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Former Real Madrid star David Beckham has welcomed a bid by Figo to run for presidency of FIFA this year.

The ex-Los Blancos winner is the only former player to put himself forward for election for football’s top job when the elections take place in May. Incumbent Sepp Blatter wants to stay for another term but faces competition from the likes of Figo, FIFA vice president Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein and Dutch football association chairman Michael van Praag.

In a statement published by the Associated Press, Beckham welcomed his former team mate’s move and said football’s governing body needed to have people who are passionate about the game at the very top.

“I welcome the candidacy of my friend Luis for FIFA president. Any successful organization needs to have good people who are passionate about the game and want to do the best for fans,” Beckham said.

He added: “FIFA will only benefit from having a wide range of strong candidates … it’s good to see people volunteer.”

Figo played for Real between 2000 and 2005 having joined from Barcelona. In 2003, he was joined at the Santiago Bernabeu by Beckham, who completed a switch from Manchester United. The pair played in a formidable midfield trio alongside 1998 World Cup winner Zinedine Zidane.

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Former Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello has said the club places too much weight on style over substance and the team needs to develop more character.

Throughout it’s history, Los Blancos have been known to aim to be the best attacking force in world football and have placed much emphasis on having a formidable attacking unit.

Capello, who was in the dugout at the Santiago Bernabeu in 1996-97 and again in 2006-2007, won the La Liga title on both occasions. But he was sacked after both stints after the club’s hierarchy felt he placed to much emphasis on playing safe football to get results rather than play an attacking brand of the game.

Speaking to Onda Cero, the Italian said the team is still too top heavy and needs to develop more characters similar to Sergio Ramos or Pepe.

“The quality of Madrid’s players are superior to Barcelona’s and all the other teams. However, Barca are playing as a team [again]. Previously, they played like individuals. The problem is that in Madrid, it’s thought that you can only do great things by having good strikers,” he said.

And he added: “When [their attackers] stop producing, Madrid need players with personality and quality. They need Pepe and Ramos. At the end of last year, Madrid started games 1-0 up because of Cristiano.”

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Marcelo was one of the heroes of Real Madrid’s 0-2 victory in Germany against Schalke as he scored possibly the most spectacular goal of his career.

The defender sealed Los Blancos victory in the 79th minute with a superb right footed shot to the top corner. In an interview after the game, the Brazilian confessed he was very happy: “I dedicated the goal to my niece. I wanted to celebrate it with the boss and the stuff, with Karim Benzema and Keylor Navas, with everyone, because we’re a family and we’re proving it.”

Marcelo received instructions from Ancelotti seconds before his goal and immediately run towards the manager when he scored. Asked about the Italian’s message, Marcelo explained it was “our things, just some information he gave me for Cristiano Ronaldo.”

The 26-year-old complained about the poor state of the grass in Schalke’s stadium: “It wasn’t good, that’s true, but we can’t use that as an excuse. We got a good result and I think we played fairly well. We’ve been solid and that’s what matters.”

Asked about Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal, Marcelo claimed the Portuguese “was not obsessed with scoring.” “Goals come when we work as a team. We’re happy for the victory and focused on keeping our first position in La Liga,” he added.

Despite the victory, Marcelo believes the tie is still open: “Anything can happen in the Champions League. This is not over. If we want to go through we’ll have to fight in the second leg just like we did today. We have a two-goal advantage but this is not closed.”

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Former Real Madrid striker Nicolas Anelka has said Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba should join Real Madrid or Chelsea if he wants to make it to the very top of the game.

The Frenchman has made an impression in Seria A and has long been linked with the biggest teams on the planet, with Real a known admirer of his talents. Whether or not Juventus would be willing to sell is a different matter.

But Anelka, who played at the Santiago Bernabeu for just one season following a 25 million euro move from Arsenal, said Pogba should switch to the Spanish capital as Los Blancos are the biggest club in the world.

Speaking to France Football, the 35-year-old said: “My preference is Chelsea, who have really big players and Abramovich’s financial power, or Real Madrid, who are one of the biggest clubs in the world – if not the biggest.

