Page 567

By -
1

Former Real Madrid striker Carlos Santillana believes current superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will not only surpass the Spanish legend’s goalscoring haul, but will also go on to smash every possible goalscoring record for Los Blancos.

The Spanish legend is third on Madrid’s all-time scoring chart with 289 registered over 17 years for the club. However, in an interview with Goal.com last week, he said he is prepared to be passed by Ronaldo.

“Ronaldo will catch them all — first me, but then [Alfredo] Di Stefano, Raul, everyone,” he said. “Madrid will benefit, with the goals, the points, the knockout games … He will break all records, I’m convinced.”

During the March 23 Clasico, Ronaldo buried a penalty to score his 243rd goal for the capital club and move beyond Ferenc Puskas into fourth on the all-time scoring list.

Santillana said Ronaldo’s astonishing strike rate — an astonishing rate of 1.03 goals scored per match in his first four seasons at Madrid — will carry him past Raul and Di Stefano.

“Cristiano Ronaldo can reach them all,” he said. “It’s normal [for him]. At my time it was unthinkable for a player to hit 50 goals in a season.”

For that matter, Ronaldo scored 60 goals in all competitions for Los Merengues in the 2011-12 season, and with 44 at this point in the 2013-14 season, most would not bet against him equaling or bettering his record.

Santillana praised the intense rivalry between Barcelona forward Lionel Messi and Ronaldo. The two have split the past six FIFA Ballon d’Or Awards between them and continue to one-up each other’s goalscoring displays.

“What Messi and Ronaldo are doing is crazy,” Santillana said. “You have to enjoy it.”

By -
0

Attention in today’s press is switching to the Champions League which takes centre stage this week.

Real Madrid host Borussia Dortmund at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night looking to get revenge for their elimination at the hands of the German team at the semi-final stage of last year’s tournament.

Much has changed since then – Madrid have a new manager who is an expert in the Champions League. And Dortmund have suffered from the sale of Mario Goetze to Bayern Munich. Key player Robert Lewandowski will also sit out the first leg through suspension. And Marca has quotes from Jurgen Klopp, the Dortmund boss, saying Los Blancos are favourites this time around.

Elsewhere, there is plenty of coverage about the state of La Liga. AS carries out a poll among its readers in which there was nothing to choose between who they think is favourite to win the title. The results showed 34.81% of its readers consider Barcelona the favourites, with Real Madrid getting 32.78% of the vote and Atletico de Madrid 32.41%. Cigarette paper between them.

The fight for the Pichichi (top scorer in the league) also looks set to be a close run race. Cristiano Ronaldo leads the way with 28 goals in 26 games. Just behind him is Diego Costa, who has netted 25 this season, and Leo Messi who is currently on 23 goals but has hit a purple patch since recovering from injury.

By -
3

Madrid based daily AS has reported Manchester United are ready to offer up to 40 million euros to sign Los Blancos midfielder Isco.

The paper claimed beleaguered Red Devils boss David Moyes will be handed a hefty transfer budget in the summer, and has made Isco one of his priorities.

The 21-year-old playmaker arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu last summer from Malaga, but has found opportunities hard to come by under Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian’s favoured 4-3-3 set up, along with the front three almost always being the same in Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, have meant Isco has found himself on the sidelines more often than he’d like.

The Spain Under-21 international has only started 16 of Madrid’s 30 La Liga fixtures this term and appeared in only half of their Champions League games too.

He has admitted to being frustrated at times this season, and could well look to move on when the campaign ends so he can make the permanent step up into Spain’s squad.

Reigning Premier League champions United are short of quality in the creative side of their game, and Isco would be a perfect signing to play alongside former Real Madrid youth team player Juan Mata, who signed for the Old Trafford club in January.

By -
0

Alvaro Morata has said scoring in front of the home fans at the Santiago Bernabeu is the best feeling in the world.

The young forward came on as a late substitute in Los Blancos’ 5-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, and he grabbed the fifth goal – a stunning curling effort from 20 yards out. After the game, the striker was keen to thank Madridistas for their patience and support for him this season.

“It was a good goal and we’ve won. Now we have to carry on fighting. This year I’ve not been scoring regularly so it’s always good to score at the Santiago Bernabéu in front of our crowd, who I owe a lot to for all the love they’ve shown me. One always wants to play as much as they can and I will work to help the side,” he said.

