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Alvaro Morata

Alvaro Morata says he is not interested in moving back to Real Madrid and is happy in Italy.

The former Los Blancos youth player switched to the Turin-based side in the summer of 2014 after failing to make regular first team appearances and becoming impatient having to play second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.

The Spain international scored 15 goals in his opening season in Seria A as Juventus won the title and Italian Cup and made it to the final of the Champions League. Indeed, it was his goals in both legs of the semi-final that knocked Madrid out, and lead to speculation he could move back to the Santiago Bernabeu.

Los Blancos have a buy-back clause and could make a move next summer. But speaking to Sport Mediaset, the forward said he wants to continue playing for Juventus.

“No way, Juventus is my team and I’m OK here. I’m not thinking about other clubs.

“I appreciate Madrid’s high regard for me, but right now I’m working on scoring and winning everything I possibly can with Juventus,” he commented.
Morata and his team mates have made a slow start to their defence of the title and have failed to win in their opening three games in the league.

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Real Madrid winger Lucas Vasquez says they team can’t be expected to win big every game and will be tested on plenty more occasions his season.

Los Blancos saw off Granada 1-0 on Saturday, a much closer scoreline than their previous three games in which they had scored five, six and four without reply respectively.

The visitors put in a strong performance at the Santiago Bernabeu and frustrated the 10-time Champions League winners, who also had the chances to win by a greater margin.

Vasques spoke to the media after the match and told reporters the players know not every game will be easy.

“Not all games can end with 6-0 wins and can’t all be strolls in the park. Granada kept things very tight at the back. We had clear chances in the first half but lacked precision. That caused us to suffer more than was necessary. I think it was a fair result; we controlled the majority of the game. This is a difficult time of day to play, it’s very hot, and perhaps that can be seen. But the most important thing was getting the win,” the winger stated.

He also went on to express his delight at having made his debut at home.

He commented: “I’m delighted to have started my first game for Real Madrid. I need to keep digging in at training and making the most of my chances. Benítez congratulated me after today’s game as it was my first time starting in the Bernabéu.”

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Real Madrid left back Marcelo says the three points against Granada are the most important thing but the players know they must improve.

Karim Benzema scored for the fourth game in a row, sealing a vital win that keeps the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga. With big games coming up in the next couple of weeks against Athletic Bilbao and Atletico de Madrid, the win over the Andalucian outfit was all the more important.

Talking to journalists after the match, the Brazilian left back admitted it was a strange game as the hosts had plenty of chances to score more but were hanging on at the end as Granada upped the ante in search of an equaliser.

“It was a strange game because we started the game by creating goalscoring opportunities but they also had chances. The first half was tough but we were finally able to score and we worked hard at the back, which really helped us earn all three points,” the defender commented.

The players were greeted with some jeers at the end, with some supporters unhappy with the performance overall. And Marcelo said the fans have every right to voice the opinion.

“The Real Madrid supporters are within their rights to cheer or protest, we have to play beautiful football but what matters most is winning. When the team aren’t fully on their game it’s to be expected that the fans might become a bit impatient.”

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Keylor Navas says he is delighted to keep another clean sheet and the whole team works hard defensively.

Los Blancos kept their fifth consecutive shut out of the season with a 1-0 win over Granada on Saturday afternoon – Karim Benzema grabbing the only goal of the game in the 55th minute.

Navas played his part in the win making some vital saves, particularly towards the end, as the visitors went in search of a late equaliser.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, the Costa Rican said: “As a team we are always trying to do our job well. We all want to keep clean sheets and we’ve managed to do so over the last few games, so we’re satisfied as a result”.

“Things are going well. I’m extremely happy that people rate my work highly and it’s a great source of pride to be at this club. As a boy I dreamed about being here and it fills you with satisfaction to be part of Real Madrid history. The hard work has been worth it and this is the path that will take us to greater things.”

With plenty of praise coming his way at the moment, Navas says he has moved on from the transfer deadline day debacle in which he was on the verge of joining Manchester United as Los Blancos ramped up their efforts to sign David de Gea.

