Rampant Real back with a bang
Source: Agencies |
January 22, 2013, Tuesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
AFTER failing to fire on all cylinders in the first half of the campaign, Real Madrid finally reproduced the scintillating form that helped it romp to the La Liga title last season with a 5-0 dismantling of hapless Valencia on Sunday.
The signs of a revival, sparked by doubles for Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria and the creativity of playmaker Mesut Ozil, come at a crucial time with a Champions League last-16 tie against English Premier League leader Manchester United looming next month.
Its best performance of the season pushed the reports of dressing room disharmony which have dominated coverage of Jose Mourinho's side in recent months off the front pages and had sports daily As proclaiming: "The great Madrid is back".
Real tore into Valencia at the Mestalla and scored all five goals before halftime, racking up its biggest lead at the break since Mourinho took over as coach in 2010.
Ronaldo and Di Maria were close to unstoppable on the counter attack, while striker Gonzalo Higuain, who kept Karim Benzema on the bench and opened the scoring in the ninth minute, looked back to his best after recently returning from injury.
"It was a match that we made easy for ourselves," Di Maria told TV broadcaster Canal Plus.
"We went out to press forward as we have been doing and we got a lot of goals," added the Argentina international, who has come under fire recently for some lackluster performances. "I had a great match. It says a lot and maybe shut a few mouths."
Ronaldo's brace gave him 18 goals in the league, tied with Atletico Madrid's Falcao. Barcelona's Lionel Messi leads the competition with 29 goals through 20 rounds.
It was Real's second victory of the week against Valencia after last Tuesday's 2-0 Cup quarterfinal first leg success at the Bernabeu and it returns to the Mestalla for the second leg tomorrow.
For all the euphoria, the victory only trimmed the gap to leader Barcelona, which lost 2-3 at Real Sociedad on Saturday, to 15 points and Real is still seven behind city rival Atletico, 2-0 winner at home to Levante on Sunday.
However, its electric performance at Valencia, which is also through to the Champions League last 16, will give it plenty of confidence that the 10th European crown that has eluded the team since 2002 is within its grasp.
The signs of a revival, sparked by doubles for Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria and the creativity of playmaker Mesut Ozil, come at a crucial time with a Champions League last-16 tie against English Premier League leader Manchester United looming next month.
Its best performance of the season pushed the reports of dressing room disharmony which have dominated coverage of Jose Mourinho's side in recent months off the front pages and had sports daily As proclaiming: "The great Madrid is back".
Real tore into Valencia at the Mestalla and scored all five goals before halftime, racking up its biggest lead at the break since Mourinho took over as coach in 2010.
Ronaldo and Di Maria were close to unstoppable on the counter attack, while striker Gonzalo Higuain, who kept Karim Benzema on the bench and opened the scoring in the ninth minute, looked back to his best after recently returning from injury.
"It was a match that we made easy for ourselves," Di Maria told TV broadcaster Canal Plus.
"We went out to press forward as we have been doing and we got a lot of goals," added the Argentina international, who has come under fire recently for some lackluster performances. "I had a great match. It says a lot and maybe shut a few mouths."
Ronaldo's brace gave him 18 goals in the league, tied with Atletico Madrid's Falcao. Barcelona's Lionel Messi leads the competition with 29 goals through 20 rounds.
It was Real's second victory of the week against Valencia after last Tuesday's 2-0 Cup quarterfinal first leg success at the Bernabeu and it returns to the Mestalla for the second leg tomorrow.
For all the euphoria, the victory only trimmed the gap to leader Barcelona, which lost 2-3 at Real Sociedad on Saturday, to 15 points and Real is still seven behind city rival Atletico, 2-0 winner at home to Levante on Sunday.
However, its electric performance at Valencia, which is also through to the Champions League last 16, will give it plenty of confidence that the 10th European crown that has eluded the team since 2002 is within its grasp.
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