La Liga, Santiago Bernabeu - Real Madrd 5 (Bale 7, Ronaldo 9', 18', Benzema 12', 41') Sporting Gijon 1 (Lopez 62')
Real Madrid scored a sensational four goals in 18 minutes to set them on course for an emphatic 5-1 win over Sporting Gijon.
However, Zinedine Zidane’s second match in charge of Los Blancos was somewhat dampened by injuries to Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema.
The Santiago Bernabeu side started in irresistible form, with Bale opening the scoring before Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo added their names to the scoreline. With 20 minutes played, it seemed likely that Real Madrid would rack up the goals.
But Zidane’s side eased off the pedal in the second half, with
the changes to the starting line-up disrupting their flow and fluidity.
Sporting Gijon grabbed a consolation goal, shutting up shot to limit the
damage inflicted on them after the break.
Bale and Benzema will now undergo tests to determine the full
extent of their injuries, but Zidane will be pleased with yet another
comprehensive victory in front of his own fans.
KEY EVENTS
4’ - DANGEROUS FOR SPORTING GIJON! Carvajal
got into a good position down the right side, but his low cross into
Benzema is cut out by Mere on the sliding challenge.
7’ - GOAL! Real 1-0 Gijon. What an easy
opener for Real Madrid! Bale got to the front post and won the header
from a corner kick, finding the net almost unchallenged.
9’ - GOAL! Real 2-0 Gijon. And there's the
second! Gijon give up possession cheaply, Benzema sets up Ronaldo and
the number seven finds the top corner with a sensational strike.
12’ - GOAL! Real 3-0 Gijon. This is getting
silly now! Real Madrid are three goals to the good and we've only played
13 minutes. Benzema finds the net with an acrobatic finish.
18’ - GOAL! Real 4-0 Gijon. There's the fourth! This is sensational stuff from Real Madrid. Carvajal crosses low for Ronaldo, who finishes past Cuellar with a simple finish.
40’ - WAS THAT A PENALTY KICK? Halilovic goes down in the opposition box under the challenge of Varane - who didn't win the ball - but the referee shakes his head and plays on.
41’ - GOAL! Real 5-0 Gijon. There's the fifth goal before the half-time break! Isco's clever chip over the top finds Benzema, who dinks the ball over the defender and dribbles it home.
45' - BALE INJURY? This could be a concern
for Real Madrid. Bale is down on the turf and holding his right calf,
which has been a problem for him in the past. Ronaldo is there chatting
to him.
55’ - WAS THAT A KICK-OUT FROM RONALDO? After
a collision the Real Madrid number seven looked to kick out at Caces.
That could have been a red card, by the letter of the law!
63’ - JAMES INTO THE THICK OF THINGS STRAIGHT AWAY! He tries to set up the unmarked Marcelo for the shot inside the box, but he can't quite free the ball up for the pass.
64’ - GOAL! Real 5-1 Gijon. The away team
have something to cheer! Jonny does well to square in the box and Lopez
finishes into the bottom right-hand corner with a good finish.
86’ - THAT'S BETTER FROM JESE! He completely
bamboozled Mere as he surged forward into the penalty area, but his shot
at goal was poor. Cuellar had an easy save to make.
KEY STATS
Cristiano Ronaldo (six), Gareth Bale (nine) and Karim Benzema
(eight) have scored 23 out Real Madrid’s last 24 league goals.
The last time Real Madrid scored three goals in the first 12
minutes of a league game was on January 15, 1956 against Celta Vigo.
TALKING POINT
Will Real Madrid count the cost of this victory? On
the face of it, Zinedine Zidane has plenty reason to be happy about
things at the Santiago Bernabeu right now. He has overseen two emphatic
wins in his first two matches in charge of Real Madrid, but how costly
will the injuries to Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema prove to be? The two
players are crucial to the way Zidane likes to play, and so he will be
desperate for good news from their tests early next week.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Karim Benzema (Real Madrid): Until his injury
in the second half, Benzema was sparkling. He was the best player on
the pitch (and there were a few to choose from) and is thriving under a
manager who has complete faith in him. His link-up play with Bale and
Cristiano Ronaldo was exceptional, with his finishing also on point.
There’s a case to be made that at present Benzema is the best number
nine in the European game.
PLAYER RATINGS
Real Madrid: Navas 7, Carvajal 7, Varane 6, Pepe 6, Marcelo 6, Kroos 7, Modric 8, Isco 8, Bale 9, Ronaldo 9, Benzema 9. Subs: James 6, Kovacic 6, Jese 5.
Sporting Gijon: Cuellar 5, Lora 6, Hernandez 5, Mere 7, Lopez 5, Alvarez 6, Cases 5, Jony 6, Halilovic 5, Menendez 6, Guerrero 5. Subs: Ndi 5, Sanabria 5, Rachid 5.
0 comments:
Post a Comment