Page 486

By -
2

After his goalscoring exploits this week, Cristiano Ronaldo continues to dominate the headlines in the Madrid press.

Both Marca and AS go with the Portugal international on their front pages today, with different angles to their coverage. Starting with Marca, the paper says Los Blancos have a long-term plan to turn the forward into an out and out number nine as he gets older. The two-time Ballon d’Or winner has scored 50 goals or more for his club for each of the past four seasons, and putting him as a lead forward would enable him to focus solely on his natural goalscoring ability.

AS looks more in detail at Ronaldo’s hat trick record of 25 in just five years since he arrived in the Spanish capital. The picture on the front page shows all the different match balls he has won for scoring three goals for Real Madrid. He now lies just one hat trick short of the club record, held by Alfredo di Stefano.

Elsewhere, a finance professor from the University of Barcelona has had his say on Real’s finances. He says the 602 million euro debt announced by the club last week – an 11% increase despite winning the Champions League – is a worrying sign for the club and that Florentino Perez’ handling of the finances is a dangerous one.

By -
0

Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas has said fans who jeer Iker Casillas are being unfair on him and unfaithful to the club.

The Costa Rican shot stopper, who arrived at the club following a superb showing at the World Cup this summer, has been jostling with the 33-year-old captain for the number one spot in Carlo Ancelotti’s team.

And he finally made his La Liga bow for Los Blancos in their easy 5-1 win over Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night.

Speaking to reporters after the game, the topic of his rivalry with Casillas came up, as too did the issue of fans jeering the Spain international for what they see as sub-par performances.

But Navas defended his fellow custodian and asked Madridistas to get behind all the players.

“The whistles are unfair to him because he has had a big career at Madrid,” Navas said.  And he added: “The thing we ask is for our supporters to encourage us. Those who whistle Casillas are unfaithful to Madrid.”

Navas also expressed his delight at making his La Liga debut for the club, and said one of his dreams has been fulfilled.

“It’s very nice. It was always one of my goals to get here and play in this stadium. It is a privilege. I am happy because we won.”

By -
3

Cristiano Ronaldo has hailed his Real Madrid colleagues for making his life easier after he scored a four-goal haul in the 5-1 win over Elche on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old has now scored seven goals in his last two games, and his sensational goalscoring form means he has now netted 25 hat tricks for the club since his arrival in the Spanish capital five years ago. He needs to one more to equal the record number of hat tricks scored for Los Blancos, currently held by the legendary Alfredo di Stefano.

Speaking to reporters after his latest sensational performance, the Ballon d’Or winner said much of it was down to the hard work of the players around him.

“I’ve done this [scored four goals in a match] two or three times,” he said.  And he added: “It is a matter of service. I thank my team mates for helping me score the goals. The match ball is for my son. It was a very good game. We started a little badly. I gave away a penalty, but we responded well, with two goals in a row.”

The striker refused to be drawn on the ongoing debate about which goalkeeper should start for the side, and admitted the topic is getting tired now and the press need to think of new things to cover.

“We must not always talk about the same things,” he added. “Iker and Keylor are the best goalkeepers in the league. That question has been exhausted. The important thing is to continue and improve.”

By -
0

After letting Xabi Alonso and Casemiro leave in the winter transfer market, Real Madrid seem to be in need of a midfielder with better defensive skills than regular starters Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

Despite Carlo Ancelotti has claimed he’s happy with the current squad, it would appear that the Italian wants one more player to replace Alonso. Reports in the UK have suggested that Los Blancos are still keeping close tabs on Chelsea’s Ramires, who was linked with a Santiago Bernabeu move last summer.

The Daily Mirror has claimed Florentino Perez would be willing to make a high bid for the Brazilian next summer, with Chelsea asking for 30 million euros to let him go.

Ramires is one of Ancelotti’s favourite midfielders. In fact, the Italian signed him for Chelsea back in 2010, in his last season at Stamford Bridge.

It seems unlikely that Ramires could arrive to the Santiago Bernabeu before next summer. But with Sami Khedira’s contract expiring in June, the Brazilian will surely be one of the first options for Los Merengues directors to reinforce the midfield.

* Get all the latest Real Madrid news by following our Twitter account: @realmadridnewsw

By -
2

Real Madrid and Liverpool could be set to complete a wonderkid swap, as both clubs have been eyeing each others youth teams.

Spanish sports newspaper Marca has claimed Los Blancos are interested in signing youngster Pedro Chirivella, who moved to Anfield Road last summer from Valencia.

The 17-year-old midfielder has been training with the first squad and is seen as the next Xabi Alonso. He is yet to make his debut for Liverpool senior team, but he is predicted a brilliant future in the game.

Los Merengues coaching staff are willing to bring the Spaniard back to his home country, where he could join Zinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid Castilla.

Meanwhile, Liverpool have set their eyes on Jack Harper, an 18-year-old Scottish striker who plays for Real Madrid Under-19 team. The British youngster arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu at the age of 13 and has become one of the biggest prospects of European football.

Italian website Calciomercato.com has stated Brendan Rodgers was very impressed by Harper’s performance in last week’s UEFA Youth League game against Basel.

Both teams will have a perfect chance to check on each other’s youngsters as their Under-19 sides will meet in the UEFA Youth League next month.

By -
0

Elche boss Fran Escriba has described Cristiano Ronaldo as football’s version of Michael Jordan after the Portuguese grabbed four goals in the 5-1 demolition on Tuesday night.

Just three days after scoring a hat trick against Deportivo La Coruna, the 29-year-old went one better against Elche, as his four goals helped Madrid come from behind.

It was his 25th hat trick for the club since his arrival from Manchester United in 2009 and he moves to within one of club record holder Alfredo di Stefano.

