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Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Juan Ignacio Martinez, Valladolid manager, presumes his team will need “1,000 eyes” to pay attention to Real Madrid’s attack when both confront each other today.

“Their transitions are very quick and they have three players up front with tremendous quality and pace. They play between the lines, on the counter, shooting from distance – they have it all.”

Following their 2-1 defeat away at Barcelona in October, Los Blancos have scored 25 goals in their last six games. Four goals of which they racked up during Wednesday’s match against Galatasaray. They played with one less man for the majority of the match.

“Madrid leave you with very few options. It’s clear they are superior and we know it will be difficult, but in football nothing is impossible, although we will have to go out there with a thousand eyes because in the game last Wednesday they scored four goals with one less player,” Martinez was quoted as saying by Marca.

Martinez believes that he does not need to motivate his team because they are driven to do so.

“We are excited and eager to do well on a big stage. For these games, you don’t need to fire the players up because they go there already motivated.”

Valladolid is 17th in the Liga BBVA with 12 points, while Madrid is third with 34 points, six behind Barcelona.

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Sergio Ramos has said he encourages young people to play football because of its unifying effect and the way the game improves team work skills.

Appearing at an event in Madrid when the whole Los Blancos squad were presented with new Audi cars, the defender was asked for his thoughts on how important football has been to him, and what advice he gives to future generations looking to take up the sport.

He stated: “I encourage young people to take this sport as an example because it’s really wonderful. I’ve been fortunate enough to live for and by it since I was a lad. This is a sport that excites you and makes you smile. I think that’s fundamental.

“Perhaps football has a greater impact compared to other sports, you can play and enjoy it on a group level and other sports don’t have that. It’s very important that young people to combine sports with their normal life.”

Ramos has enjoyed a glittering career in which has won the World Cup, European Championship and La Liga among other things. And he said he is at the right club to help him fulfill his dream of winning the European Cup – with Los Blancos chasing La Decima this year – their tenth European crown.

“I think that I play on the best team in the world because history says so. I feel privileged. Counting this season I’ve been with Real Madrid for nine seasons. The impact that playing for Real Madrid has on a global as well as a historic level is something that no other team has, and that means that we’re the best club. I feel privileged to be able to defend this crest,” he was quoted as saying.

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Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale has said the goal he scored against Galatasaray in the Champions League group game was one of the best he has scored in his career.

With Cristiano Ronaldo absent through injury, the Welshman was on free kick duty, and duly delivered when he opened the scoring with a sensational 35 yard effort in the first half at the Santiago Bernabeu – shortly after the hosts had been reduced to 10 men with Sergio Ramos receiving the 17th red card of his career.

Los Blancos went on to win the game comfortably, running out 4-1 winners and sealing top spot in the group and a place in the next round with a game to space. Carlo Ancelotti’s men also broke a Champions League record by scoring in their 30th consecutive European game.

Speaking to Real Madrid TV after the game, 24-year-old Bale said his effort was one of the best of his career so far. “I am happy with the game and with the goal. I have been practising my free kicks and luckily this one came off for me. It is one of the best goals of my career,” he stated.

He also said he was pleased with the effort put in by his team mates, particularly after playing the majority of the game with a man less. “We showed character and teamwork to play with one man less,” he said. “There are no limits for what we can achieve in this competition. We have a great chance to win the Champions League this year.”

Follow Paul Collins on Twitter: @pabmundo

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Real Madrid midfielder Isco said after their 4-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu over Turkish side Galatasaray that the second half performance was perfect, despite going down to ten men.

Sergio Ramos was sent off for a last man challenge on Gala striker Umut Bulut as he was through on goal, but Gareth Bale scored a beautiful free kick to give Los Blancos the lead, before Bulut equalized a minute later.

But Carlo Ancelotti’s men came out much better after the interval, with Alvaro Arbeloa, Angel Di Maria and Isco scoring to give them a comprehensive win.

And Isco was full of praise about the second half performance, saying: “With one less, we had a ten out of ten second half. At first we lacked some intensity, but the important thing is that the team reacted well. What is important is how we played in the second half and that is how we have to play every match.”

“The coach has told us that even though we were playing with ten we had to win the match and that is what we did”.

Isco added: ” I’m happy I was able to help the team with a goal and the team’s response”.

 

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Real Madrid press report 29-11-13

Madrid sports newspaper As claims today that Florentino Perez would sell Sergio Ramos if an offer above 65 million euros arrived, as reported yesterday in radio sports program El Larguero.

