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Lucas Vazquez says Real Madrid can achieve great things this season if the players continue to show the same fighting spirit and togetherness seen in the win over Eibar.

Real had lost their previous two La Liga fixtures and we short on confidence having conceded 10 goals in their last three games. Goals from Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo ensured the three points but the visitors were made to work hard for the win.

After the game, Vasquez told the media Los Blancos were expecting a tough battle at the small but intimidating ground in the Basque Country. He added that while they didn’t pay the most beautiful football, they had shown other qualities that make successful teams.

“They are three very valuable points. After losing last week, we needed a victory like that, one that we worked hard for and suffered to get. We knew what type of game we were going to face. We are very happy with the win and with the team’s play, fighting spirit and work,” he commented.

And the winger added: “The team worked for 90 minutes and we got the win thanks to the quality that we have. When we get clean sheets it is easier for us to get the three points because we create a lot of chances. The dressing room is happy and this is a really long process. We will achieve great things by all working together in the same direction.”

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas says picking up the three points against Eibar was important for Los Blancos to help them get back on track.

Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo netted in the win in the Basque Country to ensure Real went home happy after losing their previous two league games.

The football wasn’t the prettiest ever and Madrid were made to work hard by their opponents.

Speaking after the game, Navas told reporters he was pleased with the win but the players know they need to improve in the coming games.

“We have come through a difficult patch, where everyone had a tough time. We are aware that we have to head out onto the pitch like we did today, and give everything in each match. Those are three very important points that help us to keep fighting for what we want, which is titles. I hope that we continue on this path and that the team can improve,” he stated.

And he continued: “We are all aware that we need to improve a lot more, but this game was important for us. These three points help us to keep adding to our tally, and every clean sheet demonstrates good work from teammates. You always want to be doing well because we have to respect the shirt, the fans and everyone who works hard so that the side can progress.”

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Nacho Monreal

Real Madrid are seeking to reinforce the left-back position in the winter transfer market and they have made Arsenal’s Nacho Monreal one of their priorities.

Sources from the Santiago Bernabeu have revealed the Spaniard is one of the players Real directors are looking at, and they would be ready to offer the former Osasuna man a juicy contract.

Rafa Benitez wants a man who can replace Marcelo in minor games, so the Brazilian can be completely fit and rested for the important matches.

Fabio Coentrao left in the summer and Benitez thought Nacho Fernandez and Alvaro Arbeloa could play that role, but the injury problems the team is suffering have proved him wrong.

Los Blancos have had a few names in their wish-list for a while, including Liverpool’s Alberto Moreno, Wolfsburg’s Ricardo Rodriguez and Bayern Munich’s David Alaba.

Spanish newspapers have claimed Rodriguez is Florentino Perez’s preffered option, but Monreal has recently emerged as another big candidate for the job. Yet, Arsenal will not let him go easily, so Perez will have to make a high bid in order to bring the Gunner to Madrid.

Monreal joined Arsenal from Malaga in the summer of 2012 and has made 102 appearances for the North-London side in four seasons, scoring two goals.

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Rafa Benitez praised his players following Real Madrid 0-2 win over Eibar in La Liga. The Spanish manager said “the players worked hard, intensely, put in a great effort and let their quality shine through.”

“The win came through team work, it was achieved through everyone working hard. The things we worked on came off and allowed us to break the deadlock at a difficult ground as well as pick up three points against a tricky opponent. All of the Real Madrid players played sensationally,” he told the journalists at the press conference after the game.

Asked about their chances to win La Liga after losing to Barcelona last week, Benitez explained “it’s November and there’s still loads of time to go.” “We have a great team and we’re going to fight to win every game from here until the end of the season,” he added.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been one of the most criticised players this week, but Benitez stood for the Portuguese when asked at the press conference: “He got a goal, created chances and worked for the team. He contributed to the win and I was delighted with his performance.”

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Real Madrid are back to winning days in La Liga thanks to Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose goals earned Los Blancos three points at Eibar.

The visitors dominated possession from the start, although Eibar defended well and made things tough for their rival.

Los Merengues had the first chance to open the score as James delivered a wonderful pass into the path of Ronaldo, who had a one-on-one situation with Riesgo. Yet, the stopper brilliantly denied the Portuguese.

The Los Blancos goalkeerper was also called into action as an Inui shot deflected off a defender. However, Keylor Navas made a decent stop.

Modric had another good opportunity as he found space outside the Eibar box and stroke one is straight at Riesgo.

With one minute to go in the first half, Real took the lead as Bale heads home at the near post following a super cross from Modric.

The visitors could have doubled the lead early in the second half, as Ronaldo met a super cross from Bale and tried a bicycle kick, but his effort went wide off the post.

Lucas Vazquez came into the game and had a big impact. The winger made a great play down the right and was brought down by Dani Garcia inside the box. The referee awarded the spot kick and Ronaldo coolly converted to make it 0-2.

Benzema entered the game with five minutes to go and could have made it 0-3, but his shot into the bottom corner was just wide off the post.

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Florentino Perez, Real Madrid president

Real Madrid could face a one-year transfer ban the same way Barcelona suffered a transfer embargo during 2015. A Catalan newspaper has penned a request to FIFA asking that Los Blancos be sanctioned for the same reasons the Azulgranas were punished.

Mundo Deportivo claims Los Merengues have also breached rules regarding the signing of young players. And they also stated Atletico Madrid are also guilty of the same offense.

Barcelona haven’t been allowed to make any signings in the transfer windows of winter 2015 and summer 2015 for breaching the rules on the transfer of players under the age of 18.

Real Madrid and Atletico were reportedly found guilty of the same offense in the summer, but FIFA has not imposed any sanctions on them yet.

