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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has praised his players for the courage and mental strength shown in recent weeks to set a new club record for consecutive wins.

The 2-1 defeat of Malaga on Saturday evening was Real’s 16th win in a row and surpasses the previous best set on two occasions – by Miguel Munoz and Jose Mourinho. It saw Los Blancos open up a gap on rivals Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid at the top of the table.

Speaking to journalists after the match at La Rosaleda, Ancelotti said many would credit him with the run if wins, but he said it should go to the players.

“This is like a dream, but it is reality. We are very happy with this run of form and it will hopefully continue. People will give me the credit for this, but the key to the record is that I am fortunate to coach a fantastic team, fantastic players and work at a fantastic club. I have deep admiration for these players and we have to continue like this because it is a very long season,” he stated.

And he added: “I am slightly surprised with some of the players’ attitude towards their defensive duties, for example James, Isco, and Bale..The team is compact and work hard. As I have said a number of times, defending is simply a question of attitude. We have to keep working. The past is the past and we have to look forward. We are in a lot of competitions and we want to compete in them all.”

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Real Madrid claimed a record 16th consecutive victory in all competitions as they beat Malaga 2-1 thanks to Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale goals.

Los Blancos seemed very comfortable from the start and Gareth Bale was first to threaten with a powerful shot from long range that was denied by Carlos Kameni. The veteran goalkeeper was superb to deny Cristiano Ronaldo a couple of minutes later.

The keeper’s performance gave Malaga confidence and the hosts started dominating possession. Yet, Los Blancos midfielders were superb defensively and launched counter-attacks constantly. In one of them, Ronaldo dribbled past two defenders and assisted Karim Benzema to make it 0-1. The Frenchman got his 13th goal of the season in a controversial play, since he seemed to have fouled Weligton before meeting Ronaldo’s cross.

Iker Casillas had a couple of lucky escape during the first half. First, he saw Sergi Darder’s volley slip between his legs and hit the post. Minutes later, Duda sent a brilliant effort from 30 metres to the crossbar.

Los Merengues had the best chances after the break. However, Kameni was a nightmare for Real strikers. The Cameroon international denied Bale and Isco when they were about to score.

Ronaldo also had a golden opportunity to score when presented with the ball inside the area, but even he couldn’t beat Kameni as the keeper dived to his right to turn the ball to safety.

Carlo Ancelotti men finally doubled their lead when Bale finished a counter-attack with a precise right-foot shoot. Roque Santa Cruz scored for Malaga in stoppage time with a perfect header, but there was no time to even try to equalise.

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Malaga Real Madrid match preview

Carlo Ancelotti takes his Real Madrid side to La Rosaleda this evening in search of the side’s 16th win in a row.

Three points would ensure the current side go into the history books, surpassing the number of wins achieved by Miguel Munoz’ team in 1961 and Jose Mourinho’s in 2011. But the most important aim for Los Blancos this evening is to increase the pressure on Barcelona and Atletico in the race for La Liga.

A victory for Los Blancos would put daylight between them and their two main rivals, who play 24 hours later against Valencia and Deportivo respectively.

In terms of team news, Toni Kroos looks set to start despite his admission he is feeling tired having played a lot of matches this year without having a long break in the summer. Sami Khedira isn’t fit yet, but Ancelotti says Kroos will be rested next week.

Iker Casillas, Dani Carvajal and Marcelo should come back into the side having sat out the win over Basel in the Champions League.

The hosts are having a superb season and are unbeaten at home, but will be missing a few key men tonight. Juanmi and Amrabat, Malaga’s biggest threats going forward miss out, along with Camaco – who made his Spain debut last week.

Probable Line-Up:
Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Isco, James; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

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Carlo Ancelotti says he isn’t concerned about setting a new record for the number of consecutive wins but wants Los Blancos to beat Malaga to stay top of the league.

The 10-time Champions League winners face the Andalucian side later today and a victory would mean 16 on the trot for the team, breaking the previous record of 15 held by Miguel Munoz’ side in 1961 and Jose Mourinho’s three years ago.

Speaking to the press ahead of the game, Ancelotti said what’s more important than setting win records is staying top of the table, with Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid breathing down their necks. And he admitted a trip to Malaga is never easy.

“It’s going to be a very difficult match, because we’re up against a team that are having a fantastic season and are in very good shape. Before the defeat to Atlético, they won five matches in a row. We really have to be on our guard and if we want to win we need to be on top form,” he told reporters.

And he added: “Our style doesn’t change whether we’re away or at home, and we don’t talk about the possibility of setting a new record for wins. We only try to prepare each game and think about our opponent. It’s going to be a difficult match and we need to perform well. We have to keep the run going to continue as leaders.”

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Real Madrid have issued an statement asking UEFA presidend Michel Platini for impartiality regarding the Ballon d’Or. The Frenchman had stated that the winner should be a player who has won the World Cup.

Los Blancos believe that “given that he is the head of European football’s principal body, where our understanding is that the strictest impartiality should prevail.”

The official announcement published in Real Madrid’s website states the following:

The Ballon d’Or is an individual rather than collective prize which is awarded annually to the best player in the world, and we believe that, in order to maintain its prestige, those who participate in the vote should take into account exclusively the individual professional achievements of the players.

Finally, we believe that Cristiano Ronaldo has without doubt had his best ever professional year individually, and has claimed the Champions League, the Golden Shoe and the record for the highest goalscorer in an edition of the Champions League, as well as the Copa del Rey and the top-scorer award in La Liga. In the current season, he has won the European Super Cup, scoring both goals in the match, and is achieving spectacular figures such as his 20 goals in the first 12 matchdays of La Liga, which confirm his great moment of form and ensure that, more than ever, he is deserving of the Ballon d’Or.

FIFA and France Football will announce the finalists on December 1st, and the name of the winner will be revealed on January 12.

Six Real Madrid players have made it in the shortlist of 23 candidates: Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.

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After having secured 18-year-old Marco Asensio’s signing, Real Madrid are close to adding one more young talent to their roster. Los Blancos are nearing an agreement to sign Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard, who is now being tempted by many European giants.

Real directors have reportedly offered 15-year-old Odegaard a five-year contract and the chance of leaving on loan to a La Liga side during his first season in Spain.

Odegaard and his father visited Madrid recently, but the player revealed he’s not made a decision about his future yet.

Spanish newspaper Marca has claimed the Norway international is pleased with Los Merengues offer and is close to signing for the Santiago Bernabeu side, although the agreement cannot be closed until the player becomes 16-years-old on December 17th.

Thus, if he finally agrees, the contract wouldn’t be signed until December 17th, following FIFA’s rules. Yet, Odegaard would most likely remain at his current club Stromsgodset until the end of the season.

In an interview with Norwegian television TV2, Odegaard confessed he likes Real Madrid. “I like their youth team system,” he said.

Odegaard has recently made history with his debut for Norway national team, becoming the youngest player to play in the European Championship qualifying.

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Cesc Fabregas has hit back at Sergio Ramos after the Real Madrid man appeared to question his commitment to the national team.

Ramos was quoted by the media last week suggesting the Chelsea midfielder and his club team mate Diego Costa put the Blues first rather than La Roja after they pulled out of the international duty through injury. The appeared for the Stamford Bridge side just days later as Jose Mourinho’s men beat West Brom to put daylight between them and the chasing pack in the Premier League.

The former Madrid boss has already hit back at Ramos, and Fabregas, who counts Arsenal and Barcelona among his former clubs, told Cadena Cope that he was angry about Ramos’ remarks.

“Yes, I felt that I was the one being alluded to and I already told Sergio what I thought. We spoke by telephone and everything is fine. It pisses you off when your commitment is questioned, of course it pisses you off,” he said.

And he added: “There have been a lot of matches and training camps I have turned up for without playing. I have made 94 appearances for Spain and for nine years I have always come, always. And with a smile from ear to ear.

“I said to Ramos he can call me on the telephone and say it to my face. I told him we have been playing together since the Under-21s and there is no need to send messages in the media.”

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James Rodriguez has had a busy 2014 and shot to fame following his performances in the World Cup, and is set to increase his marketability further with an underwear range.

According to British tabloid the Daily Mail, the Colombian has teamed up with fashion label Bronzini to launch a new J10 underwear range. He joins team mate Cristiano Ronaldo in the fashion world, with the Portuguese superstar recently celebrated the first anniversary since the launch of his own underwear range – CR7.

Former Real Madrid midfielder David Beckham also used his fame on the pitch to become a successful figure in the fashion world during his playing days.

Rodriguez, who signed for Los Blancos from Monaco for a fee of around 80 million euros, was one of the stars of the World Cup this summer. He was top scorer in the tournament, netting six times in five games as the South Americans made it to the quarter finals. He also scored the goal of the tournament – a wonder strike against Uruguay.

Since his arrival in the Spanish capital. the 22-year-old has become an important part of the first team and already has seven goals to his name, as the 10-time Champions League holders sit top of the table and have cruised through their group in Europe.

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Bayern Munich winger Franck Ribery has revealed he came close to leaving the Bavarian outfit for Real Madrid in 2009.

The 31-year-old, who has played a key role in Bayern’s success in recent years, told German sports paper Bild that he was unhappy under boss Louis van Gaal and was looking for a way out.

And he revealed that despite interest from a host of clubs in Europe, he and his wife had agreed a move to Madrid would be the best option and were in advanced talks with the Santiago Bernabeu club.

“I went through a difficult period in 2009 when [Louis] van Gaal arrived at the club,” said Ribery, who has a contract at the Allianz Arena until 2017.

He continued: “Not just because I didn’t get along very well with Van Gaal, but also because a lot of clubs wanted me: Juventus, Inter, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“My agent and Real Madrid’s representatives had already held a number of talks. My wife told me that she was happy to move to Madrid if that was what I wanted to. Everything was ready to go.

“The situation is different now. She would ask me whether I’m crazy if I proposed a move.

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Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has been named on the shortlist for the BBC Sport Personality of the Year.

The Welshman has had an outstanding year for Los Blancos, helping them lift three trophies so far – with the World Club Championship still to come next month.

The 24-year-old wrote himself into Real Madrid folklore by scoring the crucial second goal in the Champions League final in May against city rivals Atletico de Madrid as Los Blancos ended their 12-year wait to win La Decima.

The former Spurs man also scored a stunning effort for Carlo Ancelotti’s side in the Copa del Rey final against Barcelona. Picking up the ball in his own half, he knocked the ball round Marc Batra and had to take the long way round the Barca defender – coming from a couple of metres off the pitch to motor past him and into the area to slot the ball home past Pinto in goal.

Despite his success on the pitch for Madrid, Bale is not considered one of the favourites for the award – with golfer Rory McIlroy and F1 driver Lewis Hamilton believed to be the main contenders for the award – given to a British sportsperson for outstanding achievement in the calendar year.

The full 10-man list for the award, which will be announced on December 14, is:
Gareth Bale – Football
Charlotte Dujardin – Dressage
Carl Froch – Boxing
Kelly Gallagher and guide Charlotte Evans – Skiing
Lewis Hamilton – Formula 1
Rory McIlroy – Golf
Jo Pavey – Athletics
Adam Peaty – Swimming
Max Whitlock – Gymnastics
Lizzy Yarnold – Skeleton

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