The two-time Ballon d’Or winner has now also scored 187 goals in La Liga, placing him third on the list of all time scorers in the Spanish league.

Speaking after the game, Escriba said Ronaldo was like NBA legend Michael Jordan in that he just scores for fun every game.  He added that the Portugal forward is capable of finding the net himself and doesn’t need the help of two penalty kicks to get him on his way.

“Ronaldo is an extraordinary player with tremendous scoring ability,” Escriba told reporters.

“This is like when Michael Jordan was playing and scoring 50 points every night. And on top of that he got two penalties. He doesn’t need the help.”

By -
2

Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has hailed his side’s response to the loss to Atletico de Madrid 10 days ago.

In the three games since that defeat at home to Los Colchoneros, Real have won their three games – two in La Liga and one in the Champions League – scoring 18 goals along the way.

Speaking after the latest win, a 5-1 victory over Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ancelotti told reporters his team has come a long way in a short space of time.

“The team played well, with greater balance, control and consistency. We reacted well after conceding. It isn’t a question of the system; it’s the work that everyone puts in. The team is in much better physical shape than against Atlético,” he stated.

And he added: “As you improve physically, it’s easier to have balance. We try to defend in a 4-4-2 and attack with a different system, so as to get good use out of the characteristics of our attackers.”

He also hailed Cristiano Ronaldo’s unique talent at being in the right moment at the right time and his incredible speed throughout the game. The Portuguese netted four times on Tuesday, meaning he has scored seven in his last two matches.

“He doesn’t like playing with his back to goal, he wants to look for spaces on the wing to be facing goal. The movements he makes are very quick and that’s why they come as a surprise. He is always in just the right position because he has a unique gift for movement,” Ancelotti said.

“He needed a period of time in which to work; he has done that with the discipline and professionalism that he has. He’s in very good physical shape, he’s motivated and he’s scoring a lot of goals.”

By -
2

Real Madrid eased past Elche to earn their third victory in La Liga thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored four goals and put in a superb performance.

However, things didn’t start as expected for Los Blancos. The home crowd were stunned when the referee flagged for a penalty when Ronaldo looked to clear the ball out of his own box and innocuously clipped the thigh of Pedro Mosquera.

Edu Albacar made it 0-1, but it only took Los Merengues five minutes to level again. Gareth Bale headed a James Rodriguez cross into the bottom corner, when Real were really struggling in defense.

Madrid gained confidence after that and they took the lead when the ref made another ridiculous call. Marcelo was adjudged to have been fouled by Mosquera and Ronaldo fired his effort into the top corner.

The Portuguese international made his second five minutes later as he met a cross from Marcelo and arrowed a superb header into the bottom corner.

With the game under control, Carlo Ancelotti men played more relaxed in the second half and Elche never threatened the hosts.

With ten minutes to goal, the referee conceded another doubtful penalty and Ronaldo had his third from the penalty spot after placing his effort into the bottom corner.

The Portuguese would have time to score a fourth. Bale slided a lovely pass into the box for his team-mate, and Ronaldo took a touch past the defender before stabbing past Manu Herrera.

Real’s number 7 is now the top goal scorer of La Liga with nine goals. Madrid shorten the deficit with Barcelona to three points, although the Azulgrana still have to play against Malaga.

By -
0

Real Madrid’s on-loan forward Javier Hernandez says the team is yet to hit top gear yet – an ominous warning having scored eight times at the weekend.

The Manchester United man, who will spend the season on loan in the Spanish capital, scored twice at the weekend as Los Blancos smashed eight goals past Deportivo La Coruna to kick start their La Liga campaign after two successive losses.

And speaking ahead of the match against Elche at the Santiago Bernabeu, the 26-year-old said as good as Real were, there is always room for improvement as there is no such thing as a perfect match.

Speaking to Canal Plus, Chicharito said: “We must always keep improving. Perfection doesn’t exist. That’s something I have been taught. We are not going to have the perfect match, you have to work hard and even though we’ve scored plenty of goals we still need to look to improve.”

Reports in the Spanish press suggest the Mexican could start the match against Elche ahead of French striker Karim Benzema, who has scored just three goals in his last 19 outings for Real Madrid. Chicharito was signed by Ancelotti to provide competition for Benzema following the sale of Alvaro Morata to Juventus in the summer.

By -
0
Real Madrid Elche match preview

Real Madrid take on Elche this evening at the Santiago Bernabeu and will look to continue their goal scoring run.

After a rocky start in La Liga in which they lost to Real Sociedad and Atletico de Madrid, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have scored 13 goals in their last two games. They defeated FC Basel 5-1 to start the defence of their Champions League trophy in style, before crushing Deportivo La Coruna at the weekend.

Carlo Ancelotti has said he still has concerns and there is plenty to work on, and in particular in defence, where Los Blancos have been leaky. In his pre-match press conference ahead of the game, the Italian admitted he would make some changes to the side, and Keylor Navas, the summer arrival from Levante, may replace Iker Casillas in goal.

With doubts over Pepe and Sergio Ramos at centre back, Nacho Fernandez and Raphael Varane may play. Further forward, Isco should come into the midfield trio, perhaps instead of James Rodriguez, while Javier Hernandez could start ahead of Karim Benzema up front after netting twice at the weekend.

One player who won’t be rested though is Cristiano Ronaldo. Fresh from scoring his 23rd hat trick for the club at the weekend, Carlo Ancelotti insists the Portuguese is back to his best and will play.

Possible line-up:
Real Madrid: Navas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Coentrao; Illarramendi, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Hernández, Ronaldo.

1...485486487...733Page 486 of 733

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