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Real Madrid press report 11-12-13

Madrid sports newspapers put their focus today on Real Madrid’s 0-2 victory over Copenhagen in the last match of the Champions League group stage.

As highlights Los Blancos scored their 800th goal in the tournament and “become the first club to reach that mark.”

“Cristiano Ronaldo, with nine goals, is the top scorer ever in a group stage,” they point out.

The other main Madrid sports daily, Marca, emphasizes “Luka Modric scored the first goal with a superb shot” and compare the Stadium’s surface to a “potato field.”

Marca claims “Real Madrid played brilliantly in the first 60 minutes.” They also highlight Carlo Ancelotti’s words after the game, stating “Manchester City is the most dangerous rival” they could have in the last 16-round.

Los Blancos finished the first round of the tournament at the top of Group B, with five victories and one draw.

After the matches played yesterday, Los Merengues already know they could face City, Bayer Leverkusen or Olympiacos in the next stage.

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said he was pleased with his side’s focus and attitude in last night’s 2-0 win over FC Copenhagen.

Luka Modric scored a brilliant long range effort before Cristiano Ronaldo wrapped up the three points with a goal on his return from injury after missing the past fortnight. His strike also ensured his goes into the record books yet again, this time for scoring the most amount of goals in the Champions League group stage – nine in six games.

Speaking to journalists after the match Ancelotti revealed he was delighted with what he saw. “The match went well. We were focused, had a good attitude and were in control of the match. I’m happy because we had a good group stage and scored lots of goals. Modric is doing well and Xabi Alonso gives us balance defensively and in attack. All of the players did well, had a good attitude and controlled the play,” he said.

When asked about his thoughts on Ronaldo and his impressive goalscoring exploits this season, the Italian described the 28-year-old as a “complete forward”.

“Inzaghi will not be happy tonight because he has lost this record. He has gone ahead of a very strong player. Inzaghi was very strong in the area and Ibrahimovic is powerful and has a fantastic ability to score and assist. Cristiano Ronaldo is a complete forward who can score goals in every way possible. He’s a bit angry about the penalty, but he scored an important goal and played very well,” Ancelotti stated.

 

 

 

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Cristiano Ronaldo returned to action after two weeks of rest and showed his incredible state of form beating one more record.

The Portuguese became the top scorer in a Champions League group stage with nine goals, helping Real Madrid to finish the tournament’s first round with five victories and one draw.

Despite having secured the first spot of the Group B, Carlo Ancelotti didn’t rest any regular starters and lined-up the strongest eleven, with the exception of Nacho Fernandez, who started as centre-back due to Sergio Ramos’ suspension and Raphael Varane’s injury.

The hosts were yet to be defeated at home, but with Los Blancos aiming to improve their performance after their embarrassing goalless draw against third division Olimpic Xativa, it seemed clear that the Danish unbeaten run was about to end up.

Real’s worst enemy was the pitch, as the dodgy surface caused Iker Casillas a few problems. But Los Merengues were in control of the game and soon started to have chances to score.

Ronaldo could have made it 0-1 with a couple of shots from long distance, and Gareth Bale was also centimetres away from scoring with a header, but it was Luka Modric who put the visitors ahead with a brilliant goal.

The Croatian tricked two Danish players to shift the ball back onto his right foot and send a wonderful strike to the top right corner from outside the area.

Copenhagen only chance to equalise came in a corner kick, when Thomas Delaney’s goal was denied after he fouled Casillas.

The Danish hopes of savaging any point disappeared in the third minute of the second half. Marcelo sent a cross to the far post and Pepe headed the ball back to Ronaldo, who netted home the second.

After making it 0-2, Madrid ceded control to Copenhagen, as they seemed to feel more comfortable saving energy and waiting for a counterattack to seal the victory.

Ronaldo was close to scoring a brace to become the Champions League third all-time goal scorer, but his strike from inside the box hit the post and minutes later the goalkeeper saved the Portuguese’s penalty shot. He’ll surely have more chances in the last-16 round.

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Copenhagen Real Madrid betting preview

Tonight is the final match of the Champions League group stage for Real Madrid and they visit FC Copenhagen assured of qualification for the next round and guaranteed top spot. FC Copenhagen go into the match with an outside chance of making the Europa League, so do have something to play for.

