a play that was reminiscent of a back door cut in a pick-up basketball game.  The GOLAZO was absolutely sick with a right leg control to left leg shot on the run and in a seemingly simultaneous movement.  Genius aside, the Xabi and Benze-crack combination literally caught the Valencia (defense), the announcers, and the ESPN camera-men with their pants down.

..my goal was really that dope...

After the Benze-crack gem, Valencia was seemingly rattled, and the rest of the 1^st half was dominated by Real Madrid.  Unfortunately Benzema’s goal was the only goal we would see, although he did feed CR7 with a marvelous pass in the 41st  minute that could have been the 0-2.

Valencia coach Unai Emery must have said something in that vestuario because the 2^nd half on the other hand showed a more dominant Valencia, who created a few opportunities, and had Real Madrid on the ropes for the first fifteen minutes of the second half.  The game took on a brutal turn as the referee Teixeira Vitienes handed out something like 8 yellow cards in that span.  Valencia definitely came to play in the second half.  It looked like Valencia was beginning to take control of the game, until the 70th minute when CR7 got free in the midfield and took off like a rocket toward goal, his shot deflected off Rami into touch to create a Real Madrid corner opportunity.  Ozil’s cross into the area then allowed Real Madrid to extend the score line after Ozil’s beautiful corner was wonderfully headed by Ramos to make it 0-2.

Que? Que? Who is the best central in Spain? ME! That's who!!

Unfortunately it was an ex Madridista (Soldado) who would make things interesting by scoring a wonderful goal just a few minutes later to make it 1-2. Coincidently, that score line would also last a few minutes, after a divided ball between Ronaldo and Alves was won by “la maquina” who scored a magnificent world-class goal from a tight angle with Albelda in his face.

La Maquina blowing past Diego Alves on route to scoring the third goal...

CR7's goal was so dope.. MOU just lost it and did this to poor Callejon.. !Hala Madrid!

The key to the Valencia resurgence in the second half was the entrance of  Valencia’s Pablo Hernandez into the game in the 73rd minute in substitution of the ineffective Feghouli. Hernandez was instrumental in both Soldado goals, in the first goal splitting the defenders that allowed Soldado to crank it home with an absolute cannon blast and for the second when Hernandez penetrated the trivote line and combined with Soldado, who took advantage of Sergio Ramos’ defensive despiste to make it 2-3 with more than 8 minutes to play plus stoppage time. With a rising Valencia side, Real Madrid had to give it all to defend that 2-3 lead and leave Mestalla with three valuable points.

Since no Real Madrid match is complete without a little controversy, this match’s edition came with a minute to play on a sequence where Soldado’s shot off the Tino Costa cross should have probably been called a penalty.  Valencia claimed a handball in the box by Higuain, but the referee decided the ball did not touch his arm. Valencia players went absolutely bonkers, mobbing Teixiera Vitienes  about the handball in the hopes of getting the penalty opportunity that could have tied the game, but it was not to be.  As you can see, however,  the images seem to indicate that the ball hit the chest of Higuain.

Chest-ball or hand-ball? You decide...

Seriously, it’s too close to call.  But three points is three points and we’ll take it.  Karma smiles kindly on Real Madrid (finally!), no penalty is called and Real Madrid is able to hang on to victory after a vicious Valencia onslaught.  This victory allows Real Madrid to stay atop the league table with a mind-boggling 31 points after 12 matches and riding an 11 match winning streak in all competitions.  The other good point about this victory is that it also silences those critics who believed Madrid had not beaten any big name opponent up to the date.

Consider that this Real Madrid is on full blown BEASTMODE.

!ASI! !ASI! !ASI GANA EL MADRID !

They are currently on pace to score 99 points out of a possible 114 points in La Liga.. 3 more than the record-setting Farsa side of 2009 who scored 96 points in Liga.   They are also on pace to score 134 GOALS with only 29 against.. Ladies and gentlemen.. those are some straight JUGGERNAUT numbers.

Key Players

Defense (Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, and substitute Albiol): With stood Valencia’s attack.

Lass: Strong in containing Valencia’s midfield and brilliant in attack.

Xabi: The brains of the team.

CR7: Brilliant performance, brilliant goal.

Benzema: All he needs is one to score.

Valencianista Props

! Soldado Seleccion Ya !

In further proof that Vicente del Bosque is an absolutely clueless muppet, for some inexplicable reason Soldado has not been called up to the Seleccion.  Instead we are made to suffer with Torres’ ineffectiveness and del Bosque’s moronic insistence in not playing with a true nueve.  If there was ever doubt that this dude is a bonafide CRACK STUD, it was disspelled on Saturday.  SOLDADO IS THE REAL DEAL.   He scored three goals (one called back in the 90th minute on an offside) and basically went postal on the Madrid defense.  Now just consider what this guy could do paired with Llorente or Iniesta in La Roja… the options and possibilities are mind-boggling.   Needless to say I am a fan, and hope that his shockingly good run of form is recognized with a call up to the National Team to be included in the Euro 2012 squad.  God knows they could use him.    Seriously  Marques, what the F—K are you waiting for?

El revulsivo que necesita La Coja se llama.... SOLDADO !

Derbi Madrileno  – or is it really a “Derbi” if you always win?

Next week Real Madrid will take on city rival Atletico de Madrid in the Santiago Bernabeu. This season Atletico have been, as usual, unpredictable. Every season begins the same way for Atletico; they sign big name players, do well in the preseason, blow out the first few easy opponents on the schedule which causes fans and journalists heads to blow up like balloons. Then they face a top-notch opponent, get blown out, reality sets in, and then the roller coaster begins. In fact, Atletico is so unpredictable that instead of using the phrase “life is like a box of chocolates” people just say, “life is like el Atletico de Madrid”. Still, just because Atletico is unpredictable doesn’t mean only bad things happen to them, lets not forget in 2010 Atletico won the Europa League and the European Supercup. But those glory days seem like a long, long, long time ago.   Atletico can surprise people both good and bad, but usually bad. Real Madrid will be no different and playing against the eternal rival will be an extra sense of motivation for the players. Mourinho told his players this week not to believe the hype that has surrounded the team and that they have not won anything. That’s the exact mentality Madrid players should have to approach this game because if for one second they believe in this and in Atletico’s unpredictability then they could easily see themselves down in the game. Mourinho will not allow this to effect his players and will make sure they are fully ready to take on Atletico. Of course no derbi is predictable and usually it’s in these games where the strangest things happen. Like in every city derbi, both Real Madrid and Atletico de Madrid will be looking to win not just to get three points, but for bragging rights, although let’s be honest – El Maestro was in diapers the last time el Patetico won a Madrid derby.   In any case, the winner gets the opportunity to gloat at the rival and the loser will have to wait almost five months to get another opportunity to win.

With that said we think we speak for all Madridistas when I say,

!A POR LOS COLCHONEROS!

!HALA MADRID!