News from the Bernabeu and the Calderón
This page has match reports on the two main Madrid football clubs, Real and Atletico, for La Liga season 2007/08. This was the season Real Madrid won the championship for the second year in a row and Atleti came 4th and qualified for European football. For reports on La Liga Season 2006/07 click here.
La Liga - Season 2007/08
Round 38 - Real vs Mallorca and Valencia vs Atlético
End of season party for the Champions with a 3-1 home win. Atleti went down 3-1 away at Valencia but retained 4th spot and guaranteed themselves some form of European football for next season although they will have to pre-qualify for Champions League group stages.
Round 37 - Zaragoza vs Real and Atlético vs Deportivo
A 2-2 draw for Real in a 'dead rubber' with Zaragoza who weren't chasing anyhting either. Robinho and van Nistelrooy were the scorers. Atleti kept their grip on 4th poisition in the table with a 1-0 home win - Forlan the scorer.
Round 36 - Real vs Barcelona and Espanyol vs Atlético
With the title wrapped up last Sunday, Real Madrid had one last piece of important business to attend to: the return match of ‘El Clasico’. For Real, the match turned out to be a minor ‘clasico’. For Barca, a ‘pesadilla’ (nightmare).
First, Raul scored early. He got a lucky bounce but swept the ball beautifully into the net.
Second, Robbben glanced in a header.
Third, Higuain steamed through a now shell-shocked defence and drove the ball past Valdez in goal.
Fourth, Van Nistelrooy (who had literally just been on the pitch just 30 seconds replacing Raul) scored a penalty
Fifth - Casillas made a phenomenal save from a Messi curler, tipping the ball ’round the post - denying the little Argentine what would have at least been the consolation of being the best goal of the night.
And in between, the men in white played tici-tac one touch football, we had a well-timed thunderstorm at half-time (complete with lightening!) and the fans got a chance to chant the name of all the players.
In the 87th minute Messi did manage to split a high-sitting Real Madrid defense, threading through a gem of a ball to Henry who clipped past Casillas - and the visitors did then press for the remaining five minutes of time played. But they knew the moment had gone and it was all a bit half-hearted. Xabi got himself sent off in the last minute in a fit of pique. Either that or he got temporary tourettes syndrome. ARSE! GIRLS! REAL MADRID! FECK! He got laughed at as he trudged off the pitch.
Real supporters don’t do a lot of singing. It’s one of the first things you notice when you attend a match. But a few ditties were belted out during the game tonight and everyone stayed behind for the champions attenuated lap of honour - mainly attenuated ‘cos of the rain. This domestic season has been a bit of a stroll in the park, so it’s now apparent that the early failure in Europe requires analysis from the manager. Close season has officially started so now come the transfer rumours. Let’s see what happens.
The next day Atleti travelled east to play the smaller Barcelona based team and grabbed a terrific 0-2 win with two first half goals from Aguero and Forlan. Suddenly they're only 3 points away from Barca's third position in the table and eyeing a Champions League qualification possibility. They're so high up the table they're getting a nosebleed. Can it last?
Round 35 - Osasuna vs Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid vs Recreativo
As predicted last week, Real Madrid won their 31st title this Sunday after beating Osasuna away. It wasn’t easy. It poured with rain, the team from Pamplona were obdurate and the Madridistas had to fight their way back into the game after a second-half sending off, when defender Fabio Cannavaro was dismissed. This was followed by a Patxi Punal penalty, after centre-back Gabriel Heinze had clearly handled in the area, sending Real 1-0 down.
With only 4 minutes left in the match Dutch winger Arjen Robben equalised, heading in after Gonzalo Higuain whipped a free kick into the area. Then a couple of minutes later the Argentine turned from provider to scorer, striking the winner with a total lash past ‘keeper Ricardo. A worthy goal to finish the season.
With three matches left to play, Real have an unassailable 10-point lead over Villarreal at the top of the table. It is the first time they have won back-to-back league titles since they won five in a row between 1986 and 1990.