He commented: “It was a difficult situation, but it’s over now and I’m living in the present. I’m here, with Real Madrid, the manager has faith in me, I’m enjoying my football and I have to try and reach my full potential. What I speak to Benítez about is between him and me, we’ve always had a good relationship.”

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Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez says his team was made to work hard by Granada after Los Blancos secured a 1-0 win on Saturday.

Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the game in the second half as the 10-time Champions League winners ensured their fourth consecutive win and made it five games without conceding this season.

Madrid had plenty of chances but failed to put them away, while the visitors made life tough and put in a great performance defensively.

Afterward, Benitez told reporters he was pleased to emerge with a win admitted the players had to put in a shift.

“We knew that it was a potentially difficult game, against a well-organised team who come out on the counter-attack. At the beginning we gave balls away and failed to capitalise on some chances. Then we had more control and more opportunities, and the game was pretty much under control, except for the final stages, when they had to send the ball forward in desperation,” he commented.

Asked whether Los Blancos had underestimated their opposition or shown them a lack of respect, Benitez denied the claims.

“Categorically no. Real Madrid have not done that and I was the first to talk about the potential dangers posed by Granada in my press conference. I said the same to my players, and we witnessed it in today’s game, right up until the end. They put in a good performance, we worked hard and created enough chances to merit the win. They gave a good account of themselves, but we scored the goal that got the win,” he stated.

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Former Barcelona forward Patrick Kluivert says Barcelona’s attacking trio of Leo Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar is better than Real Madrid’s strikeforce of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Barcelona won the treble last year with the so called MSN playing a key role while Madrid’s BBC were left empty handed.

Much debate has taken place in pubs and bars across the world as well as in the media as to which team possesses the best attacking unit between the two Spanish giants. And as he was unveiled as a La Liga ambassador, Kluivert waded into the debate and gave his opinion on the matter.

“For me, Barcelona are the favourites to win La Liga, they aren’t too much ahead of Real Madrid, but they have an attacking trio who, compared to Real Madrid, I think are much better,” he told reporters.

And he added: “I think Suarez is the best centre forward in La Liga.  This year he’s changed his positioning because last year he played on the right win and played very well and scored goals, but as a centre forward, he’s doing much better.”

Asked about the eternal debate as to who is the best in the world between Messi and Ronaldo, the Dutchman said: “Every manager would love to have either of them on his team. I think Messi is better, but what Cristiano is doing is incredible.”

 

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Real Madrid earned a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Granada thanks to a goal from Karim Benzema in a very difficult match for the hosts.

Granada played a good game and were close to savaging a point, but Los Blancos got lucky as the referee incorrectly disallowed a goal from El-Arabi.

Goalkeepers Keylor Navas and Andres Fernandez were the best players of the match. The Costa Rica international has now kept five consecutive clean sheets since the official competition started.

The first real opportunity of the game came to Jose Manuel Sandoval men as Edgar Mendez found space down the left and sent a wonderful cross towards Success, but the forward failed to make contact.

With 20 minutes in the scoreboard, the visitors had the ball in the back of the net as El-Arabi converted a low cross from Success. However, the goal was disallowed for offside. The replay showed it was a wrong call.

Madrid were also very active in attack but Andres Fernandez constantly denied them with superb saves. Before the half-hour mark he spilled a powerful Ronaldo free kick to the feet of Vasquez and got to his feet to make a super stop in the follow-up.

Minutes later, Fernandez again made a spectacular save to deny Luca Modric, who had been set up by Ronaldo inside the box.

Los Blancos ended up taking the lead in the first minutes of the second half, when Benzema headed a superb cross from Isco. The Spanish playmaker seemed to be in offside position when he received the ball, but it was too difficult for the referee to see it.

After the goal, Granada increased their pressure and tried hard to level. Howerver, Keylor Navas put in a stunning performance to save his team.

