News from Real Madrid

Whites look to win their 32nd league title at San Mames

Today may be a glorious day in the history of Real Madrid as the team has a chance to win its 32nd league title with a victory over Athletic Bilbao at San Mames (22:00 CET). The venue and opponent couldn't be better for such an occasion: Athletic Bilbao have one of their most competitive squads of recent years and have reached the finals of the Copa del Rey and Europa League championships.

The Whites would also win the title today if Barcelona lose their game at Camp Nou (which starts at 20:00) or if both of them draw. Real Madrid are the best side on the road this season, losing none of their away games in 2012.

Jose Mourinho said his team will do its best to win, as always; throughout the season, Real have won 14, drawn two and lost only one of their league games on the road, scoring 46 goals and conceding only 12. They have taken 44 points away from the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Jose Mourinho has taken 20 players with him to Bilbao, including Castilla goalkeeper Tomas Mejias. Di Maria is suspended for the match, while Altintop, Lass and Carvalho have been dropped for coaching decisions. Last season, Real Madrid won 3-0 at San Mames with a Kaka brace and another goal from Ronaldo.

Cristiano Ronaldo (43 goals), Benzema (20) and Higuain (21) are the most successful attacking trio in the history of the Spanish league; never before had three strikers on the same team scored 20 or more points in one campaign. They have tallied 84 goals between them in La Liga and will surely look for more tonight.

Athletic are seventh on the table with 48 points, just one place away from a Europa League qualifying spot. They've qualified to play that championship's final this year, as well as that of the Copa del Rey. In the former tournament they managed to eliminate strong sides like Manchester United, Schalke 04 and Sporting Portugal.

Marcelo Bielsa is coaching his first season on the team. His side always looks to keep possession and plays touch football with fast transitions. Athletic have won eight, drawn six and lost two of their home games in La Liga this season, losing only to Valencia, Granada and Betis. Fernando Llorente is their main man in attack with 17 goals and will be a threat to watch out for, while Ander Herrera and Iturraspe are suspended for the clash.

Mourinho: "I like to play in Bilbao; we want to win there in order to be champions"

"I like to play in Bilbao. The stadium has a crowd that is passionate about football and that fervently supports its team. They are harsh on opponents. People who love football and the atmosphere of great games like to play there, and my team does. We've recently played in similar stadiums, like Camp Nou, the Calderon and the Reyno de Navarra. Athletic Bilbao play very well, but so do we. We will try to win in order to be champions, but they will do their best to defeat us and prevent us from winning the title at their stadium."

"Other sides have faced Athletic when the latter have used few regular starters, but we won't have that luck. All their main players rested in the previous game and they consider tomorrow's clash to be important. We won't be able to count on Di Maria because he is suspended, but this is normal because it is unusual for players not to have bookings at this stage of the season. Athletic have a solid squad and quality players."

"We haven't won yet, so the fact that I've won all three major European league championships is still hypothetical. We know we're close and that we'll achieve it soon, either tomorrow, on Saturday or later on. We are confident in ourselves and we'll experience great joy when we win the title. I don't think this will be my last La Liga title and I think we'll have a chance to celebrate other things in the future, but one of my personal goals indeed was to win the three major European league championships. I will be very happy if I manage to do so, and I'm sure I will."

"My team doesn't look to break records, but rather to win a competition as important as La Liga after a period in which our greatest rival has won it three consecutive times. We want to win this championship and records are always interesting and give the team greater merit, but the title is the main objective. Last season we could afford to focus on records because we weren't playing to win the title in the last three games, but whenever there is a collective objective you have to make it your priority."

"It isn't true that Zidane will leave the club. This club has a policy not to publicly deny all false reports. We are all responsible for the season we're having; everyone's done their part, be it players or equipment managers. Everyone tries to bring what they can to the table. As first team coach, and the power my responsibility gives me, I am delighted to continue with those who are working with me and I am grateful to all the players for their contributions and for all they are giving. We love them all, and the same goes for my coaching staff. I would like to say I arrived here with a family of four and now we're a family of five because Karanka is now part of it too. Karanka's future will be very simple the day I leave Real Madrid. He should remain if he wants because this is his home, but if he doesn't he will continue to work with me."