Meanwhile the rojiblancos seem to be a happy bunch at last (witness picture below) and they won - the suitable expression to be used here is I believe - at a canter. Camacho popped up in the 24th minute, Aguero scored early in the second half and Camacho got his second with ten minutes left. 3-0, bish, bosh, bish. Three games to play and still hanging in on 4th spot.
Round 34 of La Liga - Real vs Athletic Bilbao and Getafe vs Atlético
That's it then. Although not mathematically certain, Real should be crowned champions either next week or the week after. 10 points clear with 4 matches to play, the three-nil win over Athletic, combined with Champions League distracted Barcelona's loss to Deportivo, saw a very content Santiago Bernabeu stadium last night. So, not as exciting as last year's championship win which was only sealed in the final match but gratifying nonetheless. Atleti's mini derby with Getafe ended in a 1-1 draw. The striped one's are still in the all important 4th position, which would guarantee European football next season, but they're only 2 points ahead of Racing and Atleti are known for being chokers so it's still all to play for.
Round 33 of the Primera - Racing Santander vs Real and Atlético vs Real Betis
On Saturday Atleti lost to a fired up Betis, going down 1-3. On Sunday, Real all but sealed the championship with a 2-0 away win at Racing. Barca had drawn the previous night in their home town derby with Espanyol and with five matches left it would require Real to implode not to win now.
Round 32 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Murcia and Valladolid vs Atlético
Real struggled past lowly Murcia, winning 1-0 at home with a goal from Sneijder on 58 minutes. But struggle or not it was another three points and another step to the title. Atleti looked to have snagged a win away at Valladolid but were denied by an 89th minute equaliser leaving it 1-1.
Round 31 of the Domestic Season - Mallorca vs Real and Atlético vs Almeria
On Saturday Real travelled to the Balearics to take on their bogey team - RCD Mallorca - and came away with a creditable draw. In general, Real Madrid are quite popular on the island. There is a large Real supporters club that flies over a delegation for every home match and whenever the white ones are in town the red carpet is rolled out, but that doesn't seem to stop the local football team from regularly turning their Madrid visitors over. So when Sneijder put Real 1-0 up just before half-time we knew the game was not nearly over and when, in the 68th minute, Sergio Ramos got sent off for a second bookable offence the pressure was really piled on. Sure enough Mallorca equalised only five minutes later and the rest of the game was backs against the wall stuff. But they held on to escape with their point.
Sunday at the Calderón stadium was crazy. Up two goals within six minutes (Antonio Lopez and a Forlan penalty) Atleti were pegged back to 2-2 after eighteen minutes. Then it went 3-2 (Simao), back to 3-3, and just before the half closed 4-3 (Simao with his second). Lunacy. Fortunately for everyone's stress levels the second half was slightly less barmy, with Aguero scoring two more to leave it at 6-3. Phew!
So, with seven games left Real are top of La Liga by seven points and Atleti in the final Champions League spot, fourth.
Round 30 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Sevilla and Villarreal vs Atlético
Atleti got stuffed 3-0 away from home on Saturday night. Unfortunately for Mexican coach Javier Aguirre he was booked to appear on TeleMadrid for a full hour's grilling on the following afternoon's sports show. Cunningly, the producers decided to show all three goals in slow-motion replay and ask Aguirre to comment on each one, describing, if he could, the fallibilities of his defensive line-up. He coped well, in the sense that he didn't shirk blame and explained how he saw things with frankness. But he was sweating a bit under the gills by the end of it.
Sunday night was cold, squally and with intermittent showers, but it proved to be a balmy night in the micro-climate of the Estadio Bernabeu as Real turned on the old-school form and won at a canter 3-1. In doing so they opened up a six point gap on nearest contenders Villareal and a seven point one on faltering Barcelona, with just 8 matches left to play. Heinze's first league goal for Real put the hosts ahead in the seventh minute only for Kanoute to level the scores on 37 minutes. However, captain Raul scored his 290th goal for Real to make him the club's joint second all-time top-scorer along with Carlos Alonso Santillana, as he chases Alfredo di Stefano's mark of 307. Higuain added a third as Real ended a sequence of two successive league defeats. "It was a complete game from my team from defence right through to the attack," Bernd Schuster, Real coach, said.
