10man madrid back on track
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

With Espanyol win

10-man Madrid back on track

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today 10-man Madrid back on track

Real Madrid's forward Gareth Bale (R)
Madrid - Arab Today

Real Madrid returned to winning ways with a 3-0 win over Espanyol on Saturday, despite playing most of the second-half with 10 men, to move four points clear at the top of La Liga.
Cristiano Ronaldo was restored to the starting line-up after being rested in a 2-0 Cup defeat to Atletico Madrid in midweek and he set up James Rodriguez to open the scoring 12 minutes in.
Gareth Bale then doubled the hosts' advantage with a sumptuous free-kick, but their route to a comfortable three points was complicated when Fabio Coentrao was sent-off eight minutes into the second period.
Espanyol, though, failed to make their man advantage count as Nacho added a third 14 minutes from time to put the pressure on Madrid's title rivals Barcelona and Atletico, who face each other at the Camp Nou on Sunday.
"The sending-off was an incomprehensible decision," complained Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.
"It made the game more complicated for us, but thankfully the team was in a good state mentally."
Ancelotti made four changes in all from the side that slipped to a 2-0 defeat at the Vicente Calderon on Wednesday and there was never any danger of the European champions starting 2015 with three defeats on the spin as they dominated from start to finish.
Karim Benzema was unfortunate not to open the scoring when he smashed a loose ball off the outside of the post on 10 minutes, but the hosts had to wait just two minutes more for the opener thanks to a lovely team move.
Bale switched the play from right to left to pick out Ronaldo and he cut the ball back perfectly for the late arriving Rodriguez to slot home his 10th goal of the season.
Bale then responded in fine style to the criticism of his performances in Madrid's defeats to Valencia and Atletico in the past week with a brilliant dipping free-kick that went in off the inside of the post.
The Welshman could have added to his tally with a free header from close range that flew beyond the far post.
However, a stroll towards victory became more complicated for Ancelotti's men eight minutes into the second half when Coentrao was shown a straight red card for flying into a challenge with Jose Canas with his studs showing.
Ronaldo was booked for taking his protests towards referee David Fernandez Borbalan too far in the aftermath, but the incident seemed to fire up the Portuguese as he sprang into life.
The World Player of the Year smashed a low effort just wide and then had another shot blocked at the end of a lightning fast counter-attack involving Bale and Benzema.
Bale was then whistled by some of the home support when he missed a huge chance to seal the three points afer sprinting beyond the Espanyol backline with Ronaldo waiting to tap into an empty net.
However, all was forgiven moments later when Alvaro Arbeloa's cross found substitute Nacho free at the back post to slam home his first goal for the club.
Elsewhere, Valencia had to settle for a point at Celta Vigo as Fabian Orellana redeemed himself with the Galicians' first goal in eight league games to secure a point after seeing a first-half penalty saved by Diego Alves.
Rodrigo had given the visitors the lead just before half-time. The draw moves Los Che two points clear of Sevilla in fourth, but the Andalusians have two games in hand on Nuno Espirito Santo's men.
European hopefuls Malaga and Villarreal remain in seventh and sixth respectively after a 1-1 draw at La Rosaleda.
Nordim Amrabat salvaged a point for the hosts after Jonathan dos Santos's opener for Villarreal.
Source: AFP

 

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

10man madrid back on track 10man madrid back on track

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

10man madrid back on track 10man madrid back on track

 



GMT 06:49 2012 Saturday ,01 September

Lamitta Frangieh on her \'Facebook Romance\'

GMT 08:26 2017 Wednesday ,08 February

Qatar spending $500m a week on World Cup projects

GMT 17:00 2017 Tuesday ,27 June

Saudi Arabia rebuts fake news on Turkey, Israel

GMT 10:31 2016 Monday ,12 December

Second Sydney airport cleared for take off

GMT 05:27 2017 Sunday ,16 April

GIB Capital wins 4 EMEA Finance Awards

GMT 13:58 2016 Friday ,30 December

Australia beat Pakistan to win Test series

GMT 10:07 2017 Monday ,17 April

Mark Hamill would like to play George Lucas

GMT 12:10 2016 Tuesday ,13 December

Over 30 dead as Kenya tanker crashes, explodes

GMT 02:13 2017 Monday ,25 September

December22nd-January20th

GMT 15:39 2017 Tuesday ,03 October

Bangladesh rescues 20 Rohingya held by racket gang

GMT 02:51 2017 Friday ,10 November

Under siege, Syria doctors forced to improvise care
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday