La Liga Archives - Naija Premium Gist

Amazing late equalizer from Karim Benzema as Real Madrid gets a draw with city rivals Atletico Madrid

March 7, 2021 No Comments

Karim Benzema scored a late equaliser as Real Madrid prevented city rivals Atletico Madrid from moving five points clear at the top of La Liga.

France striker Benzema was earlier denied several times by keeper Jan Oblak at the Wanda Metropolitano.

Luis Suarez scored the opener, which Kieran Trippier helped create on his return from a 10-week ban for betting.

Atletico are three points clear of Barcelona and five ahead of third-placed Real.

England right-back Trippier, who was suspended in December and fined £70,000 after a Football Association panel found he broke betting rules, was bright throughout for the hosts.

He started the move for Atletico’s goal, finding Marcos Llorente with a clever pass from defence.

A fine first touch from the Spanish midfielder helped him race clear before he slid the ball to Suarez, who beat Thibaut Courtois with a well-placed shot with the outside of his boot.

Real were denied a penalty for handball before the break, with referee Alejandro Hernandez watching several replays before deciding against awarding a spot-kick after the ball appeared to strike Felipe’s arm.

Courtois made a string of crucial saves after the break, denying Yannick Carrasco and twice keeping Suarez out.

At the other end Oblak made an excellent double save from Benzema with 10 minutes remaining, but Benzema could not be denied the equaliser after neatly exchanging passes with Casemiro in the penalty area.

Football

Real Madrid 2-3 Shakhtar Donetsk: Visitors survive ‘nightmare’ to stun LaLiga champions

October 21, 2020 No Comments

Shakhtar Donetsk claimed a famous win at Real Madrid despite missing a host of first-team players for their Champions League opener.

Real Madrid suffered a remarkable opening Champions League defeat as Shakhtar Donetsk, missing 10 first-team players due to coronavirus, held on for a 3-2 away success.

Wednesday’s Group B clash seemed to be set up for a straightforward Madrid win, with Shakhtar clear underdogs even before losing half their squad to COVID-19 in a situation coach Luis Castro described as “a nightmare”.

But Zinedine Zidane’s LaLiga champions were outthought and outfought for 45 minutes at their temporary Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano home as strikes from Mateus Tete and Manor Solomon sandwiched a Raphael Varane own goal to secure a three-goal half-time lead.

Madrid also lost at home to Cadiz last Saturday and visit bitter rivals Barcelona in the Clasico this weekend yet at least showed some fight after the break.

Efforts from Luka Modric and Vinicius Junior set up a grandstand finish, but Federico Valverde’s apparent equaliser in stoppage time was disallowed for offside as Shakhtar survived for a sensational victory.

The Ukrainian outfit should have led even before they did as Marlos ran clear and had time to pick his spot but sent an awkward effort into Thibaut Courtois’ legs.

It was not a miss the makeshift visiting side were made to pay for, though, as they repeatedly dismantled a dismal Madrid defence, Tete sliding in an assured finish for the first before having a hand in the next two.

Courtois spilled Tete’s shot at the feet of Dentinho, prompting Varane into a desperate lunge that succeeded only in turning the ball past his own goalkeeper, and the winger’s cute backheel then teed up Solomon to make it three.

Madrid were much improved following the restart but still scarcely threatened until Modric’s sublime strike, finding the top-right corner from 25 yards.

That flicker of hope should have been swiftly extinguished by Tete, yet the star of the first half somehow blasted wide after running onto Viktor Korniienko’s cutback.

By contrast, Vinicius was clinical at the other end, emerging from the bench to score with his first touch as he stole possession from Marlos and swept into the net.

Tete squandered another opportunity, shooting straight at Courtois, and was then just offside before squaring for Marlos to net what Shakhtar thought was a clincher.

Valverde’s deflected 92nd-minute attempt squirmed past Anatolii Trubin to seemingly deny Castro’s men, but Vinicius – stood in front of the keeper – was offside and Madrid were beaten.

What does it mean? Crisis looming ahead of Clasico

Well, that did not take long. Madrid were crowned LaLiga champions just three months ago and are already facing a potentially make-or-break fixture on Saturday when they make the trip to Camp Nou.

If Zidane’s men play again as they did in the opening 45 minutes here, when they gave up four shots, all on target and all from inside the box, they are unlikely to find Lionel Messi in forgiving mood.

Tete takes centre stage

Starting wide on the right, Tete’s ability to drift inside and combine with team-mates caused Madrid all sorts of problems. His only key pass was the gorgeous assist for the third, but he was involved in almost every away move.

Second-half wastefulness threatened to undo his hard work, yet Tete also defended from the front, making two tackles and an interception, as well as contesting 20 duels

BOOOOM! We are thrashing Real 3-0 in Madrid after the first 45 minutes!

What a Champions League game! What are your impressions?

Misery for Madrid’s Marcelo

A series of right-back injuries have seen Ferland Mendy moved across from the left-hand side of the defence, meaning Marcelo must start. But this was a punishing experience for the veteran.

Marcelo was dragged out of position for goals one and three, the victim of much of Tete’s best work, although he did make three tackles and timed a late offside trap to deny his opponent on the counter.

What’s next?

