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Real Madrid will look to extend their winning run as they face bottom-side Almeria, a team that fired their manager Francisco Rodriguez early this week.

Los Blancos shouldn’t have any problems to defeat a team that has only scored 11 goals in 14 games –Los Merengues have netted 51 so far. However, the Andalusians caused Barcelona big trouble when they hosted the Azulgranas last month and will look to repeat their good performance against La Liga leaders.

Carlo Ancelotti will miss Sergio Ramos, who will sit out due to suspension. James Rodriguez, Sami Khedira and Luka Modric are also sidelined due to injury.

Asier Illarramendi and Toni Kroos will most likely repeat as midfield pair, with Isco and Gareth Bale on the sides. Raphael Varane is expected to replace Ramos in the centre of defence.

Almeria’s youth team manager Miguel Rivera will coach the hosts against Real Madrid, since new manager Juan Ignacio Martinez was hired in the last few hours and has not arrived on time for the game.

Rivera will miss Mauro dos Santos due to injury and Verza, who was shown his fifth yellow card of the season in Almeria’s 5-2 loss against Eibar.

Possible line-ups:

Almeria: Ruben; Navarro, Velez, Trujillo, Mane; Azeez, Thomas; Jonathan, Soriano, Mendez; Hemed.

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Varane, Marcelo; Bale, Kroos, Illarramendi, Isco; Benzema, Ronaldo.

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Italian goalkeeping legend Gianluigi Buffon has said he would have been annoyed if he’d gone through the same situation Iker Casillas had to at Real Madrid.

The Los Blancos captain has returned to the first team this season having spent 18 months largely out in the cold. Ex-Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, who has failed to win a trophy in more than two years despite believing he’s something special, dropped the keeper when he signed Diego Lopez.

Carlo Ancelotti stuck with Lopez in his first season at the Santiago Bernabeu, playing Casillas in the Copa del Rey and Champions League.

Speaking to AS on Thursday, Buffon said he would have been angry if he’d been dropped in the way Casillas had been, particularly having enjoyed the success he’s had for both club and country.

“Everyone is different, but I know that his situation would have frustrated me,” he stated. “I was very surprised by it. It’s difficult to think that he can be disputed or left out of matches. I don’t know if I agree with goalkeeping rotation, I feel it penalises you. When I feel good I prefer to play every game.

“Of course, the results can give reason to the Coach, but it’s likely that it becomes a trend which risks being copied by many. However, a team of Madrid’s calibre play about 60 games a year, so it won’t be a problem if they rest their No 1 sporadically,” he continued.

And he added:”He’s a good guy who I like talking to when we’re on the pitch. He has been and remains a great goalkeeper. What I like most about him is the consistency he’s had in his career, being decisive on so many occasions. Technically he’s flawless. When you play so long for Madrid and your country, you have to be.”

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been named for the Best Portuguese Player of the Century award by the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF).

The FPF will celebrate their 100th anniversary in an event on January 14th at Estoril, and they will hand different prizes for the most outstanding football personalities of their history.

The candidates for the best player award are Ronaldo, Benfica’s legend Eusebio and former Real Madrid midfielder Luis Figo.

The winner will be decided by the fans, who will vote through the FPF’s official website.

Ronaldo has also been nominated to be included in the Best 11 of the Century, the Best 11 of All-Time and the Best Contemporary 11.

Los Blancos striker is favourite to win all individual awards this year, including the Ballon d’Or. Even Barcelona fans such as former Azulgranas player Jonathan Soriano recognise Ronaldo should win the award.

“For what he did during last season, the Ballon d’Or should be for Ronaldo. Manuel Neuer is an excellent goalkeeper, but what Cristiano has done is spectacular. As the most complete player I would pick Messi, but Ronaldo deserves to win this year,” the Spanish striker said.

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Gareth Bale has joked that playing golf over the summer made him bulk up.

The Wales and Real Madrid star was photographed in pre-season looking much more muscular than he had done last season – suggesting he had spent much of the summer doing weight training in the gym.

Speaking to football magazine FourFourTwo, the 25-year-old said he hadn’t done any gym work in the summer but had enjoyed playing a few rounds of golf over the break.

“How many hours in the gym were responsible for this? Zero, I promise you,” Bale stated.

“I don’t usally wear a vest, so no one sees my arms! I did a bit of running in the off-season, but nothing else. I’d played a fair bit of golf, so maybe it was from my golf swing. It could also be from the tan I’ve got from living in Spain! I just think I’ve filled out a bit and it’s just natural.”

The forward wrote himself into Real Madrid folklore last season, netting a spectacular solo goal to see of Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey before scoring the crucial second goal in the Champions League final as Los Blancos finally lifted La Decima after a 12-year wait.

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Real Madrid are prepared to make a 10-million bid for German midfielder Christoph Kramer, according to Spanish radio station Cadena COPE.

The Borussia Monchengladbach man has been long linked with Los Blancos following his great performance last season at the Bundesliga.

Los Merengues manager Carlo Ancelotti spoke about him this week: “I like a lot of midfielders. I like Kramer, among others; that is clear.”

The need of signing a midfielder has become clear following Luka Modric’s and Sami Khedira’s injuries. The German international is expected to leave the Santiago Bernabeu next June, so Florentino Perez might be willing to sign two men for that position.

The first one to arrive could be Lucas Silva, who seems close to sign for Los Blancos. Kramer could be the next, although the 10-million offer reported doesn’t seem enough to please Bayer Leverkusen, the club that owns the player.