The Madrid daily states Ramos showed disrespect for the president in an event with a sponsor yesterday, as the relationship between both hasn’t been good since the centre-back asked for a pay-rise and Perez denied it.

According to El Larguero, Ramos and Perez had a discussion back then at the start of the season that ended up with the president confessing how much money he would accept to let the player leave: “Perez would sell Ramos for 65 million even to Barcelona,” As publishes.

The other main Madrid sports paper, Marca, puts its focus on Los Blancos good run in the last matches, highlighting Perez’s words. “This is the way we need to follow,” the president said.

“Not a single loss since the match at Camp Nou and an average 4.3 goals per game,” Marca emphasizes.

The most sold Spanish newspaper also reports that Cristiano Ronaldo started running again in the training session and will be fit to face Valladolid in tomorrow’s La Liga clash.

* Follow Real Madrid News on Twitter

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Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti was disappointed to have to sacrifice Jese Rodriguez when Sergio Ramos saw red in the club’s Champions League encounter with Galatasaray.

Los Blancos finished as 4-2 winners on the night with goals from Gareth Bale, Alvaro Arbeloa, Angel Di Maria and Isco.

 “We played very well in the second half whilst a man short,” Ancelotti told the press.

“We played with courage and character. Playing with ten is not easy and they all worked well. The match became more complicated following Sergio’s red card and I expect to see him back for the round of 16”.

He also touched on the team’s form: “We’re on a good run, we are scoring lots of goals and playing well. We need to keep the momentum going. I’m happy right now”.

The Italian was forced into withdrawing Jese after Ramos got the wrong side of Umut Bulut and fouled the striker earning a straight red card.

“I’m a little sad because I needed to change Jesé, who is in a very good form, but I needed to put a defender on”.

Ancelotti revealed what he told the Spanish Under-21 international: “To Jesé I just said that I needed to do it because Ramos did not need to take that risk, he just had to get the other side of him. Just like when we conceded the goal, the danger was in behind”.

Follow Louis Gibberd-Thomas on Twitter: @mercutio156

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Álvaro Arbeloa praised Xabi Alonso’s performance in last nights comfortable 4-1 win over Galatasaray in the Champions League.

The right back, who scored on the night, spoke of his friendship with the Spanish central midfielder and his importance at Real Madrid.

“Xabi is a very good friend. Everyone says we depend on Alonso. The problem is not ours, it is theirs because he is the best,” said Arbeloa.

“His presence changes everything. There is no one in the world like him and he is a central pillar to this team”.

The 30-year-old scored a rare goal from a Marcelo cross, before producing an assist 12-minutes later as his low cross found Angel de Maria inside the area.

Arbeloa claimed: “The team played very well in the second half. The coach was right with the tactical change and we pressed more”.

“I am grateful to the Bernabéu crowd, who know how things are, and when you do things well they recognize it”

When asked about receiving a booking for going down in the Galatasaray area, the Spaniard felt he was harshly punished.

“He touched me. I said that to the referee that it wasn’t a yellow because he had touched me”.

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Angel di Maria has spoken of his delight at returning to the first team and grabbing a goal in the Champions League win over Galatasaray.

With the so-called BBC trio of Bale, Benzema and Cristiano producing sensational displays in recent weeks, the likes of di Maria and Isco have found it hard to force their way into Carlo Ancelotti’s plans.

But with Ronaldo injured and the team having to be reshuffled thanks to the injury to Sami Khedira, both players made an appearance in the 4-1 win, and scored a goal apiece. And speaking after the game, the 25-year-old Argentina winger told reporters he was happy to get some game time and hoped he gave Ancelotti some food for thought.

“I’m happy because things are more complicated when you’re not playing and you want to prove every time you play with the team that you’re there to help,” he said.

He also spoke of his delight at the club having progressed to the last 16 of Champions League with a game to spare, and having secured top spot already. In effect, it means the final group match against FC Copenhagen is a dead rubber, and Los Blancos can focus their attentions on the Liga until after Christmas.

“I’m thrilled with the win. The team made a huge sacrifice to get the win playing with a man down in the second half, but now we’re qualified for the Champions League round of 16, which is what we wanted” di Maria said, before adding “We’re in form and things are going well for us. We have to continue growing as a group. We have a big squad and it works out well whoever plays.”

