La Liga Week 1: Lass Shot Gives Real Madrid Win Over Deportivo
August 30th 2009 04:16
The world's eyes were fixed on Spain's capital this Saturday as the Galacticos 2.0 made their debut against Deportivo La Coruna at the Bernabeu. With Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and the eternal Raul all in starting the game, Madrid had – on paper – enough firepower to blow Deportivo out of the field. Instead, Madrid's poor defensive system once again reared its ugly head and it was blue-collar midfielder Lassana Diarra who scored the decisive goal in an unconvincing 3-2 Madrid win over Deportivo.
The Spanish giants flexed their muscles early on when Kaka's shot flew across Aranzubia's goal line to finish its course a couple of inches wide of the far post. Kaka came back with another in the 19th minute. This time, his curler was slightly over the crossbar. The Brazilian midfielder seemed to be at the origin of every Madrid attack in the first half and it was his brilliant pass in the 26th minute that allowed the home side to break the deadlock. Spotting Benzema's run inside the box, Kaka slotted a beautiful through-ball that slipped in between a defender's leg to end up in Benzema's path. Unfortunately, the Frenchman's shot only hit the post and it was Raul, lurking around the six-yard box, who buried the rebound for Madrid's first goal of the season.
Four minutes later, Deportivo canceled Raul's goal by scoring on a free-kick. This sort of play has been Madrid's Achilles heel during all of last year's run, and it's sad to see that nothing has been done to repair it. Casillas didn't even move on the play, showing how unprepared the Whites are for this kind of situation.
Madrid didn't wait to reply. In the 34th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo opened his Liga account by converting a penalty-kick. Aranzubia had dived the right way but the shot was too powerful for him to stop it. At the break, the home side led 2-1 and the entire stadium was cheering “*clap clap clapclapclap* MADRID!”
The Bernabeu was silenced soon after the break as Deportivo's Valeron tied the game right after the kickoff. The diminished cheers soon turned into scattered boos as Deportivo probbed for another goal while Madrid passively defended their box.
It was finally midfielder Lassana Diarra - more renowned for his defending skills than finishing touch - who put Madrid back in the lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Although not as glamorous as his teammates, Lass' contribution to the team has been as important, if not more, as the superstars playing alongside him. It was nice to see him finally be rewarded with a goal – his first in a Madrid shirt.
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In the end, Madrid fans will see this win as a great results but there's plenty of areas for them to improve, starting with defense. Casillas may have been canonized as a saint by the madridistas, he can't make miracles every game.
Real Madrid line-up: Iker Casillas; Alvaro Arbeloa, Raul Albiol, Christoph Metzelder, Marcelo; Kaka (Guti, 82nd), Lassana Diarra, Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo; Raul (Esteban Granero, 61st), Karim Benzema (Gonzalo Higuain, 72nd).
The Spanish giants flexed their muscles early on when Kaka's shot flew across Aranzubia's goal line to finish its course a couple of inches wide of the far post. Kaka came back with another in the 19th minute. This time, his curler was slightly over the crossbar. The Brazilian midfielder seemed to be at the origin of every Madrid attack in the first half and it was his brilliant pass in the 26th minute that allowed the home side to break the deadlock. Spotting Benzema's run inside the box, Kaka slotted a beautiful through-ball that slipped in between a defender's leg to end up in Benzema's path. Unfortunately, the Frenchman's shot only hit the post and it was Raul, lurking around the six-yard box, who buried the rebound for Madrid's first goal of the season.
Four minutes later, Deportivo canceled Raul's goal by scoring on a free-kick. This sort of play has been Madrid's Achilles heel during all of last year's run, and it's sad to see that nothing has been done to repair it. Casillas didn't even move on the play, showing how unprepared the Whites are for this kind of situation.
Madrid didn't wait to reply. In the 34th minute, Cristiano Ronaldo opened his Liga account by converting a penalty-kick. Aranzubia had dived the right way but the shot was too powerful for him to stop it. At the break, the home side led 2-1 and the entire stadium was cheering “*clap clap clapclapclap* MADRID!”
The Bernabeu was silenced soon after the break as Deportivo's Valeron tied the game right after the kickoff. The diminished cheers soon turned into scattered boos as Deportivo probbed for another goal while Madrid passively defended their box.
It was finally midfielder Lassana Diarra - more renowned for his defending skills than finishing touch - who put Madrid back in the lead with a powerful strike from the edge of the box. Although not as glamorous as his teammates, Lass' contribution to the team has been as important, if not more, as the superstars playing alongside him. It was nice to see him finally be rewarded with a goal – his first in a Madrid shirt.
Watch More Football Videos at MySoccerPlace.net
In the end, Madrid fans will see this win as a great results but there's plenty of areas for them to improve, starting with defense. Casillas may have been canonized as a saint by the madridistas, he can't make miracles every game.
Real Madrid line-up: Iker Casillas; Alvaro Arbeloa, Raul Albiol, Christoph Metzelder, Marcelo; Kaka (Guti, 82nd), Lassana Diarra, Xabi Alonso, Cristiano Ronaldo; Raul (Esteban Granero, 61st), Karim Benzema (Gonzalo Higuain, 72nd).
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