When asked about the situation in La Liga, where Los Blancos sit third in the bale behind Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid, Morata said the players will keep on fighting for every point.

“We will not give up. We know that if we want to win the league we have to win every game. We have spoken between ourselves and whilst there’s a chance to carry on fighting, Real Madrid will be there. We have a great side and we will all pull in the same direction to try and win,” he stated.

By -
0

Premier League clubs Manchester United and Manchester City have been told Real Madrid winger Angel di Maria is not for sale, according to reports in the UK.

Both Manchester clubs were said to be interested in signing the Argentine player at the end of the season. But Los Blancos have been so impressed with the 26-year-old’s performances, they have decided he is not available for sale.

Di Maria has had an up and down season, initially finding it difficult to get into the side. His lowest point though was when he fell out of favour with the Real Madrid fans after making an gesture at them during the game against Celta Vigo in January. He was seen to grab his crotch while coming of the field, but he later explained he was adjusting his shorts and did not mean to cause any offence.

In recent weeks though, Di Maria has become one of the most influential and in-form players in Carlo Ancelotti’s team. He has scored nine goals in 40 appearances so far this term, providing a further 13 assists.

Di Maria, who signed for Real Madrid from Benfica in 2010, was courted by his former club last summer, and was also subject of interest from Chelsea, managed by ex-Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, who was keen to take him to Stamford Bridge.

By -
0
Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid

Real Madrid manager Carlo Anclelotti has said his players just have to think about themselves and not what Atletico de Madrid or Barcelona do in the race for the title.

Los Blancos remain two points behind Los Cules and three behind table toppers Los Rojiblancos despite thrashing Rayo Vallecano 5-0 at the Sanitago Bernabeu. And with the destination of the title out of their hands with seven games remaining, Ancelotti said the team just has to do what they have to do and not worry about anything else.

Speaking to journalists after the match against their city rivals, the Italian said: “We must be focused on our game and nothing else. Maybe those who didn’t play today were listening to the results, but those who were going to play weren’t thinking about other sides.”

The manager also rounded on some sections of the Madridista fanbase for whistling and booing some Real players during the game. Diego Lopez, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo were subject to it at various points, and the manager said booing players was pointless at a stage of the season when everyone needs to pull together.

“I have always said that sometimes I understand whilstes because they can be deserved. Right now no, the players are putting in a lot of effort. We need the help of everyone. Whilstling Cristiano isn’t comprehensible,” he stated.

Ahead of the crucial Champions League quarter final first leg at home against Borussia Dortmund, the boss also gave a fitness update on Xabi Alonso and Ronaldo.

He revealed: “Xabi seems fine. Di María and Modric’s positions require a lot of dynamism, but Xabi plays in a position that we don’t need quite as much dynamism, more balance, good positional sense and intelligence. He is very intelligent. Cristiano is fine, he had a bit of pain in his knee, but no more.”

By -
2

No change at the top then after yesterday’s results, with all three of Real Madrid, Atletico de Madrid and Barcelona winning.

Los Blancos ran out 5-0 winners over Rayo Vallecano, and the Madrid press today has plenty of coverage of the match and the overall situation in the league. With seven games remaining, Atletico sit top of the table with a point advantage over Barcelona and three over Real Madrid. It’s all to play for.

Marca and AS both run articles on one man who certainly seems up for the title fight at Los Blancos – Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portugal international scored the opener last night, his tenth goal in ten consecutive games for club and country. That run includes nine Real Madrid matches and one for Portugal, and equals Leo Messi’s record for scoring in consecutive games.

It was the 29-year-old’s 28th goal in La Liga, and 44th in a Los Blancos shirt this campaign. He has 13 goals in the Champions League, and three in the Copa del Rey. Including his seven goals for Portugal too, and Ronaldo has already surpassed 50 goals this season already (51).

Elsewhere, both papers report on the boos that were heard at the Santiago Bernabeu during the game. Diego Lopez, Gareth Bale, and even Ronaldo were subject of jeers by an impatient crowd – and Ancelotti referred to it in his press conference after the game.

By -
1

Real Madrid ended a difficult week on a high after beating Rayo Vallecano 5-0 at the Santiago Bernabeu to keep themselves in the race for the La Liga title.

