Real Madrid vs. Levante Recap

By El Maestro

With Barcelona’s stunning lose to Osasuna the day before, Real Madrid had a golden opportunity to extend their lead by 10 point and put La Liga almost on thin ice. Despite playing in the Bernabeu, the task would not be easy as they took on surprising 4^th place Levante who happens to be one of only two teams to beat Madrid this season in La Liga. Before the game, Real Madrid paid tribute to not just the best-left back to put on a Madrid shirt, but the greatest left back of all time in Roberto Carlos who had the privilege to have the first kick of the ball and was reward by Florentino Perez a trophy for his 11 years of contribution. The game did not start well for Madrid as in the 4^th minute, Levante pulled a shock lead as yet again Madrid conceded another goal at home to extend their streak of no home clean sheets. The goal served as a wake up call and right after the restart, Madrid attacked Levante like if everything was on the line, and just nine minutes later, they thought they had the equalizer when a beautiful pass from Ronaldo was put away by Benzema sticking, but was call off for offside when images clearly show Higuain, who was in the middle, did not touch Ronaldo’s pass. The disallowed goal did not affect Madrid’s mentality who continue going at Levante, but somehow they were withstanding Madrid’s constant wave of attacks. However, just when Levante thought they were going to enter the halftime break up 0-1, a defensive mistake by Iborra, who brought the ball down with his arm in Levante’s 18-yard box, awarded Real Madrid a penalty, which was slammed home by Ronaldo, and left Levante with 10 men. With the score tied and Madrid up a man, it would surely be only a matter of time before Madrid took the lead. That would not take long as in just the first minute of the 2^nd half, a beautiful cross from Higuain found Ronaldo who headed in to make it 2-1. With the game under control, Real Madrid now looked to ice the game, and that is what they would get when “La Maquina” scored one of the greatest goals the Bernabeu has ever seen. From about 25 yards out, Ronaldo blasted the ball that went over the head of Levante goalkeeper Munuia, but had enough bend to sink into the top corner of the net.

A true world-class goal. When it looked like this goal had finished off the game, more sloppy defending allowed Levante to pull a goal back, giving the Valencia side new life. However, that life would soon end a few minutes later when the Bernabeu would witness yet another magnificent goal as Benzema receive the ball on the left side of the 18-yard box and beautifully placed it into Munuia’s opposite side.

With a 4-2 score line, the Bernabeu almost witness a third top caliber goal when Ozil nutmeg a Levante defender to have only to have the keeper to beat, but his shot unfortunately hit the post and was cleared away. This was truly one of Madrid’s best games of the season. A Madrid team with a constant attacking mindset, clear with their ideas, and calm throughout the game, even after going down in the first few minutes, proved too much for Levante. The only down side of the game was probably those two goals conceded, which will not at all please Mou. Despite Madrid’s impressive win streak, Madrid has conceded a total of 8 goals in their last 6 home games (Liga & Copa) since the beginning of 2012, and a total of 10 goals in their last 7 home La Liga games. This will concern Mou as the Champions League tie against CSK Moscow is coming up in two weeks where every goal is vital, especially the away goals. This is something Mourinho is going to have to work on with his team and make sure they improve in this area. Still, the important thing is Real Madrid obtained the three points and now is 10 points clear of Barcelona.

Getafe vs. Real Madrid Recap

By El Maestro

After extending their lead with Barcelona by seven points in the league table, Real Madrid traveled local neighbors Getafe where they would play one of the coldest games in their history. Taking into consideration the game was played outside and that the Alfonso Perez is not a big stadium meant the elements were going to play a big part in the game. The talk pregame was this could be a trap game for Madrid as Getafe is one of the most difficult teams to beat in their stadium and are the only team in La Liga to beat Barcelona this season. From the start, it was obvious both team were not comfortable with the freezing and windy conditions that affected even the shortest passes. Despite the elements, both teams fought through them and in the early minutes, it would be Getafe who would create the first opportunity of the night when a cross from the right put Barrada alone in front of Casillas’ goal, but his shot went over the cross bar. The game would get much easier for Real Madrid in the 18^th minute when a good corner kick from Ozil was headed by Ramos who put it into the top left hand corner of the goalie to make it 0-1, and knowing how bad the conditions were, that was a big goal.