"We have to win the league title because, if we don't, this season will be dubbed as 'the one in which we came close'. The title will allow us to say we've had a great season and it will have even greater value because we will have surpassed a Barcelona side people deem worthy and deserving of much praise. This team has great room for improvement because it is very young and we will have enough time to prepare for next season and be even better once the championship ends."

"Cristiano Ronaldo's main objective is to win the league title and his second objective is to win the Ballon d'Or. The latter isn't won by the top scorer, but by the player who wins a great collective title. You cannot win the Ballon d'Or if you don't win the league title or the Champions League. I don't think Bayern Munchen or Chelsea have anyone better, so I think he'll win the Ballon d'Or if he wins the league title."

"Guardiola has decided to leave Barcelona. When we coaches are dismissed we are deserving of solidarity and praise. Guardiola's has been a personal decision and he knows what will make him happier. The important thing is that he's happy with his decision. I've been coaching for 12 years and I will miss football in June, when there will be no more games to play. I wish he enjoys his time because that's the most important thing in life. My decision to stay on as Real Madrid's coach has nothing to do with who coaches other teams. That was my challenge when I got here and Real Madrid and Barcelona go their own separate ways. I believe Barcelona have capable executives and, if they believe Vilanova is the ideal replacement for Guardiola, we respect their decision. He will be our opponent in La Liga next season. We cannot wish him luck because they are our most immediate opponent."

Source: realmadrid.com

Champions League semi-final

Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich 

(Agg 3-3, 1-3 on penalties)

Neuer denies Ronaldo and Kaka in shoot-out as Bavarians set up Chelsea showdown in Champions League final

The Bundesliga club have the opportunity to win the tournament at their home ground as they kept their composure to advance to the showpiece event on May 19

Bayern Munich overcame an early setback at the Santiago Bernabeu to earn the right to play in the Champions League final thanks to a 3-1 penalty shoot-out win over Real Madrid.

The Bavarians found themselves under the cosh straight away as Los Blancos tried to overturn the 2-1 deficit from the first leg. An early Cristiano Ronaldo double set them on their way but Arjen Robben levelled the tie from the penalty spot just before the half-hour mark.

The affair turned cagey in the second half as neither side wanted to over-commit and with extra time unable to separate the pair, the match went all the way to penalties.

Manuel Neuer saved from both Ronaldo and Kaka before Sergio Ramos skied his kick from 12 yards, allowing Bastian Schweinsteiger the chance to net the winning penalty.

Jose Mourinho made only one change from the side that defeated Barcelona at Camp Nou at the weekend with Marcelo replacing Fabio Coentrao at left-back. Jupp Heynckes recalled eight first-team players to the starting XI who were rested for their 2-1 win over Werder Bremen last Saturday.

Real Madrid came bursting out of the blocks and after Sami Khedira failed to beat Neuer from Angel Di Maria's cutback in the third minute, the hosts were awarded a penalty when the Argentine's thunderous volley hit David Alaba's arm inside the area.

Ronaldo stepped up to take the spot kick and coolly slotted into the bottom-right corner, sending Neuer the wrong way.

Bayern were unfazed and had two great opportunities to restore parity on the night. Firstly, Robben failed to tuck Alaba's cross away from inside the six-yard box and then Khedira stopped Franck Ribery from tapping in off a rebound from Mario Gomez's 20-yard strike with just 12 minutes played.

With the Bernabeu rocking, Los Blancos showed just how deadly they can be. In the 14th minute a deflected pass fell to Mesut Ozil and he had enough time to pick out an unmarked Ronaldo on the edge of the box. The Portuguese was clinical as he slid the ball past the keeper at the near post.

