jeudi 3 octobre 2013

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.
                                                                                                                    by http://www.marca.com/

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".
                                                                                                                                  by marca

mercredi 18 septembre 2013

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

jeudi 14 mars 2013

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.

dimanche 10 mars 2013

Piqué: "Bale can definitely play for Barcelona"

One of the biggest sensations in European football right now is Tottenham Hotspur's Welsh flyer Gareth Bale, who is attracting the attention of clubs such as Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Barcelona's Gerard Piqué, in an interview with the BBC, is full of praise. "He is an unbelievable player with all the conditions to play in the team that he wants to. The best players can fit in any team. It's true that maybe, because he's really quick and with the power he's got, he fits a bit better at Real Madrid, but he can play here too definitely".
Piqué says that he has a predilection for certain Premier League players like Van Persie and Rooney, and also admitted that English football is discussed a lot in the Barcelona dressing room. "Fàbregas loves to talk about Arsenal", Piqué reveals.