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British football magazine FourFourTwo has awarded Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player of 2013. In an interview to the London based publication, the Portuguese claimed “Real Madrid can win both the Champions League and La Liga this season.”

Ronaldo thanked all the support he’s received with fans backing him to become the Ballon d’Or 2013 winner. In a reference to this subject, CR7 commented on FIFA president Joseph Blatter’s mocking him: “I’m not sure the word commander is the right for me. We have many leaders in the team, not only inside the field, but also outside,” he said.

After beating Leonel Messi in the FourFourTwo award, Ronaldo was asked about his rivalry with the Argentinian. “We are different players, there is not a big rivalry between us,” he told the British magazine.

“You’re putting Ali-Frazier and McEnroe-Borg as examples, but those are individual sports. Football is a team sport. I’ve had a good year, but this is a collective game, and I don’t think any player could become big without great team mates.

“I wouldn’t be the player I am without my team mates, my coaches, the fans, because I play for them, and my family,” he added.

The Portuguese also had kind words for Gareth Bale: “I like to play with Gareth. I don’t if we are impossible to defend, as Sergio Ramos said. Gareth is very good and he gives us more options in attack. As it happened with Wayne Rooney, I have a good understanding with him. That’s easy with great players.”

Asked about his current great scoring form, Ronaldo said “it would be incredible to finish as the top scorer in La Liga and the Champions League.”

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Champions League trophy

Real Madrid eased into the last 16 of the Champions League with their 4-1 win over Galatasaray last night – despite the sending off of Sergio Ramos.

And in the process, the nine-time European Cup winners set a new Champions League record for scoring in the most amount on consecutive games in Europe. Gareth Bale, Alvaro Arbeloa, Angel di Maria and Isco all grabbed a goal each, meaning Carlo Ancelotti’s men have now scored in their last 30 Champions Leauge matches – a run dating back to May 2011.

Coincidentally, the spectacular scoring run started against bitter rivals Barcelona, who previous held the record having found the net in 29 consecutive games between November 2009 and March 2012.

The 30-game goalscoring run involves 14 different teams along the way, with Ajax Borussia Dortmund and last night’s opposition Galatasaray featuring the most (four times each). Los Blancos have also played twice against the likes of Dinamo Zagreb, Lyon, CSKA Moscow, APOEL, Bayern, Manchester City, Juventus and Manchester United in the run, and once against Barcelona and Copenhagen.

Over the course of the 30 games, Los Merengues have scored 80 goals, at an incredible rate of 2.66 a game. In this season’s campaign alone, the Santiago Bernabeu side have scored 18 times in five matches, an incredible rate of 3.6 per game.

Below is the full list of Madrid’s Champions League goalscoring record.

Date Match
03/05/2011 Barcelona 1-1 Real Madrid
14/09/2011 D. Zagreb 1-1 Real Madrid
27/09/2011 Real Madrid 3-0 Ajax
18/10/2011 Real Madrid 4-0 Lyon
02/11/2011 Lyon 0-2 Real Madrid
22/11/2011 Real Madrid 6-2 D. Zagreb
07/12/2011 Ajax 0-3 Real Madrid
21/02/2012 CSKA Moscú 1-1 Real Madrid
14/03/2012 Real Madrid 4-1 CSKA Moscú
27/03/2012 APOEL 0-3 Real Madrid
04/04/2012 Real Madrid 5-2 APOEL
17/04/2012 Bayern 2-1 Real Madrid
25/04/2012 Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern
18/09/2012 Real Madrid 3-2 M. City
03/10/2012 Ajax 1-4 Real Madrid
24/10/2012 Dortmund 2-1 Real Madrid
06/11/2012 Real Madrid 2-2 Dortmund
21/11/2012 M. City 1-1 Real Madrid
04/12/2012 Real Madrid 4-1 Ajax
13/02/2013 Real Madrid 1-1 M. United
05/03/2013 M. United 1-2 Real Madrid
03/04/2013 Real Madrid 3-0 Galatasaray
09/04/2013 Galatasaray 3-2 Real Madrid
24/04/2013 Dortmund 4-1 Real Madrid
30/04/2013 Real Madrid 2-0 Dortmund
17/09/2013 Galatasaray 1-6 Real Madrid
02/10/2013 Real Madrid 4-0 Copenhague
23/10/2013 Real Madrid 2-1 Juventus
05/11/2013 Juventus 2-2 Real Madrid
27/11/2013 Real Madrid 4-1 Galatasaray
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