The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Real Madrid

  • Real Madrid reserves run riot against Deportivo

    Real Madrid reserves run riot against Deportivo

    Zinedine Zidane’s decision to make nine changes to his Real Madrid team paid off as Isco inspired them to an emphatic 6-2 win over Deportivo La Coruna.

    Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Luka Modric among others were rested following the Clasico defeat to Barcelona on Sunday, with the likes of Isco, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vazquez and Alvaro Morata coming into the side.

    Morata opened the scoring after just 55 seconds, with James Rodriguez doubling the visitors’ advantage soon after. Florin Andone halved the deficit before Vazquez restored Real Madrid’s two-goal lead just before the break.

    James added another, along with Isco and Casemiro to complete the scoring for the away side, drawing Real Madrid level with Barcelona at the top of La Liga, with Zidane’’s men still holding a game in hand over their rivals.

    TALKING POINT – Will Real Madrid’s strength in depth see them over the line?

    Barcelona couldn’t have done what Real Madrid did tonight. The Catalans rotated their squad for the match against Osasuna, but Zidane made no fewer than nine changes to the team that started the Clasico on Sunday. But it made little difference as Real Madrid’s second string blew away Deportivo La Coruna with little fuss.

    MAN OF THE MATCH – Isco

    It’s becoming rather ridiculous that Isco isn’t an automatic first team starter at Real Madrid. Recent performances, including this one, have underlined the fact that he might even be their best player. This was the playmaker at his best, scoring and creating a handful of others as he put Deportivo La Coruna to the sword throughout. It’s no wonder Real Madrid are reportedly so keen to tie him to a new contract.

    PLAYER RATINGS

    Deportivo La Coruña – Lux 6, Juanfran 5, Arribas 5, Sidnei 6, Luisinho 5, Bergantinos 6, Guilherme 5,Gil 6, Colas 5, Kakuta 5, Andone 7. Subs – Navarro 5, Tyton 5, Joselu 6.

    Real Madrid – Casilla 6, Danilo 6, Varane 6, Nacho 5, Marcelo 8, Isco 9, James 8, Vazquez 7, Asensio 8, Morata 8. Subs – Tejero 5, Casemiro 7, Mariano 5.

    KEY MOMENTS

    1’ GOAL! Deportivo La Coruna 0-1 Real Madrid: Real Madrid have taken the lead after just 55 seconds! Morata was played in behind and smashed home a finish to give his team a 1-0 lead. The goalkeeper might have done better.

    14’ GOAL! Deportivo La Coruna 0-2 Real Madrid: The visitors have doubled their advantage and Real Madrid are flying! Vazquez got to the byline and cut back a pass for James, who made no mistake in finishing into the Deportivo net.

    34’ WHAT A SITTER! Morate just had to score that. He had all the time in the world to pick his spot from eight yards out, but Lux made the save to deny the Real Madrid centre forward.

    35’ GOAL! Deportivo La Coruna 1-2 Real Madrid: The hosts are back in this game! Kakuta completely scuffed his shot across the face of goal, but Andone was on hand to control it and finish high into the Real Madrid net. The score is now 2-1!

    45’ GOAL! Deportivo La Coruna 1-3 Real Madrid: Real Madrid have stretched their two goal advantage again! Marcelo gets down the outside, squares a cross and Vazquez finishes underneath Lux with a calm, reactive shot.

    66’ GOAL! Deportivo La Coruna 1-4 Real Madrid: And that should be that. Real Madrid get in behind the Deportivo La Coruna defence, with Morata skipping round the keeper before passing to James, who makes no mistake with the finish.

    77’ GOAL! Deportivo La Coruna 1-5 Real Madrid: And that’s the goal his performance warrants! Isco has been excellent this evening and he sweeps home a finish after a good run and cross into the area from Vazquez.

    85’ GOAL! Deportivo La Coruna 2-5 Real Madrid: He has an excellent scoring record against Real Madrid and Joselu has added another to his collection, getting in front of his marker to glance home a header from six yards out.

    87’ GOAL! Deportivo La Coruna 2-6 Real Madrid: There’s a sixth goal for Real Madrid! The ball is played to Casemiro about 25 yards out and the Brazilian finds the back of the net with a low strike. Lux probably should have done better.

    KEY STATS

    Isco has scored more goals than any other midfielder in La Liga in 2017.

    James Rodriguez now has the second highest tally of goals and assists of any midfielder in La Liga this season.