Round 29 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Valencia and Sevilla vs Atlético
Eeeuuuuwwww. The Santiago Bernabeu was not a happy stadium tonight. An 89th minute goal from Arizmendi for Valencia CF sent Real Madrid to their third home defeat of the season and once again opened up La Liga championship possibilities for Barcelona who are now only 4 points behind again. Horrible horrible horrible.
Valencia have been quite average this season, but a surprising King’s Cup semi-final victory over Barca a few days ago seems to have pepped them up somewhat and tonight they were well worth their victory, even it came with the help of a slightly dubious penalty decision for their second goal.
Real started without an injured van the man Nistelrooy, but did have a newly fit Robinho plying the left wing and Sergio Ramos back from suspension. The passing was slick and the movement good, both Sneijder and Baptista tested the oppo goaly with decent shots, and all seemed under control after half an hour - up until Valencia took the lead on 33 minutes as Villa, a rumoured transfer target for Real, broke the offside trap to curl the ball sweetly beyond a stretching Casillas. That lead lasted barely two minutes as Raul headed in a Robinho cross and the sides went in to the break 1-1.
On 56 minutes Guti sliced open Valencia’s defence with a gem of a weighted pass and Raul drilled in his second goal, but Valencia got back to level terms when Pepe was adjudged to have fouled Daniel Silva in the area and Villa smashed his penalty past Casillas. Real continued to pour forward, Timo Hildebrand making several good saves, and the game appeared to be going in Real’s favour, before Arizmendi silenced a howling stadium with his late effort, picking up possession in acres of space down the right, slipping past Cannavaro and sliding a low shot past Casillas from near the touchline, with the Spain goalkeeper seemingly fast asleep, or possiblyday-dreaming about his Easter eggs in the dressing room or something. Gahhhhhhh. Then Raul had one last attempt brilliantly tipped aside in the last few seconds and then the final whistle. Gahhhhhhh x 2.
Real will need to recover quickly from this and the players will need to not let the result get into their heads too much - and neither must I. A wasted night then. I’m off to bed to ease the pain. Buenas noches a todos. And to all Barca fans - I hope your paella is soggy.
Atleti did well to score a 2-1 win away in Seville. Maxi and Aguero were the scorers.
Round 28 of the Domestic Season - Deportivo La Coruna vs Real and Atlético vs Levante
Deportivo scored a 1-0 victory on the Saturday, riding their luck a bit and winning via a Pepe o.g. in the 58th minute. Atleti strolled to a 3-0 home win versus Levante, goals from Simao (24th minute) and Forlan (39 min and 52 min) keeping the scoreboard ticking over.
Round 27 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Espanyol and Zaragoza vs Atlético
Missed this round of matches but it turned out extra-nice with jam on top for Real who won 2-1 while Barca lost at home (to Villareal). Within two rounds Real's lead at the top of the Primera Liga has now been restored to a healthy 8 points. Atleti lost away to Real Zaragoza and in other parts of the country, Mallorca put seven past Recreativo in a total rout that produced best and worst club records.
Round 26 of the Domestic Season - Recreativo vs Real and Atlético vs Barcelona
Joy unconfined in Madrid as Atleti put four past Barca in a bravura display of attacking intent (final score 4-2) while Real grabbed a crazy 2-3 away win at Recreativo Huelva, both sides scoring in a final topsy turvy minute that had fans remembering last season's final minute shenanigans.
Round 25 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Getafe and Osasuna vs Atlético
Uh oh. Looks like Real Madrid are starting to crack.
An extraordinary winner for Getafe against Real Madrid blew the Primera Liga title race wide open on Sunday. Having controlled 90% of the match, created numerous opportunities, peppered the Getafe goal with shots (albeit of pretty poor quality) it appeared that the all whites had finally broken down their cross-town rivals when Arjen Robben netted mid-way through the second half.
