Realmadrid News

Real Madrid 1-1 Getafe:The Whites bounce back from adversity and deserve to win

After the victories of Sevilla and Valencia earlier this weekend, Real Madrid looked to cut distances short with Barcelona in the table by winning three points tonight against Getafe. Bernd Schuster's team were the first side in Real Madrid's way in a complicated week in which they still have to face Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena and Barcelona at Camp Nou. Getafe looked to surprise everybody by earning their first victory in the Madridista feud.

Both teams' initial lienups were conditioned by their absentee players. On Real Madrid, Beckham played in midfield with Gago, Sergio Ramos was paired as centre back with Helguera because of Cannavaro's suspension, Reyes and Robinho were in charge of bringing the ball down the wings, and Ruud van Nistelrooy -recovered from his injury- was paired with Higuaín in the attacking front. Getafe couldn't count with their two main centre backs, Alexis and Belenguer, who had to be replaced by former Madridistas Pulido and Tena, who played their first game at the Bernabéu tonight. The Blues have been playing a very serious and organised game the entire season and they started tonight's match putting a lot of pressure on Madrid's defense, as they normally do.

The first Getafe attack came soon after kick-off, one minute and a half into the game. Juan Albín took a dangerous free-kick close to the box, but the ball swayed past Casillas' goal. Real Madrid responded with a counterattack by Sergio Ramos, who joined the attack and gave the ball to Reyes, who in turn back-heeled it to Robinho. The Brazilian took the shot, but Abbondanzieri was well positioned and sent it out. The first few minutes didn't see neither side clearly dominating the match. Getafe were maybe slightly fiercer in the attack thanks to Nacho's great runs down the left and to Güiza's constant runs trying to get unmarked. The Blues were close to getting ahead on the scoreboard with a shot Nacho sent to the near post. Pulido took a header from the rebound, but the ball hit the crossbar.

Far from falling back, Real Madrid also looked for a goal, but all their chances were thwarted by Abbondanzieri and his crew. Their first chance came in the 31st minute. Van Nistelrooy guessed the run of Reyes into the box and passed him the ball. The Sevillian did well to overcome the keeper, but as the ball was about to cross the goal-line, Paredes managed to to save the day for Getafe and cleared it. The excitement of Reyes' play soon vanished when it was clear the player couldn't get up and had to be taken off the pitch on a stretcher. The referee failed to see that the keeper's tackle on the winger deserved a penalty shot. Refereeing decisions were detrimental to Real Madrid once again; this would happen soon after tonight in an uncalled penalty on Cassano. Capello was forced to replace Reyes with De la Red and Beckham returned to the right wing. The English player's change of position gave way to an improvement in his team's performance.

Just when Real Madrid were beginning to play their best football, Getafe scored the opening goal. Güiza did well to leave the defenders behind and Cotelo read his run well enough to give him a magnificent pass. The striker took the ball and scored with a crossed shot that went straight past Iker Casillas on the 37-minute mark. Real Madrid were now forced to make a comeback and reacted very quickly. David Beckham brilliantly nutmegged Paredes and gave a long pass to Robinho from which the Brazilian forward managed to win a penalty that Van Nistelrooy converted by sending the ball past the inside of the post. This was Real Madrid's first penalty goal in the season.

The Whites started the second half fighting hard to score the winning goal. After a quiet first half, Gago decided to take the reins of the team and their game improved. Getafe were now much quieter, tired from the great efforts they made in the opening 45 minutes. Real Madrid soon had two chances with shots by Beckham and Higuaín. Robinho also imporved in the second half and created some of the best attacking chances of his team. Beckham hurt his leg badly and had to be replaced by Cassano. The Italian was anxious to pull off a great performance in front of the fans after his good game last week in the derby, in which he gave Higuaín the pass from which he scored the equaliser. But luck wasn't on his side and neither was the referee; the Italian failed to beat Abbondanzieri after a play by Robinho and the official failed to award a penalty after he was tackled in the box.

After earning a draw and performing brilliantly during the second half, Real Madrid will travel to Munich to face Bayern with chances of winning the match. The Whites have had a good start to this crucial week, set to end with the Clasico against Barcelona next weekend.







Match report by Laura Osorio
Photography by Ángel Martínez, Daniel Sastre & Fernando Comeche
Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell

posted by khalidmrrakchi@hotmail.com @ 4:15 PM