    ON THE SAME TOPIC

  • Ref gave Real Madrid two offside goals – Bayern

    Ref gave Real Madrid two offside goals – Bayern

    Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has accused the referee of “shafting” Bayern Munich in their Champions Leag
    ue defeat to Real Madrid.

    The Bayern chairman was incensed after Cristiano Ronaldo scored a controversial hat-trick as Real overcame 10-man Bayern to seal a 4-2 win in Tuesday’s quarter-final second leg.

    The holders won 6-3 on aggregate, but Bayern took the tie to extra time after it finished 2-1 to the Germans after 90 minutes, thanks to Robert Lewandowski’s penalty and an own goal from Sergio Ramos.

    Bayern had Arturo Vidal sent off on 84 minutes and the Germans were further incensed as replays showed Ronaldo’s second and third goals, on 105 and 109 minutes, were clearly offside.

    Rummenigge turned his anger on Hungarian ref Viktor Kassai during his speech to the Bayern squad in Madrid.

    “For the first time, I’ve got some sort of mad rage inside me, because we had a shafting. We have been shafted in the truest sense of the word,” fumed Rummenigge during the team banquet.

    “The team was in ruins in the dressing room.

    “It was an unfortunate, undeserved and bitter defeat.”

    Bayern’s coach Carlo Ancelotti has said UEFA should introduce video technology after the controversial quarter-final tie.

    “In a quarter-final, you have to put a better referee, or it is the moment to introduce video refereeing, which is what UEFA are trying, because there are too many errors,” said the Italian.

    – ‘A lot of anger’ –

    Vidal was dismissed for his second booking and to add injury to insult, Bayern’s goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is sidelined for the next eight weeks after fracturing his foot while trying to save Ronaldo’s second goal.

    Chile midfielder Vidal directly blamed Kassi for their defeat.

    “A robbery like that can’t be allowed to happen in the Champions League,” fumed Vidal, who scored Bayern’s only goal in the 2-1 first-leg defeat.

    “They are two offside goals, the bad red card, Casemiro should have been sent-off before me and it makes a big difference,” Vidal added as Real’s Casemiro could have also been dismissed for a second booking on more than one occasion.

    “There is a lot of anger. A game of such high intensity can’t be decided by the referee.

    “When the game went 2-1 (to Bayern), they got scared and the referee began his ‘show’ and then with a man less, it is very difficult.

    “The anger is there, because he made a lot of mistakes.

    “The referee put us out of the Champions League.

    “Real didn’t know what to do, we were always controlling the game and in the end everyone is angry.”

    Other Bayern stars also slammed the ref.

    “A year of hard work down the drain. Thanks, ref — bravooooo” winger Franck Ribery wrote on Twitter.

    “In extra time, we played with 10 men against 14,” said defender Jerome Boateng, meaning the ref and his assistants were on Real’s side.

    Germany forward Thomas Mueller took a more diplomatic line.

    “After we went 2-1 up and with 11 players, we were in great mental shape and then we had the wind taken out of our sails,” he said.

    “You can’t just go home after that and say, ‘things like that happen in a game’.”

    AFP

  • Bale’s fiancee’s uncle admits stealing his £65,000

    Bale’s fiancee’s uncle admits stealing his £65,000

     

    The uncle of multi-millionaire football star Gareth Bale’s fianceé today admitted stealing more than £65,000 as it emerged that he is under police protection as part of a probe into a crime gang vendetta.

    Graham McMurray, 50, of Pontypridd, South Wales, was arrested after the money was found in a suitcase hidden up a chimney in his home.

    McMurray is the uncle of Emma Rhys-Jones, 25, who lives with Real Madrid and Wales superstar Bale in Spain with their two children.

    Today, McMurray admitted the offence after pleading not guilty moments earlier.

    The hearing had been adjourned following the not guilty plea after McMurray’s barrister said his client had now been not been acting dishonestly.

    ‘He was taking money which was gained dishonestly away from his parents’ property,’ Andrew Davies said.

    Ms Rhys-Jones’s extended family were caught up in a feud between a crime gang when a haul of up to £500,000 in cash, watches and cocaine allegedly went missing.

    Three members of the family were hit by arson attacks when cars and homes in Cardiff and Flint, North Wales, were firebombed.

    Bale, 27, was given an armed guards outside a hotel in Spain as details of the vendetta were revealed.

    McMurray, wearing a single gold hoop earring and dressed in a black suit and purple shirt, changed his plea to guilty after denying it earlier.

    His hearing had been adjourned after the judge warned McMurray’s barrister of the weight of evidence against him.