Robben and five of his team-mates raced towards the corner flag to celebrate, a huggin'-and-a-kissin' etc., but they did not see that the strike was disallowed because Raul had been offside. Quick thinking Getafe broke upfield, with only Guti and the Real defenders noticing that play had continued, did some nice inter-play (tici-tac as the Spanish call one touch passing) and Ikechukwu Uche slid the ball past an exposed Casillas.
"The goal was a result of us making a mistake like a four-year-old." - Guti later fumed.
The last 20 minutes was pretty much like the first 60, with Real making all the running but continually shooting wide, over, straight at the Getafe 'keeper or being blocked at the edge of the area.
Atleti lost 3-1 away but remain in 4th position in the league table.
Defeat for Real means just two points now separate them from Barca who saw Samuel Eto'o score a hat-trick against Levante and the momentum is definitely now with the Catalunyans. It's been a pretty horrible last couple of weeks and the pressure is now on Schuster to reform a creaking team. Real are really missing the cutting edge Robinho provides (he's injured at the moment) and this has combined with van Nistelrooy losing his golden touch. Next week Real are away at Recreativo, while Barca are away to Atletico. Can the striped ones do Real a favour? It could prove to be a key weekend.
Round 24 of the Domestic Season - Betis vs Real and Atlético vs Athletic Bilbao
Missed this round of matches due to forced trip back to UK. Both Real and Atleti lost. Real's lead at the top of the Primera Liga now cut to 5 points.
Round 23 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Valladolid and Racing vs Atlético
Last week’s deserved loss to Almeria appears to have had a cathartic effect on Real Madrid. Apparently cruising at the head of La Liga, with nearest rivals Barcelona falling away by only picking up away draws, the 0-2 away defeat had come as a shock. Tonight the all-whites came back to their senses. And scored seven goals in the process.
In a way, the scoreline doesn’t reflect Real Valladolid’s own ability. No, really, don’t laugh. Because the fact is Luis Mendilibar’s team (playing in light purple tonight - yeuch) actually created a deal of chances and could have scored several themselves. Only piss-poor finishing and yet more heroics from Casillas in goal kept the Madrid goal intact in the first 30 minutes. The trouble was, Valladolid’s ambition was their downfall. Playing so far up the field, committing men to attack, especially in the wide positions, yes they were making chances, but they were also exposing the defensive line. Fatally. Because above all, tonight was a lethal display of the art of counter-attack.
The majority of the damage was donein the last 15 minutes of the first half when Real scored four. Guti was the creator, picking up loose balls and carving out long passes that allowed the forwards to get in behind the defensive line -the exposed Valladolid ‘keeper each time being left in one-on-one situations.
Five-nil at half time, Real added two more after the break making it the league’s biggest win of the season and Valladolid’s biggest defeat in ther club’s 79-year history.
The Scorers:
Julio Baptista 7
Raul 30
Robben 32
Raul (pen) 37
Guti 43
Guti 62
Drenthe 80
Atleti got back to winning ways, a terrific 0-2 away win at Racing Santander with a blinder of a goal from Forlan that lifted them to fouth place in the table.
Round 22 of the Domestic Season - Almeria vs Real and Atlético vs Murcia
Your reporter was struck down with food poisoning and spent the weekend worshipping the toilet bowl. This meant he missed Real's capitulation down in South in Almeria - they lost 2-0 - and Atleti's home draw with Murcia (1-1).
So, no report, instead here's a gratuitous picture of Raul sprouting extra arms.