Following earlier wins for Barcelona over Espanyol and Atletico de Madrid at Athletic Bilbao, three points were imperative for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

And they duly responded to the setbacks against Los Cules and Sevilla by emphatically beating their local rivals with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Daniel Carvajal, Alvaro Morata and a brace for Gareth Bale.

Rayo came into the game on the back of a five game unbeaten run that had seen them pull clear of the relegation zone. But against the nine-time European Cup winners they were no match for them from the off.

The hosts created a number of early chances with Karim Benzema and Fabio Coentrao both going close. On the quarter hour mark, Cristiano Ronaldo showed them how it’s done. The Portugal captain latched onto a Gareth Bale pass and charged into the area to score the opener, and his 44th goal of yet another remarkable campaign.

Los Blancos had other chances before the break, notably Gareth Bale. But it was after the interval that the floodgates opened and Ancelotti’s men ran riot.

Ten minutes after the break, right back Daniel Carvajal netted Madrid’s second and his first goal for the club, tucking away left footed from the centre of the area after collecting a Ronaldo pass.

The game was put beyond doubt by Gareth Bale, who hadn’t score in five matches, and had come in for criticism from press and home fans alike for some below par performances in recent weeks. But two goals in two minutes soon had the Bernabeu singing his name again.

First, he had a simple tap in after Angel di Maria dashed through the Rayo defence and sent in a cross for the Welshman to finish off a the back post. His second of the night was a sensational solo effort. Picking the ball up in his own half, he broke free at lightening speed, racing into the Rayo half and finished off a low effort from just outside the area.

With the win secured, Ancelotti started making his changes with the Champions League match against Borussia Dortmund in mind. Alvaro Morata was introduced in place of Karim Benzema. Five minutes was all his needed to make his mark. Picking up a pass from Isco, the Spain Under-21 forward curled in a brilliant effort from 20 yards out.

There is still work to do as Madrid look to catch the top two in the title race, but for now attention switches to the European fixture on Wednesday.

 

 

By -
0

Back-to-back defeats for Real Madrid in the past week have put a big dent it their title hopes but they will be confident of getting back to winning ways this evening against relegation threatened Rayo Vallecano.

The results against Barcelona and Sevilla saw Los Blancos drop from first to third in the league, and they’ll need to pick up three points to keep their title hopes alive.

In terms of team news, Sergio Ramos will be back in the team having missed the game at his former club during the week through suspension. Angel di Maria is also back after serving a one-match ban.

In attack, Carlos Ancelotti confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo will play despite having a tendonitis problem in his left knee. He has scored in his last nine games for club and country, and has already netted 27 in La Liga this season. Gareth Bale will be looking to have a positive game after criticism of his recent performances. The Welshman hasn’t found the back of the net for a month now.

Although they have conceded the most goals in La Liga, Rayo actually come to the Santiago Bernabeu in a rich vein of form. Their four wins and a draw in their last five games have seen them pull away from the relegation zone. They also gave Madrid a run for their money back in November, narrowly losing out 3-2, so Los Blancos will need to work hard for the win tonight.

Probable line ups:
Real Madrid: Lopez; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Modric, Illarramendi, Di Maria; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo

Rayo Vallecano: Martinez; Arbilla, Castro, Galvez, Rat; Trashorras, Ninguez, Rochina, Bueno, Falque; Larrivey

By -
0

Real Madrid have gone from top of the table to third in La Liga in the space of a week, and will need to get back to winning ways today.

Damaging defeats against Barcelona and Sevilla have left the league out of their hands, but manager and players alike have been making the right noises since the loss at the Sanchez Pizjuan, saying they will fight for every available point from now until the end of the campaign.

Bookies have no doubts over who will pick up the three points today – Madrid are placed at 1/16 to win, while Rayo, who have conceded the most goals in the league – 63 – are priced at 33/1 to pick up a win at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Despite being one of the form side of La Liga, with four wins and a draw in their last five, helping them pull away from the relegation zone, even a draw is unlikely for the team from the south of Madrid (10/1).

With  the visitors having a shaky defence, and Madrid being like a wounded lion, those wanting to put some money on the game may be tempted to back the home side to score a few.

Los Blancos are priced at 17/20 to socred over 3.5 goals. With the visitors having conceded four or more on eight occasions this season already, that could be a decent bet.

1...566567568...733Page 567 of 733

www.gambleaware.co.uk or www.gamcare.org.uk
Please gamble responsibly