Real Madrid

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Ronaldo trains later with the Club's permission

The second-to-last training session before Real Madrid face Celta Vigo on Sunday lasted one hour. Roberto Carlos and Diarra took the pitch after recovering from tendinitis and a contusion, respectively, while Helguera is still suffering from a bruise. Ronaldo trained later than all his teammates after asking for the Club's permission. The last session of the week takes place on Saturday at 11 am CET.





With just over 48 hours left until kick-off, coach Fabio Capello designed a workout that began with 30 minutes of indoor stretching and sit-ups. Following the warmup, and with a heavy rainfall, the players made their way to the training field to carry out a mandatory exercise as well as an optional one.
The first consisted of a half-pitch practice match without goalkeepers. It was eight-on-eight and players were allowed just one touch on the football. The game lasted almost 30 minutes and saw a lot of player mobility. The only players missing were Helguera and Ronaldo. The defender missed yesterday's session with a deep calf bruise and spent today with the physiotherapists. However, it looks like Helguera won't have any problems playing against Celta on Sunday. Ronaldo did not train with the squad as he had asked the Club permission to workout by himself at a later time.



Once the practice match had ended, Casillas, Diego López and Adán took turns in goal as the players wanted to fine tune their aim. Raúl, Cannavaro, Raúl Bravo, Emerson, Robinho, Guti, Salgado, and Ramos made their way to the showers, while the rest of the squad accepted the goalkeepers' challenge. With crosses coming in from the wings, Reyes, Beckham, Pavón, Mejía and Javi García struck the balls from the front of the box, with more than one resulting in a spectacular goal.

It was the second and last exercise of the day. But as they did yesterday, Reyes and Beckham stayed outdoors to work on free kicks with metal walls substituting actual players. Capello has made a point that he wants his free kick specialists to be dead on when they really count.



Saturday's final preparation for the Celta Vigo match will take place behind closed doors. The Galician side are in the middle of the League table and seven points behind Real Madrid, but last year's precendent isn't good, being that Celta left the Santiago Bernabéu with three points in hand. On Thurday, the Madridistas host Ecija in the return leg of the King's Cup tie, followed by Osasuna in League play on Sunday. Three games considered ever so important by the entire squad.

NEXT TRAINING SESSION:
Saturday 4 November @ 11 am CET. Behind closed doors at Real Madrid City.

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Best man won; Ecija go away with a drubbing but their heads held up high

The first half of the King's Cup Last 32 stage match at the Santiago Bernabéu will always be remembered by the Ecija fans for the drive, sharpness and formation of the equivalent of a Second Division team who stood up to Capello's star-studded side. In the second half, however, Real Madrid asserted their authority, bringing in the quality and skill that allowed them to score five goals. First up was David Beckham, followed by a wonderful goal by Ronaldo, two consecutive ones for Ruud Van Nistelrooy and off to a perfect finish with the magnificent fifth by youth player De la Red. The prize for the visitors: celebrating a goal at the Santiago Bernabéu.


It had been 15 days since Real Madrid's first Cup game of the season in the muddy pitch of a Second division side. Capello's boys brought back home a scant booty: a 1-1 draw against a team, Ecija, who proved they had footballing nerve and praiseworthy athleticism. The question was… would the imposing grandiosity of the Bernabéu make the Andalusians bail out? The response was evident tonight: N-O. Although Madrid were off to a strong start, attempting to move the ball and do all they were unable to in Ecija, the opponents can feel proud to say that they put on an enxhibition of attitude, sharpness and audacity on the pitch against the almighty Real Madrid.
There were a few changes in the starting eleven of the Madridistas, namely Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy, who started out as the two target men for the first time in the season. The outset for the duo was not very optimistic, with a feeble attempt on goal by the Dutchman from the edge of the box 12 minutes into the game. Meanwhile, Sergio Ramos was again king down the right flank, becoming one of the offensive references of Real Madrid and creating danger incessantly.



The first clear opportunity of the locals was a Sevillian affair. Reyes put the cross in for the number “4” of Real Madrid, who took a point-blank shot (min.7) that should have been the first of the night, but Zigor did well to deflect it. Onwards, after the first few minutes of utter control of the Whites, chances started alternating between goals. Ecija even took command during certain phases of the first half. Beckham's effort came in the form of pot shots from medium range and Ronaldo asked for the ball incessantly, but never made it near the rival stopper.

Pepe Díaz was the Andalusian side's true beacon in offence. Requena pushed forward down the right wing, bringing intermittent danger on the goal of the Whites. Behind him, fullback Torres was unchallenged and allowed to drive the ball to try to dip it into the box of Real. With 19 minutes on the clock, the visiting team were denied the dream of getting ahead on the scoreboard at the Bernabéu: Pepe Díaz went into the box after cutting inside his man, an unfortunate Raúl Bravo, but inches away from a one on one with the keeper, he lost his balance just in front of tonight's captain, centre back Paco Pavón. No penalty was called, but Ecija's number “7” heard the loud roar of support coming from his team's fan base in the stands. The play continued, with Vega capitalising on the loose ball, but local keeper Diego López was well positioned and stopped the ball.