    Recorder of Cardiff Judge Eleri Rees told defence barrister Mr Davies: ‘He’s in grave danger of taking a very stupid step at the moment.

    ‘There’s an overwhelming case against him, and overwhelming evidence of dishonesty.’

    His parents John McMurray, 79 and wife Eva, 84, fled their home in Llanishen, Cardiff, in September when it was hit in an arson attack when petrol was poured through a letterbox.

    An hour and a half after pleading not guilty, McMurray returned to the dock at Cardiff Crown Court to plead guilty to stealing £65,900.

    The court heard the money was found at his former address in Pontypridd, South Wales, but he has now been moved to a safehouse.

    Judge Rees adjourned sentencing for a probation report to be written, and granted McMurray bail with the condition of not changing his secret safehouse address.

    Bale and Miss Rhys-Jones got engaged in July 2016 after he proposed to her on a private Mediterranean island loved by Real Madrid teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.

    The footballer is said to have paid more than £400,000 to rent the luxury retreat of Tagomago, a five-minute boat ride from Ibiza.

    The couple were accompanied by their two daughters Alba Violet and Nava Valentina, as well as other family and friends.

    Bale celebrated his 27th birthday on the island, which can also be reached by helicopter.

  • Madrid Punish Bayern 2-1, Ronaldo reaches 100 goals

    Madrid Punish Bayern 2-1, Ronaldo reaches 100 goals

    Cristiano Ronaldo reached 100 goals in European football as Bayern Munich rued a missed penalty and a red card in a 2-1 loss to Real Madrid.

    Bayern, unbeaten at home for over a year going into the tie, started well when Arturo Vidal powered a header past Keylor Navas from a corner.

    Real created little in the first-half but they were level just a couple of minutes into the second-half when Ronaldo volleyed home a cross from Dani Carvajal.

    Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with teammates

    Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with teammatesAFP

    The turning point for the game came when Javi Martinez was shown two yellow cards in just a few minutes and was rightly shown his marching orders.

    This was the catalyst for some intense Real pressure and only a couple of magnificent saves from Manuel Neuer kept the scores level.

    However Ronaldo was not to be denied and he poked home following a good cross from the impressive Marco Asensio.

    TALKING POINT

    Ronaldo still the man for the big occasion. A lot of criticism has been levelled at Ronaldo this season, some fair some not so. There can be no denying that nowadays he really doesn’t contribute much to the overall team performance. He’s not as quick as he was, he’s not even as sharp with the ball at his feet. Yet there can be equally no denying that when a big goal is needed he can still step up. His 99th and 100th European goals have put Real in the driving seat and he comes alive in the penalty area. Even at 32 he’s still one of the biggest goal threats the game has ever seen.

    Ronaldo - Bayern-Real Madrid

    Ronaldo – Bayern-Real MadridAFP

    MAN OF THE MATCH

    Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) If it wasn’t for Neuer Bayern would already be dead and buried. Perhaps he could have done a bit better with Ronaldo’s second but it was an excellent finish from the Portuguese. Besides, Neuer made two genuinely world-class saves. In the first half he flung himself into the air to tip Benzema‘s header onto the bar and in the second he produced something extraordinary to stop Ronaldo. The Real man found space in the box and smashed it from close range but Neuer stuck out a wrist at the last minute and made the save. In a season where Neuer’s status as the best keeper in the world has been questioned this was a timely reminder of just how good he is.

    Manuel Neuer makes a save from Cristiano Ronaldo.

    Manuel Neuer makes a save from Cristiano Ronaldo.AFP

    PLAYER RATINGS

    Bayern Munich – Neuer 8, Lahm 7, Martinez 4, Boateng 5, Alaba 5, Thiago 6, Alonso 5, Vidal 6, Robben 7, Ribery 5, Muller 5. Subs – Bernat 5, Costa 5, Coman 5.

    Real Madrid – Navas 5, Carvajal 7, Ramos 6, Nacho 5, Marcelo 6, Casemiro 6, Kroos 5, Modric 6, Bale 5, Benzema 4, Ronaldo 8. Subs – Asensio 7, James 5, Kovacic 5.

    KEY MOMENTS

    18′ – BAR! That’s a terrific save from Manuel Neuer! Kroos is given way too much time to pick a cross and he gets it on Benzema’s head. The ball bounces down and is looping into the top corner before Neuer gets the faintest of touches to tip it onto the woodwork. He gets lucky and is able to gather the re-bound.

