Europa League: Tottenham too strong for Anzhi Makhachkala with 2-0 away win

Tottenham Hotspur took control of Europa League Group K thanks to a 2-0 victory over Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia.

Jermain Defoe opened the scoring with a clinical finish in the 34th minute and Nacer Chadli turned in a Kyle Walker cross five minutes later to double Spurs' advantage.

Anzhi battled hard after the interval in an effort to get back into the game but Tottenham never looked like relinquishing their lead and held firm to maintain their strong start to the season.

Anzhi's big-spending was brought to an abrupt halt in the summer, leading to a dramatic fire sale that meant there were only three survivors from the side that started March's last-16 clash at Newcastle in the line-up, while Andre Villas-Boas rung the changes for Tottenham.

There was a subdued atmosphere at the Saturn Stadium in Ramenskoye on the outskirts of Moscow, 1,100 miles away from Anzhi's home after they were forced to play European matches elsewhere due to the current conflict in Dagestan.

A fair number of Anzhi fans had made the long trip north and looked set to be rewarded by an early goal, only for Pavel Solomatin to be adjudged - perhaps harshly - offside before he could round Hugo Lloris.

Spurs were soon on top, though, with Walker getting a lot of joy down the right flank as the hosts sat back.

Defoe hit the north Londoners' first chance of the night wide after 11 minutes, with Sandro attempting a similar effort soon after.

Villas-Boas' side were keeping possession with ease as the pitch began to cut up, with Anzhi resorting to hitting it long when they got the ball.

Lewis Holtby forced Evgeni Pomazan into action with a left-footed curling effort from 20 yards, before Tottenham finally found the opener in the 34th minute.

Holtby played a fine ball to Defoe in the box, allowing the striker to rifle home into the roof of the net and move one goal away from Martin Chivers' club record European haul of 24.

Five minutes later and Spurs seemingly had three points wrapped up. Again Holtby was involved, playing the ball out to Walker, with the right-back slipping the ball across to Chadli to sweep home his second for the club.

There could have been another as half-time approached, only for Defoe to miskick after a Walker pull-back.

Anzhi brought on reported Liverpool target Lacina Traore at the break and it led to an improved second half for the hosts.

Lloris reacted well to clear a low cross-shot from substitute Andrei Eschenko and then palmed over a drive from Solomatin, who slipped under a challenge from Younes Kaboul.

The French defender looked in discomfort immediately after the incident and was replaced by Michael Dawson for the last 20 minutes.

Long-range Chadli and Holtby efforts were all Spurs had to show for their second-half display, before Defoe fired wildly over in the 83rd minute.

Lloris parried away a Solomatin effort as Anzhi searched for a late consolation goal, which never came as Spurs held out for a decent win in tough conditions.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/live/match/301011/report

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The return of Saint Iker

The Champions League returned to the Santiago Bernabéu on Wednesday night and with it came the return of Iker Casillas in his first official match in the stadium since the 15th January.

Casillas enjoyed a relatively quiet evening, the one shock came just before half-time when both he and his defence misjudged the flight of a corner and Sigurdsson hit the bar, just as it seemed as if the ball would cross the line Luka Modric appeared to clear away any danger.

The second half was equally as quiet until added on time when Iker was called to make three mighty saves within a minute that managed to bring the 40,000 crowd that stayed on to its feet.

Iker's final minute of madness began with a stop in a one on one with Bolaños and from the resulting corner he had to be alert to deny Bengtsson with a one handed save that gave the Danish side a second consecutive corner kick.

It was at that moment when the crowd began with the classic chant of "Iker, Iker", just before he had to make another stop from the following set piece at close range. The three saves meant that Real Madrid managed its first clean sheet in quite a while. Whether it was a coincidence or not, the return of Iker coincided with his side not conceding a goal for the first time in 11 matches at the Bernabeu.

http://www.marca.com/2013/10/03/en/football/real_madrid/1380815880.html

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Wales alter Madrid's plans for Bale

The Welsh Football Association has confirmed that Real Madrid player Gareth Bale has been selected for Wales to take part in the forthcoming international matches against Macedonia and Belgium

The unexpected call up to play for his national side comes despite the player suffering from an injury in a thigh muscle that kept him out his side's 4-0 win over Copenhagen in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Wales coach Chris Coleman has made it clear Bale will not play one minute of either game despite the call up.

