by Umid Dey.
Real Madrid continued their winning streak by beating Getafe 4-2 at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Goals from Benzema (2), Cristiano and Higuain helped Real Madrid on its way to victory. Miku scored twice for Getafe as they troubled the hosts more than what was expected, thanks to some woeful defending by Real Madrid.
Negatives…
Yesterday’s performance was anything but spectacular. The defense, especially, were very poor. Carvalho’s aging legs were once again exposed. Worry, however, is that it was exposed by a mid-table team in Getafe.
Getafe’s second goal is a perfect example to show that. When the ball was passed to Dani Guiza, Carvalho was ball-watching rather than going inside the box and tightening up the space. When Guiza’s shot was parried away by Casillas, the ball fell to Miku, who was in acres of space, and he coolly finished it. Had Carvalho run back into the box, the space would’ve been tightened, or maybe even the rebound would’ve fallen to him, and Getafe may not have scored the second.
Then there was Coentrao. His unbelievable miss while shooting into an empty net from 3 yards out would have embarrassed even Robert Earnshaw – yes, the guy who blasted the ball over an empty goal from 6 yards out in the England v Wales encounter mid-week.
Coentrao missed another great chance after Benzema’s magical pass put him straight through on goal with only the ‘keeper to beat, but he shot the ball right at the ‘keeper. He, unaware of it, also got another unrealistic quick-flick ball from Benzema, which hit his leg and went into the net…. only to be ruled out offside at the very same moment.
Also, he didn’t have a great game when it came to defending either. His role, while playing as a midfielder, is of an all-action box-to-box midfielder. When Miku scored his, and Getafe’s, second goal, he jogged into Real Madrid’s box, but only after Miku scored the goal. He was nowhere to be seen when Guiza shot the ball and the rebound fell to Miku, even though Coentrao actually had some 2 to 3 seconds to get in there and jam the space up, but he stood outside the box, ball-watching.
And in the first Getafe goal, he was he culprit who kept Miku onside (Pepe and Carvalho’s lack of communication was also a factor). Though, he made some good ball-winning tackles, it wasn’t a great game for the Portuguese.
Positives…
A lot of positives can be taken from this game, too. Benzema, who arguably played his best game in the White shirt, was scintillating. His work-rate was phenomenal. He kept on pressing. However, that wasn’t the most surprising thing as we have seen Benzema doing this a lot of late.
The pleasantly surprising thing was his willingness to leap of his feet and get his head to the ball before his opponent. Benzema, prior to last night’s game, wasn’t considered a great presence in the air. But last night, with some neat flick-ons with the head, he proved that he can be a threat aerially, too.
And to sum this off, he scored 2 goals to give Real Madrid the win. The first one was an excellent FIFA-esque finish from the edge of the box. The second Benzema goal came from a Godly assist by Ronaldo. Benzema also showed some serious awareness and vision – passes which put both Ronaldo and Coentrao (twice to Coentrao, the second one was an offside, though) through on goal prove that.
Cristiano Ronaldo also had a great game after half-time. His assist to Benzema was nothing but mind-blasting (in Russel Peters’ words). If he could do that more often, which he could if he WANTS to, then he can achieve his ultimate dream – winning Champions League with Real Madrid.
Also, Cristiano’s best friend, Marcelo, is, with every passing game, showing why he could be the best left back in the World in the very near future. He was good at both attacking and defending. He almost stopped the second goal, but luck didn’t favour him. Good game for the ‘Loco’.
And to almost-perfectly end the night, Higuain, subbed in at the 85th minute, scored a wonderful goal, which was assisted by the great Kaka – who is showing glimpses of his Milan days – pass, by bullying the defenders off him and then nicely finishing. And the celebration after scoring that goal was….. I actually have no words to describe that moment when he hugged Ronaldo and almost cried in happiness.
But that, for me, wasn’t the perfect ending as Don Pablo failed to find the net and didn’t have a great game. He’s the player every Real Madrid fan wanted to do well. Who many fans see as the next big thing coming from the La Fabrica. Here’s hoping that he goes on to have a great season and, someday, comes back to Real Madrid.
Finally, a win and 3 points in the bag which takes Real Madrid at the top of the La Liga table and pleases us Madridistas.
Hala Madrid!
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Posted on September 11, 2011 by rmadridinfo
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