    25′ – GOAL! BAYERN 1-0 REAL (VIDAL) Oh what a header that is! The first corner is played short and eventually a Ribery volley is headed away and then Marcelo is forced to put it behind. The second corner is met by a thumping header from Vidal and Navas has no chance.

    45+1′ – MISSED PENALTY! That’s terribe from the goalscorer as Vidal smashes the ball miles over. Real will think justice has been done. That is honestly terrible.

    Bayern Munich's Chilian midfielder Arturo Vidal reacts after missing a penalty

    Bayern Munich’s Chilian midfielder Arturo Vidal reacts after missing a penaltyAFP

    47′ – GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 1-1 REAL MADRID (RONALDO) Within minutes Real Madrid are back in it. Casemiro spreads it wide to Carvajal. He cuts it back to the penalty spot and Ronaldo volleys past Neuer. Game on!

    61′ – RED CARD! JAVI MARTINEZ That’s rash, that’s really rash from Martinez. As Ronaldo goes bursting away from him he catches the forward and that is his second yellow. Less than three minutes between the two cards. Big problems for Bayern.

    75′ – HOW HAVE YOU KEPT THAT OUT NEUER?! How on earth has he saved that. Benzema holds the ball up really well and squares it to Ronaldo. He slams it from close range and Neuer just sticks out a massive hand and makes the save. That was remarkable.

    77′ – GOAL! BAYERN MUNICH 1-2 REAL MADRID (RONALDO) Finally Real get the second breakthrough. Asensio plays a wonderful ball over the defence and round to Ronaldo and he pokes it through Neuer.

  • Real Madrid consolidate top place with 3-0 win

    Real Madrid consolidate top place with 3-0 win

    Real Madrid moved five points clear at the top of La Liga with 10 games remaining after overcoming Alaves to record a fourth straight league win.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Karim Benzema put Zinedine Zidane’s side on course for victory after meeting Dani Carvajal’s fine cut-back.

    Deyverson and Edgar wasted chances to equalise for Alaves before two goals in three minutes sealed the points.

    Isco made it 2-0 before Nacho headed home after Gareth Bale’s free-kick had rebounded off the bar into his path.

    However, in spite of the victory which nudged Real closer to their first league title since 2012, this was a far from vintage display by the European champions.

    For long periods their players looked jaded after long trips during the international break.

    Mid-table Alaves, promoted as champions of Spain’s second-tier at the end of last season, beat Barcelona 2-1 at the Nou Camp last September.

    The Basque club will therefore be frustrated they did not pick up at least a point at the Bernabeu.

    With Real leading 1-0, Brazilian forward Deyverson headed wide in front of a gaping net while Edgar stabbed a first-time shot wide from close blank range.

    It was only in the closing stages that Real put the game out of sight.

    Cristiano Ronaldo slipped a delicious pass into the path of Isco to make it 2-0 before Nacho’s header left Alaves to reflect on a harsh scoreline.

    Earlier, Sevilla slipped out of the top three after being held to a goalless draw at home to struggling Sporting Gijon.(NAN)

  • Real Madrid to boost £96million bid for Mbappe

    Real Madrid to boost £96million bid for Mbappe

     

    Real Madrid have made Monaco starlet Kylian Mbappe their top transfer target and are willing to blow the bank in pursuit of the forward, according to reports in Spain.

    Mbappe, scorer of 19 goals for the Ligue 1 side during a stunning breakthrough season, is set to make his debut for France during the current international break.

    And as well as pricking the interest of a number of cash-rich Premier League clubs, the teenager has made Los Blancos sit up and take notice.

    Spanish newspaper AS claim Real have already scouted Mbappe and sees him as a new-age Ronaldo – the Brazilian striker who played for Madrid at the turn of the century.

    AS quote a source inside the Bernabeu as saying: ‘Mbappe is a footballer that at one point could end up being a worldwide star.

    ‘He reminds us a lot of Ronaldo, who at that age dazzled at PSV Eindhoven or Henry when we wanted to bring him to Madrid next to Trezeguet.’

    The report claims Monaco have rejected a £96million approach from a Premier League side for Mbappe, with a summer bidding war looking almost inevitable.

    It also suggests Real president Florentino Perez was in Monaco for the second leg of the Champions League last-16 clash with Manchester City to take a look at the 18-year-old.

    Another Spanish daily, Marca, also runs with the story that Madrid have added Mbappe to their wish list.

    The youngster is currently at France’s training camp at Clairefontaine ahead of his country’s two games over the coming week.

    Les Bleus make the short trip to Luxembourg for a World Cup qualifier on Saturday before hosting Spain in a friendly on Tuesday.