“And I can see him doing well there, with regards to his playing style and the coach there. Carlo Ancelotti would get a lot out of him. In his head, Paul will already know clubs that he wants to play for.”

Anelka won the Champions League during his spell at the club, and was also successful in a four-year stint with Chelsea, lifting the FA Cup and Premier League among other trophies.

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Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti praised his players’ performance at Los Blancos 0-2 victory against Schalke in the last-16 round of the UEFA Champions League.

“I’m happy with the result. It is never easy. After what happened in La Liga, it was necessary to play a game with this attitude,” he said at the press conference.

“The match was not intense. Schalke have focused on defending from the start and tried counter-attacking with a high pace. After the first goal we took control and waited until we had the chance to score more. I think we started well and had good ideas,” the Italian added.

Asked about tactical matters, Ancelotti explained they “tried to play through the wings because there was more space and Marcelo and Carvajal could assist the strikers from there.”

The 55-year-old was also pleased with Cristiano Ronaldo’s performance: “He has scored, he has played well and he has provided an assist. He is back,” he told the media.

The Italian was surprised by Marcelo’s impresive goal: “It is not common for him to score with his right foot, so it was a surprise.”

Asked about the home leg, Ancelotti claimed it won’t be all easy: “We have to play a serious game in the second leg,” he concluded.

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Real Madrid earned a great result in the first leg of the last-16 round of the Champions League beating Schalke 04 at their stadium 0-2.

Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo gave Los Blancos an important win. Carlo Ancelotti men put one foot in the quarter-finals.

The visitors started the game in better fashion and had a few chances to take the lead. Yet, Dennis Aogo could have made it 1-0 of the hosts after receiving a pass from Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and sending an effort inches off the post.

Carlo Ancelotti men opened the score in the 26th minute. Daniel Carvajal sent a brilliant cross from the right side and Ronaldo answered his critics with a superb header into the back of the net.

Los Blancos started dominating possession and playing calmer after the goal. Karim Benzema could have doubled the lead, but his low strike was denied by young goalkeeper Ingo Wellenreuther.

The 19-year-old keeper made another great save when Ronaldo sent a powerful free kick to the top corner. And minutes before the break he denied the Portuguese again keeping Schalke alive.

The game became slower and not very interesting after half-time. Madrid were convinced to earn an easy victory as Schalke barely threatened Iker Casillas, and the hosts didn’t show much interest in going forward.

Isco could have sealed the win with 15 minutes to go. The Andalusian lashed a thunderbolt from 25 metres that dipped over the crossbar. In the following play, Schalke could have upset the European champions as Uchida grabbed a loose ball and shot straight at the bar.

Marcelo let Ancelotti breathe with a beautiful shot from the edge of the box into the top right-hand corner. It was arguably the most beautiful goal of the Brazilian’s career.

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Carlo Ancelotti has no concerns over Cristiano Ronaldo’s form or fitness and says the striker just needs a goal to kickstart himself.

The Real Madrid forward is going through a relative barren spell by his standards, with no goals in his last three games. Some reports have suggested his is carrying a knee injury, but ahead of his team’s clash with Schalke in the Champions League, the boss said Ronaldo is fine.

“Against Deportivo, I thought he was good from a physical point of view. He was able for the intensity of the game and he’s making progress. He hasn’t scored yet but tomorrow (Wednesday) is the next chance for him to get one,” he told a press conference after arriving in Germany.

The Italian confirmed centre back Pepe has recovered from injury and will be in the squad, but Real will be without Luke Modric, James Rodriguez and Sergio Ramos among others.

Speaking about the chance to win the trophy again this year, Ancelotti spoke of the team’s dream to become the first club to lift the Champions League back-to-back since it took on its current format.

“We were here last year with a dream to win the Champions League. We are here this year and we have the same dream. History says that it will be really difficult – almost impossible – but we have to try,” he commented.

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The Spanish Football League (LFP) has filed a complaint to the Anti-Violence Commission over chants by Barcelona fans Los Azulgranas’ 5-0 victory over Levante last weekend.