Bayern were seeing plenty of the ball and continued to look dangerous as Madrid relied on the counterattack and they were offered a chance to level the tie in the 27th minute.

Pepe recklessly dragged Gomez to the ground inside the area and the referee pointed to the spot. Robben took on the responsibility and exorcised his Bernabeu demons despite Iker Casillas' best efforts to keep his penalty out.

The unrelenting action continued as shortly after the hour mark as Karim Benzema almost curled a majestic effort past Neuer while Casillas was forced into saves from both Gomez and Robben before the break.

The momentum continued early in the second half as Gomez nodded just wide in the 48th minute and Benzema pulled a sprawling save from Neuer.

It soon fizzled out with the game so delicately poised as neither side dared commit too many men forward, making for a second period that starkly contrasted the first.

Chances were at a premium and the only clear-cut opportunity came in the 86th minute. Robben's pass found Gomez in space in the area but rather than shoot first time, he opted to control the ball which allowed white shirts to get back and swarm over him and the chance went begging.

It ensured the game would go to extra time and after nine minutes of the first period Pepe fed Ronaldo at the top of the box but the former Manchester United man failed to pull the trigger and test Neuer in the only chance of the half.

Esteban Granero was booked for diving as he tried to win his team a penalty in the dying moments of extra time but his side would have plenty as the game went on to a shoot-out.

Alaba netted the opening penalty but Ronaldo failed to match the Austrian as Neuer got a strong hand to the ball. Gomez converted Bayern's second and then Neuer saved Madrid's with an almost identical spot kick from Kaka.

Los Blancos pulled one back as Kroos and Philipp Lahm missed while Xabi Alonso scored but Ramos failed to draw level as he blasted over from 12 yards.

That offered Schweinsteiger the chance to put Heynckes' side into the final and deny Jose Mourinho the chance to face his former club, and he did so, dispatching the penalty with ease.

Bayern can now become the first team to win the Champions League at their home ground when they face Chelsea in the final on May 19.

Source: goal.com

La Liga matches 3 december

Sporting 0-3 Real Madrid

Di Maria, Ronaldo and Marcelo on target as Jose Mourinho's men collect the points at El Molinon

A 10th league win in a row for Los Blancos ensured they remain clear of rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga ahead of next weekend's Clasico at the Santiago Bernabeu

Goals from Angel Di Maria, Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo were enough for Real Madrid to secure a 3-0 victory over Sporting Gijon in an ill-tempered La Liga game at El Molinon on Saturday evening.

The away side dominated the early stages of the game, with Lassana Diarra and Sami Khedira bossing proceedings from the centre of Madrid's midfield, much to the vocal home support's disdain.

Despite their early pressure, neither side created any chances of note in the opening quarter of an hour, although Ronaldo did begin to stamp his influence on the game, giving the Sporting wing-back Roberto Canella a fairly torrid time in the opening exchanges.

In fact it was Ronaldo who fashioned the first real chance of the game, finding space on the edge of the box but then shooting high and wide with his left foot. 

Di Maria was then unfortunate to see his thunderous effort parried away by Juan Pablo after Marcelo had done well to pick out the Argentine on the edge of the Sporting box. 

Marcelo was finding all sorts of joy getting forward from left-back as the half wore on with Sporting resorting to illegal means to stop the Brazilian at times. 

The Uruguayan Sebastien Eguren was the first to find his way into the referee's book, after scything down the left-back on 25 minutes, with Oscar Trejo and David Barral following him into Eduardo Iturralde Gonzalez‎'s book shortly afterwards.

Despite Gonzalo Higuain having a goal chalked off for offside Madrid did not have long to wait for their opener, just minutes later Di Maria robbed Damien Suarez of possession down the left before cutting inside and firing a cute finish past Juan Pablo from a tight angle. 