But those hosts are still considered rank outsiders by the bookies at around 7/1 to beat Los Blancos. Carlo Ancelotti’s men are heavy favourites at 4/9. The nine-time European Cup winners are unbeaten in this season’s competition to date, and are th highest scorers with 19 goals in their first five matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo should feature for Los Blancos after recovering from a thigh injury. The Portugal international can be found at 8/13 to score at any point during the match and at 13/5 to score the game’s first goal.

The 28-year-old should be motivated to score tonight as he could set a new Champions League group stage record for scoring. Him and PSG forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic both have eight goals so far, and with the Swede being rested for the final game of the group stage, Ronaldo has the chance to move ahead.

Indeed, backing Ronaldo to score two goals and hit double figures for the group stage is a tempting bet and can be found at odd of 5/2.

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Copenhagen - Real Madrid match preview

Real Madrid take on FC Copenhagen in Denmark tonight in their final 2013/14 Champions League group stage fixture, as the home side search for Europa League qualification.

Los Blancos have already secured top spot in the group after amassing 13 points in their first five matches, although coach Carlo Ancelotti may not get the chance to give all of his superstars a rest, due to Sergio Ramos’ suspension and injuries to Fabio Coentrao, Raphael Varane and Sami Khedira, before the resumption of La Liga this weekend.

Copenhagen came into the group as huge underdogs, but have managed four points from their five games and, barring a minor miracle, will not be progressing through to the round of 16.

They can, however, achieve a 3rd place finish in the group, which would lead to them dropping down into the next stage of the Europa League. If Copenghagen better Galatasaray’s result against Juventus, or Galatasaray beat Juventus and Copenhagen defeat Los Blancos they will move into the Europa League.

Cristiano Ronaldo last week said he was ‘Fully recovered’ from the thigh injury that had kept him out of Real’s two previous fixtures, before his suspension from the past weekend’s Copa Del Rey tie, so is likely to return to the starting line-up.

Los Blancos have not lost in their last eight games, and it is certain Carlo Ancelotti will be looking to continue that run before the team head to Osasuna on Saturday afternoon.

Probable line-ups:

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Nacho, Marcelo; Alonso, Illaramendi; Bale, Isco, Ronaldo; Benzema

Copenhagen: Wiland, Remmer, Mellberg, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Kristensen, Claudemir, Delaney, Toutouh, Jørgensen, Vetokele.

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Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos could soon be headed to the French capital to join Paris Saint-Germain amid rumours of dissatisfaction at the Bernabéu.

Officials from the Ligue 1 leaders spoke to Ramos’s representatives to inquire about his availability, according to an article this week from French news outlet Le10Sport. Ramos is suspected to be unsettled at Madrid due to tense relationships with club president Florentino Pérez and manager Carlo Ancelotti.

Despite the Spain international’s desire to remain in Madrid, reports suggest that Ancelotti would be willing to sell the defender if a sufficient fee was paid.

Various reports also suggest that two Premier League sides led by former Madrid managers — both of whom Ramos played for — may have an interest in the 27-year-old. José Mourinho’s Chelsea and Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City are alleged to be keeping an eye on the situation before the transfer window opens in January.

The World Cup winner dispelled some rumours surrounding his spat with Pérez after a La Liga win against Real Valladolid on November 30.

Ramos gave Perez his shirt and said their disagreement was “personal” and not related to contract negotiations, but that he has always had a “wonderful relationship” with the president. He compared their differences to those between a father and a son.

Ramos has made more than 260 appearances for Madrid since joining from Sevilla in 2005 after a breakout season. Since then, he has become a staple of the Madrid defense and led Los Blancos to three La Liga titles and a Copa Del Rey trophy.

He captained the side when goalkeeper Iker Casillas was absent during the 2012-13 season.

However, he has not quite replicated his best form for Madrid in the first half of the 2013-14 season.

The defender has won more than 100 international caps and holds winners’ medals from the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. In June, Ramos helped Spain to the Confederations Cup final, and he secured qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil with Spain in October.

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Real Madrid press report 10-12-13

Spain’s most sold sports newspaper, Marca, highlights today in its front page Carlo Ancelotti’s words about Real Madrid’s two hot topics at the moment: Xabi Alonso’s contract renewal and Angel di Maria possible exit in January.

The Italian told the press: “I’m optimistic about Alonso, I think he’ll renew.”

