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Casemiro
Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro - CRISTINA QUICLER/AFP/Getty Images

Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro says the players knew they had to improve on last weekend’s display against Las Palmas and are pleased with how they responded against Sevilla.

The 10-time Champions League winners scraped past the relegation-threatened Canary Islanders in a poor display that was disjointed and lacked cohesion. On Sunday, Los Blancos rose to the occasion and blew their opponents away 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Keylor Navas saved a penalty for Real, but 26 shots on target and goals for Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez tells its own story.

In quotes published on the Real Madrid website, Casemiro said: “We know that we didn’t play well in the second half against Las Palmas but today we demonstrated something totally different. We pressed high, we played nice football, it’s what we have to do and what the fans expect from us. Benzema, Bale, Cristiano, all of the player are important for the team.”

And the Brazilian added: “We have to respect the fans with games like these. It was an incredible game against Sevilla, they’re not an easy team to beat. We played good football and you have to congratulate everyone. We knew that they were a difficult opponent but we pressed high up, moving the ball quickly, everyone attacking and defending. We have to respect the fans with games like these.”

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Daniel Carvajal

Website Football Leaks has revealed the salaries of Real Madrid defender Daniel Carvajal and former Los Blancos midfielder Nuri Sahin.

Carvajal returned from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2013 and he signed a contract with Los Merengues for six years. The first season he earned 1.7 million euros, and that ammount increases every year as follows: 1.87 million in 2014, 2.04 million in 2015, 2.21 million in 2016, 2.38 million in 2017 and 2.55 million in 2019.

Thus, Carvajal should be making 2.04 million per season at the moment. However, a few months ago, Carvajal extended his contract until 2020 and his salary was reportedly increased.

The contract also states that Carvajal would have to pay Real 350 million euros should he decide to end his contract before the agreed ending date.

Meanwhile, Nuri Sahin’s contract shows that the Turkey international earned 5.4 million euros per year in his days as a Real Madrid player. That amount could have increased to 7.2 million should Sahin have been named for the FIFA World Player of the Year Award.

However, Sahin failed to succeed at the Santiago Bernabeu, where he spent only one season before being loaned to Liverpool and then return to Borussia Dortmund.

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas says the players are confident they can go to the Camp Nou and get a win over arch rivals Barcelona in two weeks time.

Los Blancos defeated Sevilla 4-0 on Sunday evening thanks to goals from Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez. It could have been a different story had Gameiro netted the visitor’s first half penalty with Real leading by just the one goal. But Navas had other ideas and saved the effort and went on to keep another clean sheet.

Speaking after the final whistle, the Costa Rican shot stopper said the players are full of confidence after an excellent display.

He stated: “I give my best in each game. The teammates do an excellent job to help me and this gives me a lot of confidence. When you try hard, things always come. The team is working very well and we have to carry on like this.”

About the clash against leaders Barcelona, he commeted: “We’re going with the winning mentality, we’ve got the quality to get the three points which would give us a lot of energy to continue in the Champions League. We want to go and win and it’s what we’ll try to do.”

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Gareth Bale says he will train at 100% over the next couple of weeks to be ready for Real Madrid’s next league clash against Barcelona.

La Liga takes a two-week break for international friendlies and the Welshman has been left out of the Wales squad for the pre-Euro 2016 fixtures after Chris Coleman and Los Blancos reached an agreement last week over what is best for the forward.

Instead, the 26-year-old will remain in the Spanish capital and work on his fitness ahead of the match at the Camp Nou on April 2.

Bale netted in the 4-0 win over Sevilla on Sunday evening – his 15th goal of the campaign. The strike also saw him overtake Gary Lineker as the leading British scorer in La Liga history with his 43rd goal.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Bale said: “You have to try to improve. It’s a good result and we have to carry on like this, keeping this rhythm. It’s good news to have all the squad available and we have enjoyed having everyone available.

“We knew that it would be a difficult game today, we played very good and we have to continue like this in the rest of the games. We’re working a lot and we hope to give everything in each game. I’m not going away with the national team, I’ll stay here with other players and I’ll train to be at 100%.”

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Zinedine Zidane has hailed his players after Real Madrid’s 4-0 win over Sevilla on Sunday and says the team is capable of great things if they continue to perform like that.

Los Blancos ran out comfortable winners thanks to goals from Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Jese to close the gap on second placed Atletico de Madrid to just one point.

While their chances of winning La Liga remain minimal despite gaining some ground on Barcelona, Zidane said if his players continue to perform at the level they did against the Andaclucian side, they can win plenty of trophies in the coming seasons.

“I’m very happy with how the game has gone from the first minute to the last. As I said before the game we have had one of our best weeks and this is the fruit of our labour. It was one of the best games since I arrived. In the Bernabéu, we have had some great games and this is one more. I can’t say whether it’s our best,” he told reporters at his press conference.

And he added: “It was a difficult game. I am happy with the players’ performances. We are capable of doing great things on this pitch. The players know that. in football all games are different. We must always apply the same intensity and focus. If we do this then I will not be worried.”

With the Clasico up next in two weeks time, Zidane was asked whether he had a clear starting eleven in mind.

He responded: “Every game is different. I will count on all of my players. The difficult thing is to leave players out but that is my responsibility. I always try to field the best team. All of the players are important. Today was one game and we will see who will play in the next one. I want to highlight the hard work of all the players, even those who haven’t played.”

