Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Thursday, September 27, 2012
Monday, September 3, 2012
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Super Cup winners Real Madrid seek league upturn
Having claimed the season's first piece of silverware with victory over Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup, Real Madrid return to domestic action needing to close a five-point deficit on the Catalans in La Liga.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho uncharacteristically tore into his players after their 2-1 derby defeat by Getafe last weekend, describing their performance as "unacceptable".
He got the reaction he was looking for in the Super Cup though, with a sparkling first-half display on Wednesday at the Bernabeu paving the way for a 2-1 victory over 10-man Barca that gave Madrid the trophy on away goals.
It was the only silverware that Mourinho lacked in Spain after winning the King's Cup in his first year and then the league title last season, which ended Barca's hegemony under Pep Guardiola, who had finished first in the previous three campaigns.
"The trophy will give us confidence. We should enjoy the moment but also realise that we must now move forward and know that we cannot afford to make any more mistakes," said Cristiano Ronaldo, ahead of Sunday's game at home to Granada.
"We know we have to improve as a group as well as individually. We started the game against Barca well, scoring two goals, but then relaxed and eased off as we became tired."
The defeat was a blow for new Barca coach Tito Vilanova as he seeks to emulate the successes of his predecessor.
He has so far failed to tighten up the defence, which was the weak point of the team last season, and centre-backs Gerard Pique and Javier Mascherano were chasing shadows for much of the first 45 minutes against Madrid.
Still, Vilanova praised the way his side responded after the break.
"I am proud that with 10 men in the second half, we managed to create five scoring chances," he said.
"This isn't a psychological blow. We would have preferred to win, but it isn't make-or-break for the season and we now return to the league."
Barca take on Valencia looking to maintain their 100 per cent record, which is also shared by Real Valladolid and Rayo Vallecano.
Valladolid are yet to concede a goal in an impressive return to the top flight and they face an Athletic Bilbao side in disarray after the departure of Javi Martinez to Bayern Munich, and with Fernando Llorente expected to follow him out of the door.
Their policy of only fielding Basques means their ability to hold onto their players is crucial but their fine displays last season have put them in the shop window.
Rayo now play Sevilla, who were happy to come away with a point from the Andalusian derby with Granada after playing the whole second half with 10 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Diego Lopez.
Atletico Madrid will look to continue their strong start to the season, which included a hat-trick by striker Radamel Falcao in a 4-0 victory over Athletic Bilbao, when they play Real Betis.
Modest Levante were the major surprises last season, qualifying for the Europa League, but after a stuttering start without a win, they aim to get back on track against Espanyol.
Fixtures
Sunday:
Rayo Vallecano v Sevilla (1000GMT), Athletic Bilbao v Valladolid (1400GMT), Levante v Espanyol (1600GMT), Real Madrid v Granada (1750GMT), Barcelona v Valencia (1930GMT)
Monday:
Real Betis v Atletico Madrid (1930GMT)
Saturday, September 1, 2012
VIDEO: Real Madrid beat arch-rivals Barcelona to win Super Cup
Real Madrid defy the odds to win the Super Cup after beating Barcelona 2-1 at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday Real Madrid claimed their first Spanish Super Cup in four years and a morale-boosting success against their arch-rivals when Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo struck in a 2-1 win against 10-man Barcelona on Wednesday. The victory against an error-prone Barca, who had Adriano sent off in the 28th minute, meant the tie finished 4-4 on aggregate after the Catalans won last week's first leg 3-2 at the Nou Camp and Real took the trophy on the away goals rule. Jose Mourinho's fired-up side were two ahead inside 20 minutes at the Bernabeu thanks to some poor Barca defending that allowed first Higuain on 11 minutes and Ronaldo eight minutes later to burst free and score. Lionel Messi gave Barca a chance of pulling off an unlikely comeback when he curled in a spectacular free kick from 30 metres moments before halftime. Pedro drew a brilliant save from Iker Casillas half an hour from time and both sides had chances in a frenetic ending but Real held firm to end Barca's three-year grip on the trophy. It was a much-needed success for Jose Mourinho's side after they failed to win in their opening three matches of the season and crashed to a shock 2-1 defeat at city rivals Getafe in La Liga on Sunday.
Real Madrid sign Essien on loan from Chelsea
Real Madrid have agreed to take Ghana midfielder Michael Essien on loan from Chelsea for the rest of the season,
The 29-year-old, who joined Chelsea from Olympique Lyon in 2005, links up again with former Stamford Bridge boss Jose Mourinho.The combative midfielder has won two Premier League titles, four FA Cups and one Champions League at the London club.
Essien did not feature when Champions League winners Chelsea were thumped 4-1 by Atletico Madrid in the European Super Cup in Monaco on Friday.
Chelsea also sent out two fringe players on loan on deadline day, with Gael Kakuta and Nathaniel Chalobah joining Vitesse Arnhem and Watford respectively.
The 21-year-old Kakuta has been unable to establish himself at Stamford Bridge despite high expectations when he arrived as a teenager from Lens in 2007.
Kakuta, whose Chelsea deal runs until 2015, has subsequently been farmed out on loan to Fulham and Bolton before returning to France with Dijon during the latter part of last season.
Watford boss Gianfranco Zola has raided his former club to sign versatile youngster Chalobah on loan until January.
The defender-come-midfielder, 17, captained the Blues to FA Youth Cup success last term and has also skippered the Premier League club's reserve side on a regular basis.
Chalobah, an England Under-19 international, is yet to make a first-team appearance for Chelsea but has been an unused substitute.
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