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Real Madrid are preparing a bid to sign Inter Milan defender Jeison Murillo, according to the latest transfer rumours from Italy.

The 23-year-old centre-back made a big impression last season in La Liga playing for Granada, and earned himself a 8-million-euro transfer to the Italian club. He has become an excellent defender at Inter, and Real are interested in bringing him back to Spain.

Reports from Italy have suggested Los Merengues could be willing to offer 23 million euros to sign the Colombia international. Barcelona have also shown an interest in Murillo, according to the same source.

Murillo is not the only Serie A player linked with Real Madrid. Italian website Tuttosport has claimed Los Merengues interest in signing Paulo Dybala has increased in the last few weeks, as the Santiago Bernabeu side are eager to bring a striker who can give Karim Benzema some rest. Yet, the transfer would not be cheap, and it is highly unlikely it will take place in the winter transfer market.

Bayern deny Xabi Alonso exit

Spanish newspapers have been speculating over Xabi Alonso’s return to Madrid, but Bayern Munich’s chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has stated the footballer is not planning to leave Germany and they are planning to start negotiating his contract extension. The Spaniard’s contract will expire next June.

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Real Madrid right back Alvaro Arbeloa says the team will win trophies if they show the same commitment and intensity going forward as in the 8-0 win over Malmo.

The emphatic win came courtesy of a four-goal haul from Cristiano Ronaldo, a Karim Benzema hat trick and a goal from Mateo Kovacic. It was Real’s fifth win in a row and brings about some positive headlines for the first time in a while after the defeat to Barcelona last month and being thrown out of the Copa del Rey.

Los Blancos are trying to catch Los Cules in La Liga and take on Villarreal this weekend at the Madrigal.

And speaking to journalists after the game against the Swedish side, Arbeloa said the team would go far if they continue to play their vibrant, attacking football.

“We maintained the intensity that we were perhaps lacking the other day and we have to be happy with our work. This is a really serious Real Madrid side and we wanted to play a complete 90 minutes. We are really happy with the result and of course the fans enjoyed it. With these results the team is going to improve and the fans will definitely help us to win titles,” he commented.

And he added: “What people want is for the team to win, to score goals and show intensity. That is what the Bernabéu wants, for there to be commitment and effort and that is what they saw. We also have players with a lot of quality, and if you combine that with commitment and effort then the goals will definitely arrive.”

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Karim Benzema’s hat trick for Real Madrid against Malmo on Tuesday night continued the Frenchman’s great form in front of goal at the moment and also saw him move up the list of top scorers for the club in the European Cup.

The 27-year-old, who netted a brace at the weekend against Getafe, scored his 34th goal in the Champions League for Los Blancos, moving him up to fifth in the list ahead of Gento.

Ahead of him now after legends past and present – Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Alfredo di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas.

Despite moving up the list and creating some more personal history, Benzema was keen to praise the work of his team mates after Real beat Malmo 8-0. He added that he is grateful for the support from everyone associated with the club after he made the headlines in recent weeks for all the wrong reasons having been arrested in connection with a blackmail attempt on fellow France international Matieu Valbuena.

“It is good for confidence, for me and the entire team. We had a great game. I am doing well, everyone supports me: the manager, the president and the fans. I am also doing well on a psychological level. You can see that out on the pitch, not only with the goals, but also with how I participate in play and move,” he commented.

And he added: “We all did well. The game went really well, scoring eight goals and not conceding any. It is good for the side’s confidence and we are going to continue like this.”

 

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Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro has hailed his team mates for playing the perfect match after Los Blancos demolished Malmo in the Champions League.

Four goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, along with a hatrick from Karim Benzema and a goal for Mateo Kovacic secured an emphatic 8-0 win for the 10-time Champions League winners and will provide a huge boost ahead of an important game this weekend at Villarreal.

Real had been under some scrutiny in recent weeks for abandoning their free flowing football in favour of a more defensive approach. But the old Madrid were back in style on Tuesday evening with a performance the fans can be rightly proud of.