  • Real Madrid face Bayern in Champions League quarter-final

    Reigning champions Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich while Barcelona had drawn Juventus in this year’s Champions League quarter-final.

    Leicester City, meanwhile, will face Atletico Madrid in a daunting tie for Craig Shakespeare’s Premier League champions, while Borussia Dortmund will take on Manchester City’s conquerors AS Monaco.

    Real progressed to the quarter-finals by virtue of a straightforward 6-2  aggregate victory over Napoli, but will face a stiff test against the German giants, who thumped Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate, winning each game 5-1, Goal reports.

  • Ronaldo shows off new CR7 Crunch Fitness gym

    Ronaldo shows off new CR7 Crunch Fitness gym

     

     

     

     

     

    Never one to shy away from showing off his physique, Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo got his hands dirty at the opening of a new CR7 gym on Monday.

    The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has already tried his hand at being a hotelier, and he has now moved into the world of fitness with a new location in Madrid.

    The Portuguese forward was in attendance as he unveiled his new ‘CR7 Crunch Fitness’ gym in the Cuidad Lineal district of Madrid, and he even shared a secret as to how he got his own impressive abs.

    Speaking to journalists, he said: ‘It’s not true that I do 3,000 sit-ups every day. I usually train 4 or 5 times a week with 200 or 300 sit-ups.

    His girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez watched on from the front row as Ronaldo spoke to reporters and even gave a demonstration inside the gym.

    Ronaldo has a number of new hotels, and is now branching out into fitness gyms in Madrid

    Although he is clearly focused on his post-football career with a number of money-making schemes, the 32-year-old surely has a few years left at the top of his game.

    Ronaldo has featured 33 times for Real Madrid in all competitions this season, scoring 26 goals along the way.

    Zinedine Zidane’s side are currently top of La Liga, boosted by their win and Barcelona’s defeat last weekend.

    In fact, the double is still on for the Bernabeu side, given their two-legged victory over Napoli in the last 16 of the Champions League.

  • Ronaldo returns for Napoli clash

    Ronaldo returns for Napoli clash

     

     

    Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been named in the matchday squad for Tuesday’s Champions League match away to Napoli.

    Ronaldo missed last Saturday’s 4-1 LaLiga win at Eibar due to what the club described as “muscular problems”.

    His return was expected after he took part in a recovery training session with the squad on Sunday and he has now been named in the 22-man party for the trip to Naples.

    Fellow forwards Gareth Bale and Alvaro Morata also return for the game in Italy after missing the Eibar victory through suspension.

    Holders Madrid lead the last-16 tie 3-1 after the first leg at Santiago Bernabeu last month.

    Raphael Varane and Fabio Coentrao are the club’s only injured first-team players.

    Real Madrid players and staff boarded the plane to Italy on Monday morning ahead of their Champions League showdown with Napoli on Tuesday night.

    Madrid carry a 3-1 advantage into the second leg thanks to goals from Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Casemiro at the Bernabeu.

  • Benzema returns Madrid to La Liga summit

    Benzema returns Madrid to La Liga summit

     

    Every dog has its day, or every cat in Karim Benzema’s case. The player once dubbed a pussy cat by Jose Mourinho scored twice as Real Madrid comfortably beat Eibar without Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

    Benzema has always had his critics at Madrid and he came into this game not having scored in his last seven League games. The morning papers ran a list of 35 players who had scored more than the French international in the league.

    But without having to service Ronaldo and Bale, Benzema was free to be the protagonist and he scored two and set-up one as Madrid scored twice in 15 minutes to wrap-up this victory before the half-hour mark.

    Benzema needed two attempts to beat Eibar keeper Yoel Rodriguez who saved his first shot but could do nothing about the well-struck rebound.

    It was Benzema’s first goal in the league since January 9 and his sixth league goal of the season; number seven was not long in coming.

    Benzema had stepped-up when his team had needed him most. This was the perfect way to prepare for Napoli on Tuesday.

    Real Madrid had a heated argument in a team meeting before their training session on Friday, according to Spanish paper Mundo Deportivo.

    Mundo Deportivo, based in Barcelona, stated that many Real players suggested that they aren’t happy with Cristiano Ronaldo’s behavior.

    There were no reproaches from the squad towards Coach Zinedine Zidane but there was tension between the players, including the likes of Sergio Ramos, Marcelo and Modric.

    Some of the stars expressed their disapproval at Ronaldo, saying that when he wins, it’s all about him, but when they lose, the other players are at fault.