Sporting perhaps should have equalised on the hour mark when Botia headed wastefully wide after Miguel de las Cuevas whipped an inviting free-kick to the back-post. 

De las Cuevas then did well again to jink his way into the Madrid box, with the ball falling to David Barral just wide of the goal, but his tame effort was easily saved by Iker Casillas.

Ronaldo made it 2-0 to the visitors with 65 minutes gone, after he and Di Maria exchanged passes on the edge of the box. The Argentine winger then slid a perfectly weighted ball through to his Portuguese team-mate, who drifted past Juan Pablo before firing enthusiastically into an empty net. 

A terrific save from Juan Pablo then denied Higuain from making it 3-0, after the forward had been played in by the in-form Ronaldo.

Sporting's Eguren was given his marching orders 10 minutes from the end, after receiving his second booking of the game.

Madrid did eventually add a third in injury time through Marcelo, after the Brazilian burst through on goal and fired a confident finish past Juan Pablo.

This victory cements Madrid's position in first place of La Liga ahead of the Clasico next week regardless of Barcelona's result later on this evening, while Sporting remain in the relegation zone with just 12 points from 14 games.

Barcelona 5-0 Levante

Fabregas, Cuenca, Messi & Sanchez all on target as Pep Guardiola's men keep pressure on Real Madrid ahead of Clasico

Cesc Fabregas' first-half brace opened the floodgates for Pep Guardiola's men, who ran out comprehensive winners to move within three points of their bitter rivals

Barcelona were convincing victors as they thumped Levante 5-0 at Camp Nou in La Liga to keep the pressure on Real Madrid at the top of the table ahead of next weekend's Clasico.

Cesc Fabregas grabbed a brace before Isaac Cuenca gave the home team a 3-0 lead at the break. Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez completed the rout in the second half. 

The result leaves Pep Guardiola's men three points behind Madrid, who have a game in hand over their fierce Catalan rivals, while Levante remain in fourth spot.

Barcelona started the game brightly and were a goal to the good after only four minutes. Messi found Andres Iniesta, who saw his quick-thinking back-heel trickle to the feet of Cesc Fabregas on the edge of the Levante penalty area. The former Arsenal man controlled the ball before carefully placing it into the bottom corner of the net.

In the 20th minute the Catalan club could have doubled their lead but Gustavo Munua was on cue to deny the home side as he parried Messi's free-kick from 20 metres. From the rebound, Carles Puyol could not make clean contact from close range, with Munua eventually claiming the ball cleanly.

The lead was doubled in the 33rd minute and it was Cesc again who got the better of Munua. Xavi whipped an inviting free-kick into the box and Fabregas leaped highest to power his header into the top corner, leaving the keeper helpless as Barcelona grabbed a rare goal from a set-piece.

Guardiola's men were three up in the 37th minute with a wonderful team goal that was coolly finished by youngster Isaac Cuenca, who registered his second Barcelona goal. Messi's clever run saw the Argentine slide the ball to Iniesta, who then quickly moved it to Cuenca just inside the box for the winger to strike into the bottom - an instinctive finish from the Masia youth product to give his team a comfortable lead at the interval.

Barcelona were 4-0 up in the 55th minute when Messi grabbed his 17th Liga goal of the season to draw level with Cristiano Ronaldo. Substitute Dani Alves slid a precise through ball to the 24-year-old, who made no mistake in slamming his shot into the bottom corner of the net.

In the 61st minute, the home side made it five with a devastating counter-attack. Messi found Alexis Sanchez just inside the box in a yard of space. The Chilean attacker controlled the ball before lifting it over Munua via a slight deflection off Asier Del Horno for his third goal in a week.

Iniesta had a sixth goal controversially chalked off for offside in the 88th minute as the Blaugrana comfortably kept another clean sheet this season.

Barcelona are next in action on Tuesday evening when they face BATE Borisov in the Champions League at Camp Nou before travelling to the Santiago Bernabeu on December 10 to face Madrid.

Source: goal.com