Casemiro took time to speak to the press afterwards and expressed his delight at how events turned out.

“It was an incredible game, pressuring from the beginning and wanting to push up. We always have to do that at home. Real Madrid always has to play like that. Congratulations to the entire team because we had a perfect game. Real Madrid will always be criticised and a lot will be said because it is the best side in the world and demands top performances from everyone. We kept fighting and the fans deserved to see us having a great game,” he stated.

And he went on to say that after much criticism in the press, the players are fully supportive of boss Rafa Benitez.

“We are behind the manager and we showed that on the pitch. We carry on together because he trust in him. Cheryshvev is not having a bad time and the celebration is because we are fond of him. The squad back him and the manager. Real Madrid continue onwards together because we will be stronger united,” he said.

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Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez says he is happy that Los Blancos fans around the world will be boosted by the style and manner in which they beat Malmo in the Champions League on Tuesday night.

The 10-time Champions League winners demolished the Swedish minnows 8-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu with four goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, a hat trick by Karim Benzema and a goal from Mateo Kovacic. Ronaldo set a new record for goals scored in the group stage with his haul taking him to 11 in six games this season.

The win was Real’s fifth in a row and for the first time in a while, for the whole 90 minutes the team played with the swagger that fans are so used to seeing but had been missing for much of this campaign.

Speaking afterward to the media, Benitez said he was happy the fans would be proud of the players.

“It is really satisfying for all of the Whites supporters. We have to use this to strengthen what we are doing even more. We are on the right track and you can see that when the side string together results and play like this,” he commented.

And he added: “I am very happy and satisfied for the side and for all of the Madrid supporters that showed trust in the side. We have taken a step forward, we have won 5 consecutive games and winning like that is very positive. Also, we did it in Europe, with all of the impact that has. For the last few games now the side has been obtaining good results and this is the culmination of that.”

And he said he hoped his team would play in the same way looking ahead.

“I have to try and ensure that the team plays like today for the satisfaction of the Real Madrid fans. I cannot change is someone insists something, nor can I change their opinion. I have to keep doing my work as calmly as possible with responsibility and professionalism,” he stated.

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Former Real Madrid defender Quique Sanchez Flores has called Los Blancos fans to be pacient on Rafa Benitez and wait until the end of the season to analyse his project.

In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena SER, the current Watford’s boss backed Benitez: “It’s just a matter of time. Making changes takes time, and Benitez’s project needs time to mature. Until the season is not over, we won’t know where this project is heading to.”

Flores admitted it is not easy to coach Los Merengues: “This are always pretty extreme at Real Madrid, for good or for bad.”

Asked about Los Blancos elimination from the Copa del Rey for fielding suspended Denis Cheryshev against Cadiz, Flores said “these things have happened to other clubs, and sometimes big clubs also take things for granted and when this happens it leaves you red-faced. It is a problem, but you always learn from problems.”

Finally, the Spanish manager confessed he has Real Madrid in his heart: “I’ve got a piece of every place I’ve been to. A bit from Madrid and Valencia, and also from the United Arab Emirates and Portugal.”

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Real Madrid enjoyed a goal fest that cleared all doubts about their estate of form. A four-goal haul from Cristiano Ronaldo, a hat-trick from Karim Benzema and a goal from Mateo Kovacic saw Los Blancos emphatically beat Malmo 8-0.

The Portugal international became the top scorer ever in the Champions League group stage after scoring his 11th this season.

Los Merengues took the lead after 12 minutes as Benzema converted from close range after Isco had an effort blocked on the line.

Ten minutes later, the Frenchman had his second after heading a superb cross from Ronaldo into the top corner.

Ronaldo made it 3-0 before the break with a free kick thanks to a goalkeeping error, however, as Wiland allowed the Portuguese’s strike to find the bottom corner.

The 30-year-old scored again with two minutes on the second half, as he converted from close range after Isco had an effort blocked straight into the Portuguese’s path.

The Los Blancos star scored two more before the hour mark. First he netted from inside the box after shifting the ball past two defenders. Minutes later, he turned a low Isco cross into the back of the net.