The group known as Almogavers shouted “Cristiano Ronaldo is a drunk” several times during the game, according to the league officials.

LFP’s statement denounced the following: “Shouting chants inside the stadium, during the match, in the 65th minute and from the hosts’ fan section on the south side first floor, by a group of around 200 people, identified with scarves and flags as members of the group known as Almogavers.”

“They started the following chant: ‘Cristiano is a drunk, Cristiano is a drunk’, in a reference to Real Madrid player Cristiano Ronaldo, repeatedly and sang exclusively by the previously mentioned group, not being joined by the rest of the crowd at the stadium,” the statement concluded.

After a fight between Atletico de Madrid and Deportivo de La Coruna fans that ended in a Galician fan being murdered last November, the league has increased its pressure on violent behaviour in the stadiums.

A few weeks ago the LFP denounced Valencia fans for calling Sevilla’s midfielder Ever Banega a “drunk”, which many claim is like calling Fabio Coentrao a smoker. In that case, the Anti-Violence committee resolved they were unable to punish those insults since the individuals had not been identified.

Banega was fined by Valencia 6.000 euros when he was playing there for partying too hard and drinking too much. In Ronaldo’s case, Barcelona’s fans insults were motivated by the Portuguese’s birthday party that caused much controversy in Spain during last week. Yet, the Portuguese didn’t get drunk and players invited explained they didn’t even drink alcohol.

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Schalke 04 Real Madrid match preview

Real Madrid travel to Schalke this evening for the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie and they’ll be hoping this year will be as good as 12 months ago, when Los Blancos won 6-1 in Germany to book their passage to the next round with ease.

Despite somewhat erratic form since the turn of the year, Real have had no problems in the Champions League this season. They won all six games in the stage, finishing 11 points clear of second placed Basel, and they’ll go into this tie in Germany as heavy favourites.

The hosts finished behind Chelsea in their group, winning two, drawing two and losing two. After a difficult start to the season in the league their form has picked up under new boss Roberto di Matteo – the man who managed Chelsea to the Champions League title in 2013.

In terms of team news, the hosts are without a number of key players including Julian Draxler, Jefferson Farfan, Sead Kolasinac, Leon Goretzka and Chinedu Obasi.

Madrid go into the game with a number of players on the sidelines too. James Rodriguez, Sami Khedira, Luka Modric and Sergio Ramos are all on the injury list. The good news for Los Blancos is the return of Pepe to the squad, although this game may come too soon to start and the pairing of Raphael Varane and Nacho Fernandez should stay in place.

Possible Line-Ups:
Schalke: Wellenreuther; Howedes, Matip, Nastasic; Kirchhoff; Uchida, Hoger, Barnetta, Fuchs; Boateng, Choupo-Moting
Real Madrid: Casillas; Arbeloa, Varane, Fernandez, Marcelo; Illarramendi, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

 

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Iker Casillas

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas has said his side’s mauling of Schalke in the last-16 of the Champions League last season will have no bearing on this year’s outcome.

Los Blancos saw off the German side 9-2 at the same stage in last year’s competition en route to winning the famous Decima in Lisbon. In the away leg, Carlo Ancelotti’s side won 6-1.

But speaking ahead of the game on Wednesday, Casillas said that result would have no factor on either side and he is expecting a tough match as usual against German opposition.

“It will be very difficult. The atmosphere in Germany will be very intense. They are aware that they have an opportunity to get revenge and we expect a tough game. The fact that we faced them last year does not benefit us. If anything, it gives them an advantage,” the 33-year-old told UEFA.

He continued: “It would be a mistake to think that playing in Gelsenkirchen will be easy and that we’ll repeat what happened last year. Quite the opposite: we have to be careful and go there with humility. It will be a very tough tie.”

Casillas then went on to pick out team mate Toni Kroos as a key part of the current Real side and praised the impact he has had since his arrival in the summer.

“Kroos feels very comfortable with the ball. He looks to move it, pass it quickly from right to left. He’s quick and young. He has being playing to a top level for a long time, so I think that Real Madrid were right to sign him, above all when you take into account his age. He has already shown that he can be key in the midfield.”

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