The goal allowed Madrid to play with less tension and in the 34th, they had a great chance to score from a free kick, but Ronaldo’s shot was blocked by Moya. In the 2^nd half, Getafe did not create one clear goal opportunity, while Real Madrid had up to four occasion to ice the game, but they could not get the ball pass Moya who prevented his side from losing 0-5. Just before stoppage time, Madrid thought they had their second goal when a great through ball from Callejon allowed Ronaldo to score, but was called back for offside. With that ended one of the coldest and most curious games Madrid had ever played. Real Madrid had a lot of possession and created many opportunities to score, but it was clear the elements diminished their style of play. Still, it was a hard fought game and three points are three points. Most importantly, this win keeps Real Madrid seven points clear atop the La Liga standings.

!Hala Madrid!

 

Real Madrid vs. Zaragoza Recap

By El Maestro

Coming off elimination in the Copa del Rey, Real Madrid took on Zaragoza, which would see a first vs. last place matchup. Although Zaragoza has been going through rough times, these games tend to be a little tricky for 1^st place teams as many of them may not be as motivated as in other games and last place teams need to desperately gain points and will always come out with all their arms. When the whistle blew, Real Madrid came out strong, but in the 10^th minute it would be Lafita who would open the scoring for Zaragoza after taking advantage of some sloppy defending. More headaches for Mou as this is the 10^th straight home game Madrid goes without a clean sheet. However, Real Madrid continued with their usual game plan, but lack of finishing prevented Madrid from tying. Madrid’s constant attack was rewarded in the 31^st minute after a great team combination allowed Kaka to break free on the left hand side and calmly slip the ball pass Roberto’s goal to make it 1-1. In the early minutes of the 2^nd half, a wonderful counter attack, which was started by Ozil at his end of the field, concluded with “La Maquina” putting it in to make it 2-1. Despite the goal, both teams continued with their tactics, but it would be Real Madrid who would get their third goal of the game after another great team combination allowed Ozil to score his first goal of the season in La Liga and to put the game on ice. Brilliant performance by Ozil who seems to have recovered his form, great game by Kaka, and a good performance by Granero who has been taking advantage of the opportunities Mou has been giving him. Overall, it wasn’t the best performance Madrid had this season, but good enough to give “los blancos” the three points that now puts Real Madrid 7 points clear of Barcelona with their 0-0 draw in Villarreal.

Barcelona vs. Real Madrid 2nd Leg Copa del Rey Recap

By El Maestro

With a 1-2 aggregate deficit, Real Madrid went into the Camp Nou, with all the odds against them, to attempt overturning that score line and book their place in the semifinal. Before the game, many wondered how Real Madrid would play against Barcelona and if the comeback was even possible.