Two weeks rest
Madrid did plan for the Welshman to have a complete rest for two weeks from competitive games as part of his recovery, with the idea being for him to return in time for the match against Málaga.

Wales play Macedonia on the 11th October and Belgium on the 15th. According to the medical report provided by the club, the 24 year old winger is suffering from a "muscular spasm in his left thigh that needs to be constantly reviewed".

http://www.marca.com/2013/10/03/en/football/real_madrid/1380813574.html

                                                                                                                                  by marca

Casillas escapes broken rib: "It's just a knock; everything's fine"

Real Madrid’s Iker Casillas has been given a fitness boost after it was confirmed that he did not suffer a fractured rib against Galatasaray on Tuesday evening.

The goalkeeper, who was making his first competitive appearance for Madrid for 238 days, was substituted after 13 minutes of his side’s 6-1 Champions League win at the Türk Telekom Arena after clashing with team-mate Sergio Ramos.

The 32-year-old underwent medical tests at the Sanitas La Moraleja clinic on Wednesday morning, commenting afterwards: “It’s just a knock. Everything’s fine.”

Real Madrid’s medical team have confirmed that the injury is not serious, issuing a statement announcing that Casillas has suffered “a bruised left rib” and will now undergo treatment.

The Spain captain, who has been given the goalkeeper’s jersey for the Champions League by coach Carlo Ancelotti, will therefore return in time to face Copenhagen in Real’s second group stage encounter on 2 October.                                                  By  As

The Ronaldo-Benzema connection

The Cristiano Ronaldo-Benzema partnership bore fruit in Istanbul. The five goals between them showed good link-up between the Portuguese and the Frenchman, who continue to score goals in their preferred competition: Ronaldo has 53, and Benzema, 33.

Ronaldo has 53 goals in 93 Champions League matches and is within range of Van Nistelrooy, who with 56 is the third-leading Champions league goal-scorer after Raul (71) and Messi (59).

The Portuguese tallied his second Champions League hat-trick after the one he scored against Ajax in 2012-13, with both coming away from home. It is the fifth goal that he has scored against Galatasaray in the Champions League, the second-most scored upon opponent after Ajax, who he has scored seven against.

                                                                                               By Marca

Bale: "I have had zero pre-season"

Gareth Bale said in the mixed zone after the game in Istanbul: "It was great to be back in the Champions League. It has been two or three years now. It is great to get out on the pitch and get some game time.

"It was good to make an immediate contribution with the free kick. I think I was involved in all the last three goals which was delightful. So it was just great to get back on the pitch and get some game time under my belt", he added.

"It is never easy coming on as a late sub. To make my Champions League debut for Real Madrid was a big thing for me. And it was just great to get some game time and get my fitness up", Bale said.

"I think everyone knows that we are going to be there or thereabouts. For us, it was important to get off to a good start and show what we can do. And we can score goals", the Wales international added.

"I am not too sure about my fitness to be honest. It is all about building up my game time gradually. I have had zero pre-season which doesn't help. I have had no game time over the summer. It is all about getting game time under my belt and getting my fitness up as quick as I can", Bale concluded.

                                                                                                                      by marca

Better Barça now than in the final

Real Madrid is prepared for another clash in the event that tomorrow's draw pits it against the 'Azulgrana' outfit again. In fact, the team would prefer to face Barça now than play it in a hypothetical final.

This is the general feeling at the club after Barcelona knocked out Milan. Something has changed in the team. The players remain respectful, but their confidence has grown after the two latest 'Clásicos' played this season. The balance is three victories, two draws and one defeat. Over two legs, Real Madrid began the season by winning the Spanish Supercup and recently sent Barcelona crashing out of the Copa del Rey.

In the two league games, it managed 2-2 at the Camp Nou and 2-1 at the Bernabéu.
This means that they once again see themselves as being capable of outplaying them over 180 minutes. If tomorrow's draw throws up another 'Clásico', there will be no drama or predictions of doom.

The fear has vanished. If it comes in the semis, all the better, because that will mean the side has made it through another round. But given the choice, Real Madrid would prefer a double-whammy in the Champions League to a final – even though the most recent precedent is the cup final which Madrid won in Valencia against Pep Guardiola's men.