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Real Madrid are now just one point behind Atletico Madrid in La Liga after trashing Sevilla at the Santiago Bernabeu thanks to goals from Karim Benzema, Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Jese Rodriguez.

Keylor Navas saved his team with a superb performances and Los Blancos ended up sealing the victory in the second half thanks to the BBC.

Los Merengues opened the score after six minutes as Bale delivered a super cross into Benzema, who half-volleyed the ball past Rico to make it 1-0.

The hosts had the ball in the back of the net again ten minutes later, but the goal was disallowed. Bale poked the ball home from close range, but the flag was raised. However, replays showed that the Welshman was onside.

Sevilla had a major chance to level as Varane brought Rami down inside the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Yet, Navas got down to keep out Gameiro’s shot.

Real Madrid were in total control of possession, but Sevilla improved in the second half as Reyes came into the field. The visitors had a wonderful chance to level as the former Arsenal man fed a low cross into Iborra, but the Spaniard just could not make a telling touch under pressure.

Sevilla finally had the ball in the back of the net as Gameiro beat Navas, but the offside flag was raised again. And again, it looked like the striker was onside.

In the next play, Los Blancos made it 2-0 as Ronaldo converted a low Danilo cross from close range. And just two minutes later, Bale sealed the victory converting from close range after Benzema had flicked the ball over the advancing Rico.

Jese made it 4-0 with a shot from close range after a mix-up inside the Sevilla box. It was a pretty poor defending from the visitors, who had six defenders in their starting lineup but that didn’t prevent Real from enjoying another goal feast.

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Zinedine Zidane has recovered his BBC to face Sevilla in La Liga. Karim Benzema has recovered from his injury this week and has made it in the starting lineup, featuring alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in the forward line.

Casemiro remains a guaranteed starter and will feature in midfield accompanying Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, thus leaving Isco and James Rodriguez on the bench.

In defence, Raphael Varane and Nacho Fernandez will replace Pepe and Sergio Ramos, who will miss the game through suspension.

This will be Real Madrid’s starting lineup: Navas; Danilo, Varane, Nacho Fernandez, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

Meanwhile, Unai Emery has decided to display a very defensive lineup, with full-backs Escudero and Diogo featuring as midfielders.

This will be Sevilla’s starting lineup: Sergio Rico; Coke, Rami, Kolo, Tremoulinas; Diogo, Krychowiak, Cristoforo, Escudero; Iborra, Gameiro.

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Former Manchester United defender Nemanja Vidic has described Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo as one of the best professionals he has ever seen.

The pair played for the Red Devils for three seasons together and won three Premier League titles as well as the Champions League before Ronaldo joined Los Blancos in 2009 for a world record fee.

Speaking to the BBC, Vidic, who went on to play for Inter Milan for 18 months before retiring earlier this season said the Portuguese is more committed to football than anyone he has ever known.

The defender said: “Cristiano was a funny guy; he liked to laugh and make jokes. True, sometimes he didn’t take them happily but in spite of that Cristiano was great for the dressing room. But he was also one of the best professionals I ever saw. He was committed to football.”

And he added: “Cristiano had big expectations for himself and wanted to achieve great things. That drove him to train hard to improve. For that I respect Cristiano a lot. He is one of the best professionals I ever saw. There were a lot of very talented players but they were not committed to football. They would not give 100% of their capabilities. They don’t work outside of the training pitch.”

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Real Madrid will make a move for Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea in the summer if the Red Devils fail to make the top four this season, according to reports.

British tabloids the Daily Star and the Sunday Express claim the Spain international would be a key target for Los Blancos ahead of a potential two-transfer window ban.

The shot stopper came close to a deal with the 10-time Champions League winners last summer after months of speculation. But the deadline day deal fell through when the paperwork failed to reach the Spanish authorities on time – with Real blaming the fax machine and United over the time it took to return the documents.

In the aftermath, de Gea signed a new contract at Old Trafford to tie him down until 2019 meaning should Real make a bid it will need to be a substantial offer of more than 30 million euros.

United are currently sixth in the table, four points behind Manchester City in fourth place with eight games remaining. They were knocked out of the Europa League by Liverpool this week and face an FA Cup quarter final replay against West Ham as they attempt to salvage their season with some silverware.

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Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane says striker Karim Benzema is focused on the job at hand against Sevilla today after a week in which has has made the headlines once again.

The France striker, already involved in a blackmail case against international team mate Matieu Valbuena, was this week reportedly summoned as a witness in a money laundering investigation relating to a business he has invested in. While there is no suggestion he has done anything wrong, it is another mark in a bad year for his image.

Despite recovering from injury, Benzema was also left out the France squad for this month’s friendly matches, increasing the likelihood he will be left out for the European Championships.

At his press conference ahead of the match, Zidane told reporters Benzema is focused.

“Benzema is okay. He’s focused, in spite of the difficulty of his case. He looks good physically, too. I don’t know if it’s fair or unfair. The only thing I want is that the player concentrates on playing football and thinks about the game tomorrow. I’ve spoken to him and that’s the best thing,” he said.

He added: “We have 22, 23 players. I’m always going to put out the best 11, thinking game by game. Being able to choose everyone is positive for a coach.”

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