Round 21 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Villareal - RCD Mallorca vs Atlético
Real played a very open game tonight - that is to say, they gave a dangerous Villareal team lots of opportunities, and were quite lucky to get away with a 3-2 home win. Robinho, who has been in blinding form this season, started things off in the 8th minute with a gem of a goal created by a superb Guti pass - a genuine 'defence splitter'. The 'yellow submarine' (Villareal's nickname) equalised a mere seven minutes later - the first goal Casillas had conceded in 574 minutes of league action. 1-1 at half time. It was Robinho who again grabbed the lead for Real, Sergio Ramos racing half the length of the field before laying the ball off to Raul, whose first-time shot was superbly stopped one-handed by Lopez, the ball rebounding to Guti whose shot was again blocked by Lopez, but who couldn't make a third save as Robinho coolly slotted home right into the corner. Again Villareal bounced back, a 76th minute goal drawing things level, only for substitute Schneider to blast what was to be the winner only a minute or so later. Both keepers played excellently tonight - the 3-2 scoreline does not reflect how well they defended their goals - and this was the second game in a row where Casillas has proved to be the match winner for Real.
Meanwhile Atleti slumped to a tame 0-1 away loss at Mallorca, a team who are proving troublesome to both Madrid teams this season, and Reyes got sent off. He shook the referee's hand before he left the pitch as a tacit admission that he deserved the red card. This was the Colchoneros first away loss since October 7th (versus Barcelona).
With second-placed Barca drawing with Athletic Bilbao earlier in the evening, Real's victory means that the reigning champions are now nine points clear at the top of the league, while Atleti stayed in 4th position, some 16 points behind the all-whites.
Round 20 of the Domestic Season - Atlético vs Real (The Derby!)
1999. That was the last time Atléti won at home versus city rivals Real Madrid. That’s eight years of hurt. Eight, long, barren years in front of their home supporters. Forward to season 2007/08 and tonight’s heavily anticipated encounter and supporters of the striped ones have been acting odd all weekend. I say ‘odd’ because instead of the usual swaggering braggadocio, they’ve been more subdued. It’s been quiet out there. Almost…. too quiet. Almost…. confident quiet. Hmmmm.
What may have been happening here is that this is the best Atlético de Madrid football team for several years. And so tonight they actually rated their chances. Indeed, even Madrid-Uno and his Real supporting mates had a sneaking suspicion that maybe the run was going to be broken. Our relentless all-week taunting of deluded Atleti supporting colleagues in the office had an edge of desperation about it. We weren’t sure we meant it. Which is very un-Real like behaviour.
So. Everyone is crowded into Cherry Bar on calle General Pardiñas. We’ve just managed to squeeze barside and get a round in and BOOM! Raul scores after just 32 seconds after Robinho had skipped past his defender down the left and centred from the touchline. WOOOOOOHOOOOOO!
What follows is forty minutes of pretty intense Atletico pressure as the striped ones attack to try to get back on level terms. Thiago Motta puts a header against the bar, Raul Garcia forces an outstanding save and Kun Aguero sees a sizzling shot from the edge of the area skim the bar. Real goalkeeper Iker Casillas is el muro (the wall) as the commentators put it. Absolutely outstanding. And then, totally against the run of play, with just a couple of minutes left in the first half, Real grab a second when van Nistelrooy nabs his 12th goal of the season. WOOOF! Bar goes mental. Drinks are spilt. Someone cuffs me round the back of the head as they leap into the air.
The second half is not spectacular as Real do what is necessary. Atleti rarely look as dangerous as they had in the first and Real almost get a third. Final whistle. Bim Boom Bam - thankyou Mam. 3 points and the record stays intact. As I write am still ‘tired and emotional’. ¡Hala Madrid!
Round 19 of the Domestic Season - Levante vs Real and Atlético vs Valencia
Your reporter was out of the country for this round and missed the replays as well so we'll just post the scores. Atletico Madrid 1-0 Valencia, Levante 0-2 Real Madrid (van Nistelrooy x 2).
Round 18 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Zaragoza and Deportivo vs Atlético
After the long Christmas break (2 whole weeks without football, it's enough to send a true Spaniard mad) Real made simple work of Zaragoza at home, winning two-nil and with Van the Man maintaining his hot scoring streak. Deportivo La Coruna supporters were leaving their stadium early in their match against Atleti. The striped ones were 3 goals to the good after 65 minutes with both Forlan and Aguero on the scoresheet. So the perfect start for Madrid teams in 2008 and this leaves Atleti 4th in the table, ten points behind Real in 1st position.
