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Real Madrid’s sporting director Emilio Butragueno says the players must be switched on for a tough couple of weeks coming up.

Los Blancos defeated Las Palmas 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday afternoon – Isco, Jese Rodriguez and Cristiano Ronaldo getting the goals. The win means they sit top of the table ahead of Barcelona on goal difference.

Next up for Rafa Benitez’ men is a game against PSG at home in the Champions League before they take on Sevilla and then Barcelona in La Liga.

Speaking to reporters, Butragueno hailed the side for their win over the newly-promoted islanders but they quickly switched his attention to the challenges that lie in wait.

“We have a very difficult week ahead of us. The team handled this game well and it was very important that no player got injured. Our defense has been good. Kiko saved a free-kick brilliantly. We have total confidence in him,” he said.

The ex-forward went to to say that he knows the players are capable of raising their game as they already negotiated tricky trips to Paris and Vigo in the space of a few days last week.

“Even our past week was difficult where we had to travel to Paris and Vigo in a row. The squad has responded well,” he commented.

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Rafa Benitez says he is happy with the win over Las Palmas but knows the players will need to keep up their intensity over 90 minutes when they face tougher tests in the coming weeks.

Los Blancos raced into an early two-goal lead at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday afternoon before the visitors pulled a goal back. The 10-time Champions League winners added a third to put the game beyond doubt but they missed a host of chances and let their intensity drop in the second half.

With games against PSG, Sevilla and Barcelona coming up, Benitez told reporters he wants to see his team switched on for the whole game.

“We played well in the first half, we got off to a sensational start. That kind of early lead subconsciously puts you at ease. We talked about maintaining that intensity and scoring another goal, but that’s not how things played out. We weren’t able to build on that good start to the first half,” he commented.

With Kiko Casilla and Borja Mayoral making their competitive debuts for the club and some of the fringe players also getting minutes – such as Jese, Lucas and Casemiro – Benitez once again hailed the depth of his squad.

“I’ve told that players that these are the matches they have to make the most of. I liked seeing Llorente play and do well, and it was great for Borja and Casilla to make their competitive debuts. Jesé, Casemiro, Lucas… They’re all making the most of their minutes. They’re putting points on the board for us and helping us maintain a competitive level in order for the team to continue getting stronger,” he stated.

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Real Madrid playmaker Isco says the players are happy to have picked up three points against Las Palmas and remain top of the table but know they have work to do still.

The Spain international got on the scoresheet in the 3-1 win along with Jese and Cristiano Ronaldo. But in a slight disappointment, Los Blanco conceded their first goal at home this campaign.

Real could and should have had more goals had it not been for some inspired goalkeeping by the visiting shot stopper. But overall, player and fans alike will be pleased to pick up the win that sees them remain top of La Liga on goal difference ahead of Barcelona.

Speaking to reporters after the game, Isco stated: “We went into the game with a lot of conviction, we scored very quickly from that moment on we were in a really favourable position. It is a shame that we conceded our first goal at the Bernabéu, but generally speaking the team is doing quite well.

“We have to keep going like this, that is to say, improving. We are happy with the three points and the fact we stay top of the table, which is important. We did what we had to, and now it is the turn of the other. That is a pressure point that we hope will keep us at the top.”

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Former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon says Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho could return to the Santiago Bernabeu soon adding that Rafa Benitez was only fourth choice for the European giants.

Despite his own believe that he’s something special, Mourinho has seen his side slump to five defeats in 10 league games this season, leaving them in a less-than-special 15th in the table. As usual, Mourinho has blamed everyone other than himself for the defeats – from his players, referees and even his medical team – one of whom has left the club and is now suing for constructive dismissal.

But Mourinho, who failed to win the Champions League in his three years at Madrid between 2010 and 2013, is still highly regarded by current Los Blancos president Florentino Perez, Calderon says.

Speaking to beIN Sports, Calderon revealed Mourinho was above Benitez in the list of targets to replace Carlo Ancelotti in the summer. He added that German duo Jurgen Klopp and Joachim Lowe also turn down the Santiago Bernabeu side.

“You know in football the results are very important. Chelsea is in a situation that is not usual for them and I don’t know what [Chelsea owner Roman] Abramovich will be thinking about that. This situation was lived by both of them a few years ago and he decided to sack him,” he said.

And he added: “If he is not any more in Chelsea, I think Perez will be really willing to bring him back to Real Madrid.”

 

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Isco

Real Madrid earned an easy victory against Las Palmas to extend their unbeaten run and extend their lead at the top of La Liga.

Goals from Isco, Cristiano Ronaldo and Jese Rodriguez earned Rafa Benitez three points that keep the managers great run since he arrived at Madrid.

Los Merengues opened the score pretty soon, as Isco took advantage of a poor Las Palmas defending to make it 1-0 with four minutes on the clock. The Spaniard received a pass from Casemiro and found the bottom corner.

Just ten minutes later, Ronaldo made it 2-0 as he angled a header into the bottom corner after meeting a super Marcelo cross.

Real were playing very confidently, but Las Palmas suddenly found themselves back in the match as Hernan rose unmarked inside the Real Madrid box to head a corner past Kiko Casilla.

Yet, the visitor’s hopes of savaging a point ended soon, as Jese scored five minutes later to seal Los Blancos victory. The winger, who was excellent in the game, cut inside his full-back before firing one into the far corner.

The second half was pretty boring, with very few chances for both sides. Rafa Benitez men ended up securing a victory that keeps them top of the table.

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Former England goalkeeper David James says he believes one of the reasons David de Gea didn’t move to Real Madrid in the summer is because he feared he would become a backup to Keylor Navas.