Mundo Deportivo claimed that Florentino Perez is doing his best to delay any possible ban, and believe the problems at FIFA following the suspension of Joseph Blatter are benefiting Los Blancos.

Thus, the have called for FIFA to urgently announce the ban, in order to prevent Real from reinforcing their squad in January.

A sanction would be a big blow for Los Blancos, who were planning to refresh their squad next summer by selling Cristiano Ronaldo. Should a transfer ban be imposed on them, the Portuguese would have to stay one more year, since Real would be unable to sign a replacement.

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Real Madrid boss Rafa Benitez says his team will go to Eibar in positive mood despite the negative headlines in recent weeks.

Los Blancos have lost their last two games in La Liga – against Sevilla and Barcelona – and only just scraped past Shakhtar Donesk in the Champions League after almost blowing a four-goal lead.

Much has been written about the humbling at the hands of their bitter rivals last weekend, but at his press match conference ahead of the trip to the Basque Country, Benitez said the season still has a long way to go and there is plenty of time to put things right. He also reminded reporters that the team went 14 games unbeaten earlier on this season and scored four goals in their last game.

“Eibar are doing very well, they’re on a good run. It’s always difficult to go and play there. But the game against Shakhtar proved that when we’re committed, dominate the ball, the players are clicking, that we can score four goals away from home,” he commented.

And he added: “So this is the message I want to put across. We went 14 games unbeaten, we can go to Eibar and show the fans we have a team who will continue fighting. There are a lot of games to play and the fans should be positive.”

With rumours of a falling out between him and James Rodriguez after the Colombian was dropped following the defeat to Los Cules, Benitez denied the claims and wanted to putthe record straight.

“I’m delighted to have a player of James’ quality in the team. My hope is that he plays to the highest level he can, that he scores lots of goals and that we win lots of titles because of him. There’s no problem. There’s a big squad and lots of competition but it’s a great privilege to have a player of his kind of quality,” he said.

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Real Madrid visit Eibar this weekend knowing they need a win to get back on track in La Liga and boost confidence among the ranks.

Boss Rafa Benitez has been under the spotlight in recent weeks and the players were jeered off the field last weekend following the 4-0 humiliation at the hands of Barcelona in front of their own fans.

Eibar are on a three game unbeaten run in the league although they face a tall order if they are to overcome the 10-time Champions League winners. Last season, Real won 4-0 in the Basque Country and 3-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu.

In terms of team news, Real have some issues in their defence which could worry Benitez as Los Merengues have conceded 10 goals in their last three games. Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane and Marcelo are all ruled out. Further up the field, playmaker Isco starts his two-match ban for his sending off against Los Cules last weekend.

For the hosts, right back Ander Capa should return to the fold having completed his suspension. Japanese winger Takashi Inui is likely to start in midfield with Keko having been ruled out through injury.

Probable line-ups:
Eibar: Riesgo; Junca, Santos, Pantic, Capa; Inui, Escalante, García, Berjon; Enrich, Baston
Real Madrid:Navas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Nacho, Carvajal; Modric, Kroos; Ronaldo, Bale, Rodriguez; Benzema

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Former Atletico de Madrid boss Quique Sanchez Flores says he would be interested in coaching Real Madrid one day if the European giants ever come calling.

The Madrid-born boss, who spent two seasons at the Santiago Bernabeu during his playing career in the mid-90’s, is currently in charge of Premier League side Watford, who he joined in the summer.

In his time at Atleti, Flores guided the club to success in the Europa League but missed out on the 2010 Copa del Rey final, losing to Sevilla.

Sitting down to talk to Radio 4G, the 50-year-old was asked if he would be keen to manage Real Madrid one day.

He responded:”Yes, I would be up for coaching Real Madrid, but I would try to explain my ideas before taking the position. The most important thing would be to define my footballing philosophy long before getting down to work with the players.”

Having experienced the Premier League and La Liga now, he was also quizzed on which of the two, if any, is better.
And he replied: “No, I don’t think that the Premier League is any better. They’re by far the best leagues in the world and they’re both different, but one is not any better than the other.”

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Lyon midfielder Matieu Valbuena has broken his silence on the sex tape scandal and subsequent blackmail plot involving international team mate Karim Benzema, and says his is ‘more than disappointed’ with the Real Madrid striker.

The controversy came to light last month when now-retired striker Djibril Cisse was questioned by police in France. He was released but Los Blancos striker Benzema was then taken in for questioning over claims he blackmailed Valbuena by promising a friend of his would destroy a sex tape involving the playmaker for money.

Through his lawyer Benzema has denied all the claims and any involvement in the events. Both players were dropped from the France squad for the recent games against Germany and England, with the match against the 2014 World Cup winners overshadowed by the terrorist attacks in Paris.

Speaking to Le Monde newspaper, Valbuena offered his side of the story and said he was disappointed with former Lyon man Benzema.

“His way of speaking wasn’t aggressive, and he didn’t mention money specifically, but he insisted I met with someone,” the Lyon playmaker said. “I’ve never seen anyone who would destroy a video for free just because he loves me. Stop taking people for fools.

“I said to Karim: ‘You saw Djibril [Cisse] in 2008 about the same thing.’  And he told me: ‘So was it worth it?’ I told him: ‘Well yeah, it was.’ Him: ‘And did it come out?’ And I told him: ‘Well, no.’

And he added: “After that, he repeated to me many times that I was dealing with ‘some bad people’. He told me, ‘It’s still quite hot this video. You must be strong.’

“Ok, so he also said, ‘If you don’t want that, it’s no problem. But I can introduce you to my friend.’

“We kept going back to that. I was more than disappointed. I told myself that it was quite simply a lack of respect. You can’t behave like that with anyone.”

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