Here's a vid of Nistelrooy's headed goal from the POV of a supporter in the first few rows of the Santiago Bernabeu in line with the goal.
Round 17 of the Domestic Season - Barcelona vs Real (El Clasico - part 1) and Atlético vs Espanyol
Real Madrid are now seven points clear at the top of the table going into the midwinter break after beating Barcelona 0-1 at the Nou Camp last night. The only goal of the game came on 36 minutes when Ruud and Raul combined to set up Baptista, who finished the move with a pearler into the top right corner. And this was a fair score at half-time since Real had played all the quality football. Barcelona battled back after the interval, but with Lionel Messi sidelined through injury and Ronaldinho still a loooooong way from his best form, they were unable to find any spark and fell to their third defeat of the season, losing their 100% home record in the process. Muhahahaha. Unfortunately, in the minor Barcelona versus Madrid clash Espanyol beat Atletico 1-2.
Round 16 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Osasuna and Recreativo vs Atlético
At home to an unimaginative Osasuna, Real displayed immense control. They scored a goal in each half (via Ruud, AGAIN, and Schneider) and bossed everything from start to finish. Away to Recreativo Huelva, Atleti a played a 0-0 shut-out that was easily the calmest game of their season so far. Maybe having a rest before going bonkers again over the Xmas period.
Round 15 of the Domestic Season - Athletic Bilbao vs Real and Atlético vs Getafe
It's always a tough match away at Athletic, with the Basque boo-boys at their rickety but intense San Mames stadium. However, the genius that is Ruud van Nistelrooy scored a 54th minute goal that proved the difference. Atletic's mini derby game with Getafe was close but the striped ones just shaded it 1-0. A pretty brutal affair allround with 2 players from either side being sent off and a total of 15 bookings.
Round 14 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Racing and Betis vs Atlético
A solid, always in control 3-1 win at home for Real who are unbeaten in the Bernabeu after 7 games. Two-nil up at half-time and 3-0 up on 70 (Raul's second of the night), Sandtander's consolation was scored too late to create any pressure. That was Saturday. On Sunday, Atleti kept up their (rather stunning) form by winning 0-2 away at Real Betis. Scorers: Forlan (34 mins) and Raul Garcia (90 mins).
Round 13 of the Domestic Season - Murcia vs Real and Atlético vs Valladolid
A stubborn Murcia successfully negated Real Madrid's early Robinho opener on 9 minutes, equalising through De Lucas just after the break and then fighting like crazy to hold on - picking up 6 bookings on the way and riling Guti enough to get him sent off. The next day, Atleti played in yet another thriller at the Calderon stadium, this time winning 4-3 via an extra-time own goal having come back from 1-2 down and then 2-3 down.
Round 12 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Mallorca and Almeria vs Atlético
Lucky, lucky, veeeery lucky. Real put four goals past a battling Mallorca who themselves scored three. However, Mallorca were denied a clear handball penalty (Argie Heinze being the culprit) and one of Real's goals was so far offside that the only explanation could have been that Robinho was outside the linesman's field of vision. Real are routinely accused of having officials in their pocket and performances like this one can only reinforce that impression. Atleti drew 0-0 away in Almeria and manager Javier Aguirre was furious with the ref, claiming his players got no protection and were kicked off the park. Clearly they need some lessons from Real in how to make friends and influence people. In addition, a quick thumbs up for Madrid's suburban junior team Getafe, who beat Barcelona 2-0.