Speculation surrounded the Manchester United shot stopper all summer long but nothing looked close to being done until deadline day. Since the collapse of his proposed transfer to the Spanish capital collapse, de Gea has gone on to sign a four-year deal with the Red Devils.

Navas, meanwhile, has established himself firmly as the number one at the Santiago Bernabeu and has conceded just three goals in 12 games this season.

Speaking to the Press Association, James said he believed Navas was a better goalkeeper than de Gea, and even recommended him to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger two years ago before the Gunners signed David Ospina.

“You look at Navas at Real Madrid, it’s no wonder De Gea didn’t go there. When you think that Navas is such a good goalkeeper that De Gea wasn’t necessarily going to be the No. 1 anyway,” he commented.

And he added: “I think it was possibly a reason, because Navas is awesome. He has been for a few years now. I enquired a couple of years ago to Arsene Wenger, ‘Why don’t you go for Navas, £8 million or £10m buy-out?’ He had [David] Ospina on his card, he went for Ospina, didn’t he?

“Navas has had an exceptional start to the season in Spain and justified my theory that he is up there, if I say the top three, as a loose number, in the world because he is that good. I think he is [better than De Gea], yeah. I think his all-round game, he’s got a lot more about him. Don’t get me wrong, David De Gea’s performed at an amazing level over the last three years.”

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Rafa Benitez has urged his Real Madrid players to work hard and show their quality ahead of their game against Las Palmas.

Los Blancos welcome the newly promoted side to the Santiago Bernabeu this afternoon and will be keen to get three points and keep their unbeaten run going. The 10-time Champions League winners are the only unbeaten side left in La Liga and sit at the top of the table, ahead of Barcelona on goal difference.

Speaking to the media, Benitez said it was great to see Las Palmas back in the top division as they are an historic club that deserves their place in La Liga. And he warned his players to be at their best to get the win. He told journalists he believes this season will be closer than ever with top teams more likely to drop points against teams lower down the table.

“It is always nice to see historic sides return to the top-flight and I hope that the fans enjoy it, that it is a good game, that we win, and that from then on things go well for them. It will be difficult and will depend on what we are able to do. They have a new manager that will try to impose his personality. We have to impose our will, quality, and ambition,” he commented.

And he added: “I said at the beginning that it was going to be a league season where the sides at the top lose more points than in the previous seasons. It is not going to be a league season with an awful lot of points. Atlético are a really great side, with players that have a lot of quality. They will have to be near the top, and so too will Valencia, Villarreal and Sevilla, sides that can take points from anyone.”

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Real Madrid will look to consolidate their top position in La Liga as they host bottom-of-the-table team Las Palmas.

Rafa Benitez has not recovered James Rodriguez on time. The Colombian has trained normally the last few days, but the doctors have seen wise to give him a few days more of rest.

On the other hand, Pepe will make his return after spending a few weeks on the sidelines. Benitez will most likely line-up the Portuguese centre-back and give Sergio Ramos some rest, as the Spaniard has played the last games with painkilling injections and will not make it in the squad. Nacho is also a candidate to replace him.

Gareth Bale, Daniel Carvajal and Karim Benzema are also a loss for the game, as they are ending their recovery process and Benitez doesn’t want to risk them.

Yet, the major loss for Los Blancos will be Keylor Navas, who has been the best player of the team so far this season. The Costa Rica international is suffering from muscle fatigue and will be replaced by Kiko Casilla.

Las Palmas also have important losses, those of defenders Antolin Alcaraz and midfielder Javi Castellano. However, they will try to put Real in trouble, just like they did at Barcelona’s stadium, when they played a great game and were close to savaging a point.

Possible line-ups:

Real Madrid: Navas; Danilo, Varane, Pepe, Marcelo; Vazquez, Casemiro, Kroos, Isco; Jese, Ronaldo.

Las Palmas: Varas; Simon, Aythami, Bigas, Garrido; El Zhar, Roque Mesa, Tana, Gomez; Viera, Araujo.

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Denis Cheryshev will most likely leave Real Madrid on loan next January, since he needs to get minutes of play in order to develop his game and secure his place in Russia’s squad for next summer’s European Championship.

Both the club and the player believe that a loan in the winter transfer market is the right decision. And many clubs have already shown big interest in landing the winger.

Valencia, Villarreal and Sevilla were the main candidates to sign Cheryshev last summer, and they are still the top options. However, they have a new competitor that could seduce the Russia international: Celta Vigo.

The Galician side are one of the strongest teams in La Liga this season. They are impressing with their attractive style and they are currently fighting with Barcelona and Real Madrid for the top position in La Liga.

The Azulgranas might sign Nolito, their biggest star, in the winter transfer market, so Celta have targeted Cheryshev as the ideal replacement.

Yet, the fact that Celta don’t play European competition this season will be a handicap for them. Cheryshev wants to get Champions League experience, and that he will only get by choosing Valencia or Sevilla.

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s former Sporting Lisbon team mate Jose Semedo believes the Real Madrid star will eventually end up back in England before his playing days are up.

The pair played together in Portugal before Semedo left for Charlton Athletic in 2007 told radio station TalkSport that his compatriot loves the English fans and the style of football in the Premier League.

The now-Sheffield Wednesday man revealed the pair are still close and have spoken about a potential return to the Premier League.

Semedo stated: “He is very happy at Real Madrid [but] he loves English football, he loves English people, and deep down I think he will come back to England because it doesn’t look like he wants to finish his career without getting back to England.

“He said he would wish Real Madrid is in England, but that is not possible. I believe he will end his career in English football again.”

Ronaldo has never kept a secret of his love of Manchester United and talks suggests he would be tempted to move back to Old Trafford once he decides his tim at the Santiago Bernabeu is over.

The striker has netted 12 goals so far this season and recently became the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.

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