Well, Real Madrid not just proved those people wrong, they exceeded those expectations. From the start, Madrid fought Barcelona toe to toe and were given a golden opportunity to score with just ten seconds gone by, but Higuain sent it wide of Pinto’s goal. Madrid did not overact to that missed opportunity and continued pressuring Barcelona who played with their usual tiki-taka style of play. If Barcelona was the team with the most ball possession, Real Madrid was the team with the more opportunities as they created numerous chances, but failed to capitalize. In the 24^th minute Ozil tried to make nothing out of something by taking a 25 yard shot that took Pinto by surprise and shockingly it the post, but luck unfortunately did not force it over the line. Two minutes later, Real Madrid were given another golden opportunity when a bluff by Pinto was stolen by Higuain in the 18-yard box with Xabi and Ronaldo in the middle ready to receive the pass, but instead “El Pipita” decided to take the shot which was blocked by Pinto and their went another wasted opportunity. Barcelona on the other hand continued with their approach and in the 39^th minute they would take the lead after a run by Messi attracted four Madrid defenders and left Pedro all alone on the left hand side who simply put it past Casillas to make the aggregate now 3-1. Real Madrid still needed two goals to go into extra time, but that would later get even more challenging as just before the halftime break, Alves made it 2-0 by scoring one of the craziest goals you will ever see. Madrid now needed three goals, but they were able to maintain their composure and continued fighting in the 2^nd half. In the early minutes of the 2^nd half, Mou took off Lass for Granero to give Madrid more creativity in the midfield and later put in Benzema and Callejon for more offensive spice. All those substitutions were beginning to pay off and in the 67^th minute CR7 would get the monkey off his back by rounding Pinto to calmly put it into the back of the net to make it 2-1 and 4-2 on aggregate. The game would get even more interesting four minutes later when Benzema tied the game after wonderfully lifting the ball over Puyol’s head and putting it past Pinto. With only one more goal to qualify, Real Madrid went for all the marbles as Barcelona were on their toes trying to prevent Mou’s men from getting that all important third goal. When the 90th minute approached, the fourth official signaled for three minutes of extra time. Unfortunately, the game would end controversially as referee Teixeira Vitienes called for the conclusion of the game as Madrid prepared to take a foul at midfield. Apparently he “forgot” Dani Alves used up one of the three additional minutes while attending to his injury. Despite not going through and once again being cheated by the referee, Real Madrid should not feel disappointed what so ever and should be proud of themselves for this performance. To go through what Madrid went through in the past week and to play the way they did in the Camp Nou is to tip your caps off. While many “experts” are just going to focus on the fact that Barcelona qualified, many cannot deny that Real Madrid dominated Barcelona in their own home. If fact, if there is anything Madrid should take out of this game, it is that they know they can beat Barcelona at their own game and in their own stadium. Real Madrid will not be able to defend their Copa del Rey crown, but at least they leave Barcelona with their moral high and with a new perception of themselves, which is something that will help them as they pursuit La Liga and the Champions League.

Fernando Teixeira Vitienes

Only one word comes to mind when I think of referees like Fernando Teixeira and that word is Villarato. Although Real Madrid missed a good number of opportunities that could have seen them through the next round, once again it was the referee who had to influence in the final outcome. In fact, his performance was so bad, Mou confronted Teixeira in the parking lot after the game to give him a piece of his mind. Three missed penalties, annulling Ramos’ goal in the early minutes of the 2^nd half and later red carded him for an innocent play on Busquets, not adding any extra time after Alves took up more than a minute with his “injury”, and most importantly ending the game the way he ended it. Atop of that, he had the nerve when writing the game report to put down that Alves’ goal came in the 44^th minute when video footage clearly shows he socred it almost in the third minute of extra time in the 1^st half.

Why is that significant? Because only one minute was added to the end of the 1^st half and he let it run for an extra two minutes. Many will wonder why would he do this? Well, since he disallowed Real Madrid to take their free kick at the end game, many would have asked why didn’t he do the same to Barcelona by prohibiting them from taking their free kick at the end of the 1^st half when time was up? So to avoid that question, he tried to make that change thinking that no one would notice. I guess he forgot he was referring Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, a game that is watched by millions of people around the world. Of course since all this favors Barcelona, the Spanish federation is not going to do anything. If they wouldn’t suspend Pique an extra game for violating article 112.3 of the handbook for intentionally forcing a yellow card upon him that would have made him miss last months Clasico, what makes anyone believe they would punish Teixiera. They are just going to look at the report, forget there is such thing as video footage, and validate his actions. Of course this comes as no surprise for Real Madrid. If there is one thing they know, it is that every time they play Barcelona, the referee is not on their side. With all these problems, Mou have had to put in extra work with his players not such tactically, but mentally by alerting them to not fall into the traps Barcelona has set for them. These things have robbed Real Madrid in the past, but the best revenge Mou’s men can have is by winning La Liga and the Champions League after surpassing all the obstacles placed in the way by the Spanish Federation and UEFA.