Madrid simply must respond against Barca in a bid to get their season back on track. Shakhtar, third in their domestic league, go to second-placed Vorksla earlier on Saturday.

Football

‘I’ve played four games and been booked twice’ – Man City legend David Silva struggling to adapt back to La Liga

October 17, 2020 No Comments

The veteran midfielder returned to Spain this summer on a free transfer to Real Sociedad after a trophy-laden decade in the Premier League

Former Manchester City star David Silva has confessed that it is taking some time for him to get used to the Spanish game again after moving to Real Sociedad in the summer.

The 34-year-old left Pep Guardiola’s side at the expiration of his contract in the summer, and despite reports that he was poised to move to Lazio instead switched to Sociedad in mid-August.

The midfielder, though, has not hit the ground running in his homeland as the more physical side of the game he learned in England, where he played more than 400 times for City, is proving to be a habit that is getting him in trouble.

“I have played four games with Real Sociedad and I have been booked twice,” he told The Times . “I think I may have a problem with the referees and I need to get back used to it!”

He said, however, that he had similar issues when he arrived at the club from Valencia in 2010.

“I came from the World Cup and barely made the pre-season,” he added. “When I arrived I saw football pass so fast. Everything was flying over me and there was no pause. I felt overwhelmed in some moments.

“I prefer to isolate myself with my people and don’t listen to the noise, but there are some comments that end up coming to your ears and I could hear: ‘This Spanish guy is not going to make it here.’

“After ten years I am very proud to have turned the tables in that regard. When I take stock of my time, I think that my bag is very full. Full of good memories, love, friends and trophies. I can’t be happier about that.”

Silva admits that he is surprised by the way that he grew to love Manchester.

“To be honest, I couldn’t have ever dreamt that Manchester left that mark on me, and surely I would not have told you that on the first day I put a foot in England,” he said. “My feeling was thinking, ‘Where am I going?’ It was summer and it was cloudy and very cold – well, a normal day in Manchester, you know.

“Back then City was not the giant it is now. It was kind of a familiar and close club and it made me feel really comfortable. It is a bit how I am. I loved it and it made everything easier.

“There’s still something from that day, some employers that keep the same essence, but we grew up as a club. The fans and the people involved know where the club has come from.”

Silva’s next mission with Sociedad is a Liga match with Real Betis on Sunday, with his side having taken eight points from five games to lie third.

Football

Yaya Toure Close To Laliga Return

October 8, 2020 No Comments

Yaya Toure has reportedly held talks with newly-promoted side Cadiz.

According to BBC Sport as reported by the Daily Mail, the the former Ivory Coast international could make a shock return to the Spanish LaLiga.

The 37-year-old has been without a club since leaving Chinese Super League side Qingdao Huanghai at the start of the year and despite reported interest from Brazil, he remains a free agent.

Toure trained with League Two side Leyton Orient for two weeks in late July in a bid to retain his fitness levels with the hope of furthering his playing career before moving into coaching.

The former Manchester City midfielder enjoyed three successful years at Barcelona where he won seven major honours including the 2009 UEFA Champions League.

Capped 97 times by his country, Toure led the Elephants to 2015 Africa Cup of Nations glory and is considered to be amongst the best African footballers of all time.

Cadiz, who won promotion to LaLiga last season, currently occupy ninth spot in Spain’s top-flight.

Football

Real Madrid ‘are not quite there’ despite win at Levante, says Zidane

October 4, 2020 No Comments

The Liga champions came under pressure in the second half against the underdogs, with their manager acknowledging they were not at their best.

Zinedine Zidane felt Real Madrid struggled to kill the game off in their 2-0 victory against Levante because they are still “lacking something” in the early stages of the season.

Madrid took the lead at the Estadio de la Ceramica on Sunday through Vinicius Junior in the 16th minute, before Levante’s Nikola Vukcevic hit the crossbar before half-time.

Karim Benzema struck the post and Vinicius missed a pair of chances to add to his tally within 10 minutes of the restart.

Levante did not wilt but they were unable to find a way past Thibaut Courtois, who did superbly to deny Enis Bardhi on three occasions.

Madrid finally put the game to bed in the fifth minute of stoppage time when Rodrygo released Benzema on a fast break and the Frenchman scored his first goal of the season.

Zidane saw some positives as his team moved top of La Liga but knows the reigning champions remain some way short of their best.

“It was a game we suffered in. We had chances to kill the game off in the second half, and it could have been a very different match,” Zidane told Movistar . “We suffered a lot because they had chances too. I’m happy about the first half but the game is 90 minutes.

“It’s the beginning of the season and we know we’re lacking something in attack and defence. We are not playing perfectly. I’m happy with the effort, they’ve given their all.

“I’ve seen it against this same opponent, they have good chances that you have to contain.

“Maybe physically we’re not quite there. The opponent put a little more energy in and had two or three chances.

“I’m very happy going into the international break. The team is working well together, wanting to show what they can do.”

Before the game, Zidane had played down suggestions that Madrid could be boosted with a move for Lyon midfielder and long-time Arsenal target Houssem Aouar.

“I don’t know what information you have about him [Aouar],” Zidane told reporters. “He’s a great player, I have no doubt about that.

“Maybe one day he could play at Real Madrid, but right now we have this squad and we’re going to go forward with the players we have.”