The 23-year-old has spoken about this information from COPE: “There is nothing decided yet. I have a contract with Bayer Leverkusen and for what I know now I will be there next summer.”

The Germany international has made 16 appearances for Monchengladbach so far this season, scoring one goal and helping his side fight for a spot in next year’s Champions League.

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Real Madrid full-back Alvaro Arbeloa has said the team is happy to set a new record for the number of consecutive victories but it won’t matter in the end if they don’t win anything in May.

Los Blancos crushed Ludogorets 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday night to take their winning run to 19 matches in all competitions, overtaking the number of wins achieved by Barcelona in 2005-06.

Arbeloa, who scored the third goal of the evening, said the most important thing for the team is to keep fighting for each other and keep on track on the hunt for trophies.

“We had quite a few chances and I was able to get on the scoresheet. I’m pleased to have done that in front of the home fans and to have celebrated it with them. It has been a perfect group stage, and now we have to wait for the draw,” he told the media after the match.

And he added: “Come May maybe we won’t remember these records. We want to keep on picking up victories and win the three games that we have left this year. Now we have to prepare well for the trip to Almería, which will be difficult. I hope we go into 2015 on this run.”

“We’re very happy for Medrán and about his goal. He was pleased and he took the match ball home with him. He is training with us and he’s doing very well.”

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Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez has said is delighted to have taken part in the 4-0 win over Ludogorets in the Champions League.

The 10-time European Cup winners set a new record for consecutive wins – taking their tally to 19 in a row now. They will hope to hit 20 when they take on Almeria this weekend.

The match against the Bulgarian minnows was the last home game for 2014, and speaking to journalist after the final whistle, Fernandez said it was a great way to sign off.

“All in all, the team played well. Up front we have a lot of firepower and the defence is in good form. We rounded off the year at the Bernabéu on a high. Now we want to beat Almería in La Liga and start thinking about the Club World Cup.”

He went on to speak about his own improvement as a player, telling reporters that playing alongside great players makes him a better player and keep working to improve.

“Day to day, it’s enjoyable being in this team, with top players. I try to help in every way I can and to be ready for when I’m needed,” he commented.

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Alvaro Morata

Former Real Madrid striker Alvaro Morata has said ex-team mates Cristiano Ronaldo, Iker Casillas or Sergio Ramos deserve to win the Ballon d’Or trophy.

The striker, now at Juventus, told Onda Cero that all of them should have been shortlisted for the award for the contribution they have made to Real’s success in recent years. Despite a tough 18 months being in and out of the team, club captain Casillas played a key role in helping the team to success in the Champions League and Copa del Rey last season.

Ramos wrote himself into club folklore with his double in the semi-final against Bayern Munich and his last-minute equaliser in the final against Atletico de Madrid. Ronaldo, meanwhile, has continued to set the world alight with his goalscoring feats. The 29-year-old is on the shortlist for the award in January, alongside Leo Messi and Manuel Neuer.

But Morata said the three-man shortlist should be made up of Real Madrid players.
“Casillas and Sergio Ramos deserve the Ballon d’Or,” he told the radio station. “But Cristiano in recent years has been above the rest and is a fair winner.”

The forward also went on to say he’s looking forward to facing Atletico with his new club when the come together in the Champions League.

“The important thing is to be in the next round. It motivates me to play against all teams, but it is special because Atleti are Spanish and a team that have been at the highest level in recent years. Who wouldn’t be motivated to play against Atletico?”

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Having recently devoured the records achieved by distinguished managers such as Miguel Munoz and Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid have broken yet another record with their victory against Ludogorets, the 19th in a row, beating illustrious Frank Rijkaard and his Barcelona. That team has turned into Los Blancos mirror for what they achieved after setting that record.

In the 2005-2006 season, Rijkaard’s Barcelona became the first Spanish team to earn 18 consecutive wins in all competitions, and finished their campaign at the top: winning the La Liga and Champions League titles.

There are many similarities between that team and the current Real Madrid side that has beaten that record. These similarities suggest that Carlo Ancelotti men could repeat the success that Rijkaard enjoyed back then.

That year, the Azulgranas earned 16 points in the group stage of the Champions League. Madrid have gone farther and beaten those numbers, winning all six games in the competition and adding 18 total points.

In La Liga, Los Blancos current numbers also exceed those of Rijkaard’s Barcelona at the same stage of the season. The Catalans were leading in the 14th fixture of the championship with 31 points. Los Merengues also sit at the top of the table, but they have 36 points, five more than Rijkaard’s men.

The question is: Will they be able to continue this pace and end the season succeeding like Barcelona did back in 2006?

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Isco

Real Madrid midfielder Isco has said the players are determined to get even better having just set a new record for the most consecutive wins.

Los Blancos defeated Ludogorets 4-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night to make it six wins out of six in their group, and 19 straight wins in all competitions, surpassing the 18-game winning run enjoyed by Barcelona in the 2005-06 season.

Speaking to reporters after the game, the playmaker said the team was delighted with the win and to set the new record, but wanted to keep improving and get even better.

“Theoretically this was an easy game, because they were down to ten men very quickly, after the penalty was given. Hopefully this winning streak keeps going,” he said.

And he added: “A night like tonight is one to celebrate. That’s nineteen straight victories from a team that keeps wanting to be even better. Our aim is to win the greatest number of wins we can.”

When asked about manager Carlo Ancelotti’s rotation of the squad, Isco said the Italian was doing well to manage the players and keep them all fresh, particularly with the challenges that lie ahead.

“The boss knows how to manage the squad well and hopefully there won’t be any troubles [with more injuries] between now and the end of the season.”

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