Round 11 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Sevilla vs and Atlético vs Villarreal
Uf! Or 'ooof' as we English would promounce it. On Saturday night Real played all the way down south in Andalucia and got shut-out 2-0. In the first half Seville were just faster, hungrier and sharper and scored both their goals. For the first quarter of an hour in the second-half Real started to apply some pressure, made some good shots and appeared to be working their way into the game, when Ramos got a second yellow card and with ten men all the momentum was lost. It was a pretty harsh yellow, especially in light of the treatment being meted out to Guti throughout the game, so after the match there was some bitching from the players about the ref and the atmosphere in the stadium was rancid. The reception for the southerners in the return match will be interesting to see. On Sunday Atleti played out a real humdinger, topsy-turvy match against 'the yellow submarine' of Villareal - but came out on the wrong side of a 3-4 having been 2-0 up after only 25 minutes and drawing 3-3 until the beginning of injury time. My mate Charlie, a season-ticket holder down at the Calderon, says that this season the crowd is going mental every home game. More games like this and no-one's going to get out of there compus-mentis.
Both Madrid teams had 5 men booked this round and will lose established players for forthcoming games so the managers have some thinking to do. Real are still top, but by only 1 point from Barca, whilst Atleti are in 5th position, a further 4 points behind.
Round 10 of the Domestic Season - Valencia vs Real vs and Atlético vs Sevilla
Halloween night and Real made it a horror for Valencia. 1-5 was the final result, and the rout started in the third minute with a goal from Raul. By Half-time it was 0-4 and the game done and dusted but a goal a piece in the second half kept up the interest. Then, in the later televised match, Atleti beat Sevilla in a 4-3 thriller, which had three comebacks from the Andalucians, a fight, and two goals from either side in the final 2 minutes. Atleti are still winning but that was edge of the seat stuff. Even Madrid's junior team, Getafe, won, so a very happy night throughout the comunidad.
Round 9 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Deportivo and Levante vs Atlético
Despite gifting a goal to La Coruna in the second minute of the game, Real eventually won with something to spare, scoring three in reply and returning to winning ways. Atleti meanwhile were also winning, 0-1 away. Both Forlan and van Nistelrooy scored, keeping up their challenges for the pichichi.
Round 8 of the Domestic Season - Espanyol vs Real and Atlético vs Zaragoza
A bad Saturday all-round for this sports fan who saw England lose (bravely - unluckily even) to South Africa in the Rugby World Cup Final and then 40 minutes later, in the same pub but on a different TV screen, Real Madrid lose 2-1 away to Espanyol. Last season Espanyol were a good team that failed to convert good performances into wins, including during both matches against Real. This game however was all Espanyol who outclassed their opponents over the 90 minutes and could have scored more but for the heroics of Casillas. Madrid's scorer was Ramos, but it came in the 90th minute so did not affect the balance of the game. So that's Real's first loss of the season. On Sunday, Atleti returned to winning ways - and how. Four-nil they won with Forlan making the first and scoring a delightful lob for the second. Maxi got the other two, including a penalty.
To make up for a disappointing weekend here is the famous 'double-jeopardy' strike on Ronaldo's nether region during Real Madrid versus Kiev in the Champions League. Always brings a smile to the face this one.
Round 7 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Recreativo and Barcelona vs Atlético
Two-nil to the men in white who didn't exactly have to get their kit too dirty, although they did have to wait until the 74th minute before van Goal netted for a 1-0 lead. Higuain's 90th minute second put a gloss on it. Another win. Not much more to say really. Atleti's mini-run came to a sharp halt against an inspired Barca. Messi made hay and his team-mates ran rings around a helpless Atletico who went down 3-0.
Round 6 of the Domestic Season - Getafe vs Real and Atlético vs Osasuna
Still solid, still winnning, still boring. Mind you, the matches against mini-neighbours Getafe have never been great crowd pleasers. The pressure of a mini-derby game and opposition who are under intense pressure to spoil and at least draw seems to draw the sting. Therefore a 0-1 away win is to be welcomed as it is only rarely that Real come away from the southern suburbs with 3 points. Meanwhile, the striped-ones are going slightly bonkers, winning YET AGAIN (shock horror), this time 2-0 at home to Osasuna with goals from Raul Garcia (on 38 mins) and super Argie Aguero (82). That makes three wins in a row for Atleti which hasn't happened for, well, longer than I can remember anyway.