When asked about Di Maria’s unhappiness due to the lack of minutes of play, he answered: “The door of my office is open if he wants to talk.”

Marca also emphasizes today’s Champions League match against Copenhagen, pointing out Gareth Bale reaches 100 days at the club.

In a reference to the poor conditions of the playing ground, Marca titles “Cristiano Ronaldo makes his return in a dangerous field.”

Meanwhile, the other main Madrid sports daily, As, puts its focus on Ronaldo being named among the three Ballon d’Or finalist, together with Franck Ribery and Leo Messi. “Candidate Cristiano,” they title.

“The Portuguese returns after 18 days,” they report. “If he scores one goal, he’ll beat the group stage record; if he scores a brace, he’ll become the Champions League’s third all-time goal scorer,” As points out.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been named on the shortlist of three players for the Ballon d’Or award.

With there having been little down as to the identity of the final three on the list, comes as no surprise that the Real Madrid man is joined by Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery, and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Many pundits are expecting the award to be a contest between Ronaldo and Ribery, with four time winner Messi considered the least likely of the three to win it this year because he is out injured until the New Year.

Ribery had an outstanding season with the Bavarian giants, helping them to a historic treble of the Bundesliga, Champions League and German Cup. On the international stage, he also helped France reach the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer, with Les Bleus becoming the first European team to overturn a 2-0 deficit to defeat Ukraine and book themselves a place in the tournament.

Ronaldo, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2008, has taken goalscoring records to new levels this calendar year. He had netted a remarkable 60 times for club and country this year – and his outstanding form led to the Los Blancos fans wearing masks bearing his face during the recent Chanpions League game against Galatasaray as their way of calling for him to be recognised by FIFA. The 28-year-old also scored a remarkable hat trick to ensure Portugal qualified for the World Cup by defeating Sweden 4-2 overall in the playoffs.

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Xabi Alonso and Real Madrid haven’t still reached an agreement on the midfielder’s contract renewal, and in just three weeks the Basque will be free to start negotiating with other clubs, since his commitment with Los Blancos ends in June 2014.

With many European clubs interested in signing Alonso, Los Blancos directors are desperately trying to agree a new deal before that date to prevent other teams from seducing Alonso.

Real have already made the 32-year-old an offer, but Alonso is reluctant to lose a big amount of money in the negotiations, according to Spanish website SportYou.

This website claims other clubs would have offered Alonso the last big contract of his career plus a ten-million euros bonus, in exchange for not having to pay Real Madrid a single cent.

Alonso and his agent have asked Real to at least match those conditions, giving him an extra ten million for staying at the club.

Florentino Perez and the club directors had already improved the initial offer, but that is not reportedly what Alonso asks for.

The new contract would have a two-year length, the same that other clubs have presumibly offered the Basque. Juventus, Chelsea and Liverpool have shown the highest interest in signing Alonso next summer.

However, the fact that the team has improved so much since he returned from his injury and the fans pressure to retain Alonso is forcing Los Merengues to make any exceptional effort to seal the midfielder’s renewal.

If everything goes as expected, Xabi Alonso will sign his contract extension with Real Madrid before December 31st.

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French champions PSG did everything possible within the laws of the game to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid, according to the club’s former sporting director Leonardo.

In an interview with Telefoot, the ex Milan and Inter coach also claimed the Paris-based side were close to securing the signature of French midfielder Paul Pogba, who is plying his trade at Juventus.

The Brazilian said that although the club failed to make either move materialise, he believes Carlo Ancelotti’s old side – who won their first league title in almost two decades under the Italian last season – have the best squad in Europe.

“Pogba is at the level to play for PSG, of course. We thought of him and thought he would be a great investment because he is one of the best midfielders in the world. We also thought of signing Ronaldo. I did everything within the written laws to try to get him to Paris but it was impossible to make him leave Real Madrid,” he said.

Leonardo added: “There is no other team that has the squad of the Paris Saint-Germain. No other team has such offensive force. The team is ready for now and for the future.”

The 44-year-old also waded into the Ballon d’Or debate, and suggested Franck Ribery should win it this year because the other main candidates – Ronaldo and Lionel Mess i- have already won the award.

“Ronaldo, Messi and Ribery are the type of players who make you dream. I prefer Ribery for the Ballon d’Or, as it would be his first title. Ronaldo and Messi also merit it but they have already won,” he stated.

 

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