White thrashing
After a hard-battled first half, logic took over and Real Madrid counteracted the visitor's spirit with the individual quality of their players. In just three minutes, goals started pouring down. The first: Ronaldo brilliantly loses his man, clips it in for Van Nistelrooy –it was the first succcessful connection of the night for the attacking partnership- who tries to get past Zigor on his right, but the keeper slices a magical hand to steal the ball from the Dutch striker. To his dismay, Beckham kicks the loose ball with his left and scores the opening goal of the night.

Madrid were, of course, the big fish and the Sevillian team awoke from their dream with the second of the night, as a preamble of a grand total of five. David Beckham's first was followed by yet another perfect Van Nistelrooy-Ronaldo connection. The number “9” of the Whites put a halt to his sprint, seeing how his defenders just swished past him, turned, and with a subtle touch of his left foot, lodged a perfect ball in the bottom right corner of the opponent's net. The execution was just perfect. The third was Van Nistelorooy's from the penalty spot (min. 72), scoring his first penalty after having missed the prior two, one inthe League and the other in the Champions League just last week.

It was a real blow for the Ecija boys, who were probably showing some signs of fatigue from the overexertion of the first half. The match was split wide open and the Whites undeniably marshalled the field of play. Youth player Miguel Torres was given a chance with the locals while the visitors found their main man when Nolito, the goalscorer in Ecija, came in. It was him precisely who took a free kick and Mario headed the service 78 minutes into the match (3-1). Ecija celebrated their first goal ever at the Bernabeú in style.

The fourth was also signed off by Van Nistelrooy in the 78th minute of the encounter. It was a beautiful over-the-head shot inside the keeper's box. The perfect ending to the footballing evening was reserved to a youth player: impeccable goal by Rubén De la Red, who scored as he best knows: he whiplashed the ball from the edge of the box and put it right into the angle of Zigor's goal. Real Madrid is in the Last 16 stage of the King's Cup.





MATCH REPORT

REAL MADRID: Diego López; Ramos (Torres, min.80), Mejía, Pavón, Raúl Bravo; Diarra, Javi García (De la Red, min.55), Beckham, Reyes; Ronaldo and Van Nistelrooy (Robinho, min.85)
ECIJA: Zigor; Torres (Nolito, min.60), min., Mario, Jaime, Pichardo; Pedro, Capa, Jorge Díaz (Argüello, min. 67), Requena (Luna, min. 72), José Vega; Pepe Díaz.
REFEREE: Alfonso Álvarez, Catalan Refereeing Association.
Booked Jorge Díaz (min.36), Torres (min.43), and Javi García (min.50)

GOALS:
1-0, m.49: Beckham.
2-0, m.67: Ronaldo.
3-0, m.73: Van Nistelrooy, penalty shot.
3-1, m.77: Mario.
4-1, m.79: Van Nistelrooy.
5-1, m.87: De la Red.
HIGHLIGHTS: Return leg of the Last 32 stage of the King's Cup played at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium with an estimated attendance of 47,000 spectators.

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Van Nistelrooy has scored in the three competitions

Ruud Van Nistelrooy is doing an exceptional season. The Dutch striker is responding to the confidence Real madrid is depositing in him in the best manner a striker can do it: scoring goals. With the brace against Ecija last night, the target man has scored a total of 9 strikes in 14 appearances, having put the ball in the back of the net in all the three competitions in which Real Madrid play this campaign.





When Real Madrid announced the signing of Ruud Van Nistelrooy this summer, many doubted if the extraordinary Ducth striker would perform at the same level as he had done whilst at Manchester United. The forward had ceased feeling at home in the English club due to his disagreements with the boss of the Red Devils, Sir Alex Ferguson. The season proved tought for the Dutch international, who in addition to being benched with ManU, saw how Van Basten also decided against him with the Dutch international team after having featured initially.
Nevertheless, Van Nistelrooy, who refused a bigger economic offer from Bayern Munich in favour of Madrid, is repaying the Club for their confidence and trust with flying colours. It is evident that the number "17" is happy again donning the white shirt. In Madrid, he has earned the trust of Fabio Capello, who has lined him up in every single match of the season except for the first leg of the King's Cup against Ecija.



Van the Man or Van Goal, a recent alias he has picked up in the Spanish capital has made the scoresheet on several games, netting 9 goals in 14 appearances with Real Madrid so far. Even more exceptional is the fact that he has scored in all competitions in play. His numbers reflect 4 goals in the League, 3 in the Champions League and 2 in the King's Cup, entitling him to the rightful honour of target man for the Whites. Moreover, the player is displaying an agility unusual of a man of his build, always playing to the advantage of the team and presently working on geling a partnership with Ronaldo that could pay high dividends for Real Madrid.

Van Nistelrooy is comfortable and at ease in Real Madrid, denoted by the cheerfulness in his demeanour and the lethal hue his game is acquiring. His capacity will definitely prove crucial this year if Real Madrid aspire to be successful on every front.