Round 5 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Betis and Athletic vs Atlético
Mid-week games for both clubs. On Wednesday, away in Bilbao, Atleti kept up the previous week's good form winning 2-0 with more goals from Aguero and Forlan. On Thursday, Real reacted to the weekend's criticism about their lack of flair when playing away by being even more boring at home. Admittedly, Real Betis made it difficult to be exciting, camping deep in their own half, setting up the tents and lighting the calor stove for hot tea and cakes while they waited for the storm to pass, but still. Eventually Raul did some neat jiggery-pokery in the box and slotted home although the goal was disallowed because the ref had already blown for a penalty. So captain fantastic stepped-up and scored that instead. And then we got an overhead shot and goal from substitute Baptista, which was jolly exciting and everything but we were all snoozing by that point. OK, that's five games gone and Real are top of the league, leading by a solitary point from Villareal and Valencia and two ahead of the Barcelona formation whingeing team. It's a good start but let's have some beautiful football eh lads?
Round 4 of the Domestic Season - Valladolid vs Real and Atlético vs Racing
So much for football with flair. First half was uninspiring and if any one team shaded it, it was Valladolid. Second half was going more Real's way, but only slightly, until one of the best shots ever seen at the Estadio Jose Zorrilla put Valladolid one-up - a 35 yard screamer that was still rising as it hit the top left corner of the net. If I understood the Spanish commentary correctly this was Pedro Lopez's first goal for the club after 4 seasons. What a way to break your duck. Unfortunately for Pedro it was not a winning goal. The last 15 minutes was all Real as they sought an equaliser. Wave upon wave of black-shirted attacks finally found a way through in the 88th minute when they sliced open Valladolid's back line and Saviola slotted home. It was the best move of the match but we're showing the Lopez golazo below because you have to velo pa creerlo - see it to believe it.
Finally some good news to report from the Southern end of town - Atleti smashed Racing Santander 4-0 with goals from Raul Garcia, Aguero, Forlan and Simao. First win of the season and they're up and running, as is Forlan, a summer signing that the club have been hoping would replace Torres as lead striker.
Round 3 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Almeria and Murcia vs Atlético
Nice n' easy for Real against newly promoted Almeria. Goals from Saviola (37 mins), Sneijder (70) and Higuain (88) kept up the champions' 100% early season record and the 3-1 result was greeted with almost somnulescent calm within the stadium. Maybe the crowd were saving themselves for the European Basketball Championships the next day when Spain were due to play Russia in the final at the Palacio de Deportes just down the road from the Bernabeu. The next day, Atleti scored early from a 14th minute strike by Aguero into the corner and they led all the way until Gallardo's equaliser in the 80th minute. Classic Atleti.
Round 2 of the Domestic Season - Villareal vs Real and Atlético vs Mallorca
A great, if surprising, result for Real who put five past what pundits thought was going to be quite a good Villareal side this season. Real grabbed the lead just before half-time through talisman Raul and made it three just after the break (Sneijder 48 - van Nistelrooy 50). Sneijder grabbed a second on 72 minutes (making 3 in two matches now) and Guti wrapped it all up in paper and glittery bows on 79 minutes. Meanwhile, Atléti came back from 1-0 down at home to equalise through Pernia. They had four men booked in the process and just seem so disjointed. Let's hope they can get it together before a quarter of the season passes.
Round 1 of the Domestic Season - Real vs Atlético - The Derby!
Starting as they finished off last-season, Real came from behind to win in the final minutes and Atléti put up a great fight but still lost. The fight started as early as the first minute when Atletico's Aguero took a neat goal. It must have been a shock to the Real players and one wondered if, for a brief while, some of those in the stadium had started thinking fondly about Capello. Oh the laughs we had, the ups... and downs, the pasta and spicy meatballs... Fifteen minutes later Capitan Trueno, Raul, got a header to equalise and everyone remembered where they were again. A Torres-less Atlético couldn't put away a number of chances to re-establish a lead and then, with 9 minutes left on the clock, new signing Sneijder, grabbed the winner. So, a satisfactory start for the men in white, while the striped-ones look like they're going to have to grind their way to the UEFA cup spots.