Kovacic joined the goal fest and swept home from inside the box after Wiland had kept out a low effort from Jese Rodriguez.

Benzema had his hat-trick after finding all sorts of space inside the Malmo box and finishing into the bottom corner. Just like during the rest of the game, it was terrible defending from the visitors.

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Rafa Benitez will finally make several changes in his line-up for the Champions League game against Malmo.

Alvaro Arbeloa will return to the starting eleven for the first time in weeks, featuring in the left-back. Thus, Danilo, who has played in that position in the past few games, will return to the right side of the defence. Pepe and Nacho Fernandez will repeat as the center-back pair.

Casemiro, Kovacic, Isco and James Rodriguez will form an unprecedented midfield line, with the Spaniard and the Colombian playing on the sides.

Cristiano Ronaldo will feature in the forward line alongside Karim Benzema, although Benitez could have probably chosen to let the Portuguese rest ahead of the La Liga game against Villarreal.

Jese Rodriguez, Lucas Vazquez and Denis Cheryshev are expected to get minutes of action in the second half if Los Blancos are winning.

Confirmed line-ups:

Real Madrid: Casilla; Danilo, Pepe, Nacho, Arbeloa; Casemiro, Kovacic, Isco, James; Benzema y Cristiano.

Malmo: Wiland; Tinnerholm, Árnason, Carvalho, Yotún; Lewicki, Adu, Rakip, Sana; Berget, Djurdjic.

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Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez has called on the team to focus for the full 90 minutes tonight when they take on Malmo in the Champions League.

Los Blancos almost blew a 4-0 lead three weeks ago against Shakhtar Donesk when they conceded three goals in the final 12 minutes in Ukraine.

Confidence has slowly been creeping back following the loss to Barcelona in La Liga and Rafa Benitez’ men have won their last four games in all competitions – including the victory over Cadiz in the Copa del Rey – a tournament they were later thrown out of for fielding an ineligible player.

Talking to reporters at a press conference, Nacho said: “We need to approach this game as we did the first half against Getafe. We should be as focused as we are for every game and treat each game the same way in order to boost our confidence even further. Malmö will be looking to defend well and hit us on the break. We expect to have most of the possession and come out on top in order to close out the group stage with a win.”

He also revealed he is enjoying more game time at the moment because of the injury crisis at the back and is aware he needs to make an impression on his manager.

“We’re having bad luck but that’s part and parcel of football. I’m ready to go whenever the manager needs me and he knows I’m going to be available. No other team in the world has three centre backs of Real Madrid’s quality, but as long as I keep doing well in training, I’ll have opportunities to play,” he commented.

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Real Madrid take on Malmo this evening at the Santiago Bernabeu having already secured top spot in their Champions League group.

But Rafa Benitez will not be taking the game lightly as Los Blancos need to keep the winning momentum going and hope is carries across into La Liga, where Real are trying to catch Barcelona.

Having been thrashed by their fierce rivals last month, Real have won four games in a row. They face Villarreal in the league this coming weekend and will want to go into that game with confidence flowing throughout the team.

At his press conference, the boss revealed he would rotate his team somewhat to keep some legs fresh for some bigger challenges ahead. Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos are likely to be given the night off.

That means we should see the likes of Kiko Casilla, Alvaro Arbeloa and Jese Rodriguez among those given the chance to impress. Sergio Ramos and Daniel Carvajal remain sidelined through injury.

While it’s all wrapped up for Madrid, Malmo can still qualify for the Europa League if results go their way tonight. They need to take at least a point and hope PSG beat Donesk to sneak into the third place spot in the group.

Probable line-ups:
Real Madrid: Casilla; Danilo, Pepe, Nacho, Arbeloa; Casemiro, Kovačić; Isco, James, Cheryshev; Jesé
Malmo: Wiland; Tinnerholm, Árnason, Brorsson, Konate; Rodić, Lewicki, Adu, Berget; Djurdjić, Eikrem;

 

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