Right after the hour mark, El-Arabi danced into the hosts’ box and attempted to slide one into the bottom corner, but Navas made a wonderful save.

Ronaldo also had two chances to extend his scoring run and seal the victory, but he was denied by Fernandez first and missed target later.

Rafa Benitez reinforced the defence in the last minutes bringing Casemiro in, and Los Blancos ended up securing three important points in the race to win La Liga.

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Real Madrid take on Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu this afternoon looking to continue their fine recent form.

Following their opening day draw with Sporting Gijon, Los Blancos have won their last three games in all competitions, scoring 15 goals. They are yet to concede in a competitive fixture this season.

Striker Ronaldo is is fine form having netted eight goals in his last two outings and is coming up against a defence that has conceded seven goals already in the league this season.

Boss Rafa Benitez has plenty of selection headaches though. James Rodriguez and Danilo returned injured after the international break and were joined on the injury list this week by Sergio Ramos, who has a dislocated shoulder, and Gareth Bale, who has a calf problem. Raphael Varane should be fit to take his place though after recovering from a knock midweek.

Granada have lost two of their opening three fixtures but have won their only away game to date at Getafe. Midfielder Ruben Perez is missing though with a knee sprain that will keep him out for three weeks.

Possible Line-ups:
Real Madrid:
Navas, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo, Carvajal, Ronaldo, Casemiro, Kovacic, Isco, Benzema, Kroos
Granada:
Fernandez, Lomban, Biraghi, Babin, Lopes, Marcquez, Rico, Rochina, Success, Krhim, El Arabi

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Former Real Madrid playmaker Kaka has hailed current star Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Leo Messi and says he is the last Ballon d’Or winner to have been born on this planet.

The Brazilian, who now plays his football for Orlando Pirates in the MLS, won the coveted individual honour when still an AC Milan player in 2007. Since then, the Ballon d’Or has been won by either Ronaldo and Messi as the pair have spent the best part of a decade breaking all sorts of footballing records.

Speaking to Marca, Kaka said it was an honour for him to still be one of only four Ballon d’Or winners still playing football – Ronaldinho being the other.

“Ronaldinho, Cristiano, Messi and myself are the only Ballon d’Or winners who are still playing. It fills me with pride to stand alongside these great players, and to be the last player to have won the award before Messi and Ronaldo. You could say that I was the last Ballon d’Or winner to have been born on this planet,” he stated.

He also reflected on his time at the Santiago Bernabeu, saying he enjoyed the experience despite not playing as much as he would have liked under Jose Mourinho.

“I always acted very professionally and respected the decisions he made. My relationship with him wasn’t bad. It’s true that there were certain things that I didn’t agree with, but I had no choice but to keep on working hard, and that’s just what I did,” Kaka added.

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Rafa Benitez has played down Real Madrid injury problems despite the recent losses of Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, James Rodriguez, Raphael Varane and Danilo.

“We do not have too many injured players, just those of a large team that plays a lot of games and at a very high level. We played against strong teams during the preseason and we have begun the season with intensity. There have also been international games and two players got injured when away on international duty. We are within the figures,” he explained.

The Spaniard believes his squad is strong enough to make it through these problems: “We have a side with quality to make up for the injuries. Everyone must feel that they can participate. Depending on the players we have available we will use one system or another.”

Los Blancos will take on Granada at the Santiago Bernabeu in the fourth date of La Liga. Benitez believes it will be a tough game: “Granada are very quick, they are physical in attack and are well trained tactically. They are quick on the wings, we must be attentive to their counterattacking and they can hurt us if we are not focused.”

Benitez praised goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who has not conceeded a single goal this season in official competition: “He is sensational, like all of the team who have helped him out. He played a crucial role by making big saves and I am happy for him and for the team.”

The Los Merengues boss revealed Varane if fit to play despite picking up a blow last Tuesday against Shakhtar Donetsk: “I have not decided who will play. He is fit, but our only aim is to win the game against Granada. We have a sufficient performance level to have guarantees going into any game.”

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