La Liga Pre-Season: Benzema Outshines Cristiano Ronaldo In Real Madrid Win
July 21st 2009 04:26
Madrid fans everywhere were eagerly anticipating the start of their team's pre-season games in order to drool over the club's newest acquisitions. Neutral observers on the other hand were curious to see what kind of formation Manuel Pellegrini would use to satisfy everyone. Although Kaka and current Roja players were absent for Madrid's first friendly encounter, viewers still had the opportunity to see both Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in action for the first time.
The two players were put into different line-ups. Ronaldo started the game with what can be considered the usual starting eleven while Benzema came on at half-time along with the Dutch brigade.
Madrid had a lot trouble finding the net during the first half. Ronaldo's tendency to drift towards the middle led to a pretty narrow attacking stance. With Ronaldo, Guti, Higuain, and Raul all trying to get in through the middle, the visitors had to rely on their fullbacks Marcelo and Torres to provide the width. Unfortunately, that strategy wasn't effective at all since it left Madrid's defense exposed. Players on the offense were also very generous as they often tried to set up Ronaldo who, for all his tricks and flicks, wasn't quite effective that evening.
The visitors' passing game became a lot more effective after the break when all but two players were substituted. With Sneijder as the maestro, the passes were a lot more frank, direct, and smart. Benzema quickly showed why both Real Madrid and Manchester United were fighting for his services. Adept with both feet, he often unleash his powerful shot without any sort of warning. The ball simply flies off his foot. He quickly became the target-man of all Madrid attacks after his left-footed strike hit the post at the 56th minute. His efforts were rewarded when he scored the winning goal four minutes before full-time. He effectively trapped Heinze's beautiful diagonal pass over the top before coolly slipping the ball past the goalkeeper.
Although Madrid walked off the pitch with a win, their effort wasn't very convincing even for a pre-season game. The defense – their Achilles' heel all season long last year – hasn't improved one bit and looks as shaky as ever. I'm waiting to see Raul Albiol in action before making a definitive statement but for now, it doesn't look good.
Real Madrid's line-up: Jerzy Dudek; Miguel Torres (Michel Salgado, h-t), Pepe (Ezequiel Garay, h-t), Christoph Metzelder (Gabriel Heinze, h-t), Marcelo (Royston Drenthe, h-t); Cristiano Ronaldo (Rafael Van der Vaart, h-t), Gago (Dani Parejo, h-t), Lassana Diarra (Tebar, 63rd), Guti (Wesley Sneijder, h-t); Gonzalo Higuain (Karim Benzema, h-t), Raul (Alvaro Negredo, h-t).
The two players were put into different line-ups. Ronaldo started the game with what can be considered the usual starting eleven while Benzema came on at half-time along with the Dutch brigade.
Madrid had a lot trouble finding the net during the first half. Ronaldo's tendency to drift towards the middle led to a pretty narrow attacking stance. With Ronaldo, Guti, Higuain, and Raul all trying to get in through the middle, the visitors had to rely on their fullbacks Marcelo and Torres to provide the width. Unfortunately, that strategy wasn't effective at all since it left Madrid's defense exposed. Players on the offense were also very generous as they often tried to set up Ronaldo who, for all his tricks and flicks, wasn't quite effective that evening.
The visitors' passing game became a lot more effective after the break when all but two players were substituted. With Sneijder as the maestro, the passes were a lot more frank, direct, and smart. Benzema quickly showed why both Real Madrid and Manchester United were fighting for his services. Adept with both feet, he often unleash his powerful shot without any sort of warning. The ball simply flies off his foot. He quickly became the target-man of all Madrid attacks after his left-footed strike hit the post at the 56th minute. His efforts were rewarded when he scored the winning goal four minutes before full-time. He effectively trapped Heinze's beautiful diagonal pass over the top before coolly slipping the ball past the goalkeeper.
Although Madrid walked off the pitch with a win, their effort wasn't very convincing even for a pre-season game. The defense – their Achilles' heel all season long last year – hasn't improved one bit and looks as shaky as ever. I'm waiting to see Raul Albiol in action before making a definitive statement but for now, it doesn't look good.
Real Madrid's line-up: Jerzy Dudek; Miguel Torres (Michel Salgado, h-t), Pepe (Ezequiel Garay, h-t), Christoph Metzelder (Gabriel Heinze, h-t), Marcelo (Royston Drenthe, h-t); Cristiano Ronaldo (Rafael Van der Vaart, h-t), Gago (Dani Parejo, h-t), Lassana Diarra (Tebar, 63rd), Guti (Wesley Sneijder, h-t); Gonzalo Higuain (Karim Benzema, h-t), Raul (Alvaro Negredo, h-t).
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