Real Madrid

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Real Madrid put their fine away record on the line on Saturday when they visit Sevilla's Sanchez Pizjuan, where the UEFA Cup holders have the league's only remaining 100 percent home record.

With five wins from six on the road Real are the league's best travellers but their cautious, counter-attacking approach has won few admirers.


Real leapfrogged Sevilla into second place last weekend with a laboured 2-1 home win over struggling Athletic Bilbao, but Sevilla coach Juande Ramos stopped short of joining those who criticise Real coach Fabio Capello's pragmatic methods.

"I prefer a different style of play to Real's but I don't want to say it is more effective. Playing this way they have caught up with Barcelona and gone past us. Although it isn't exciting they make the most of their chances," Ramos said.

Sevilla slipped a point behind Real into third after surprisingly losing 2-1 away to Espanyol last weekend, but might be able to count on the return of winger Jesus Navas for Saturday.

The pacy 21-year-old, one of their most effective players, has been out with a knee injury since early last month. Ramos is also awaiting news on injured defenders Aitor Ocio, Julien Escude and Ivica Dragutinovic.

An under-strength Real drew 2-2 against Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Wednesday when Brazilian striker Ronaldo took his tally for the week to three. They have midfielder Mahamadou Diarra suspended, though playmaker Guti returns.

The last time the two sides met in May Sevilla came out on top in a 4-3 thriller.

DAUNTING TASK

Real Sociedad, the only side without a win in the Primera Liga, face the daunting task of looking to break that statistic in the Nou Camp on Saturday against a Barcelona in full flow.

The league leaders appear to have shrugged off their indifferent form of the previous month and proved with the 2-0 Champions League win over Werder Bremen on Tuesday they can turn on the style when they need to.

Frank Rijkaard's side were held to a 1-1 draw away to Levante last time out, which left them just a point ahead of arch-rivals Real, and have an injury doubt over one of their form players, midfielder Andres Iniesta.

Sociedad are without defender Adriano Rossato who was injured in a training ground brawl with a team mate during the week.

Injury-hit Valencia, languishing in ninth place, have the perfect chance to put a stop to their slide when Deportivo Coruna visit on Sunday.

Depor have yet to win on their travels while Quique Sanchez Flores's side are without a win in six league games.

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Ernesto Chevanton's second-half scissor-kick saw Sevilla overtake opponents Real Madrid in second place as it secured a 2-1 win to keep the pressure on leaders Barcelona in the Primera Liga.

Chevanton claimed the headlines with a well-executed finish after first-half strikes from recalled Real midfielder David Beckham and Sevilla striker Fredi Kanoute had cancelled each other out, but Capello will be unhappy with his side's inability to mount a comeback in the closing stages.

Beckham, a fringe player in Real's domestic campaign to date, kept his place in the side following an eye-catching performance in the Champions League draw against Dynamo Kyiv and made an immediate impact.

He opened the scoring in the 13th minute when he scored direct from a free kick for his second league goal of the year.

It was not one to add to the former England captain's impressive scrapbook, as he swung the ball in from the flank hoping to find a teammate in the Sevilla box. But nobody met the ball as it curled into the area and with home keeper Andres Palop standing off his line Beckham's cross nestled in the top corner.

But Real's joy did not last for long as Mali international Fredi Kanoute, who scored from the penalty spot in his side's 2-1 reverse against Espanyol last time out, found a swift equalizer.

Just four minutes separated Beckham's opener and Kanoute's equalizer but it was a deserved goal for a Sevilla side which had taken the game to the visitors with some sprightly early play.

Luis Fabiano claimed the assist, striking the ball fiercely from 20 yards and hitting the woodwork before the former West Ham and Tottenham striker converted the rebound, giving Iker Casillas no chance.

Roberto Carlos tried to put his side back in the lead almost immediately but he failed to trouble Palop with a pair of speculative efforts from outside the box.

Fellow Brazilian Ronaldo, also retained after a two-goal showing against Kiev, showed flashes of his old flair but hesitated with his best chance of the game, trying to round the keeper instead of taking an early shot.

Alvaro Mejia replaced Michel Salgado at the start of the second half as Capello shuffled his pack but Sevilla began to assert themselves as the game progressed.

Jesus Navas, fit to start after a late fitness test, threatened to put the hosts in front in the opening stages of the second period but his shot lacked accuracy and went harmlessly past Casillas' right-hand post.

Kanoute also went close as he continued to cause problems for Madrid but when he stole in behind Roberto Carlos, his volleyed effort flew high over the crossbar.

Madrid, who looked lightweight in midfield, could not hang on to a point and Chevanton was the man who finally grabbed the winner.

When a deep cross came into the Real box, he was played onside by a static Sergio Ramos who failed to pick up the Sevilla substitute. Chevanton leapt high into the air before stabbing the ball into the ground and past Casillas.

An injury to Enzo Maresca ensured plenty of injury time for a possible equalizer but Real was short of inspiration and allowed their rivals to replace them in second place.

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The President of Real Madrid and several former Madridistas who played with Ferenc Puskas will leave Madrid's Torrejón Airport on Saturday at 9:15 am CET. An official lunch will be held at 1:30 pm, and the burial service will take place between 4 and 5 pm. Once the ceremony has ended, President Ramón Calderón will return to Spain, where he is expected to attend Real Madrid's League match against Sevilla.
The body of Ferenc Puskas has been laid out at St. Stephen's Basilica since last Thursday, where mourners have paid their last respects and left floral bouquets and wreaths.

Farewell to a Hungarian great at the Puskas Stadium
Tomorrow will be a National Day of Mourning in Hungary. The flag of the Republic will be hoisted in Kossuth Square at 9 am and then lowered to half mast. The National Farewell will begin at 4 pm in the Ferenc Puskas Stadium, where fans will be able to say a final goodbye to the greatest footballer of all time. Once the ceremony has ended at 5 pm, Puskas' remains will be taken to the Basilica through Heroes' Square, where the army will hold a military funeral honour. Puskas was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General.

Farewell mass in the Basilica
The funeral procession will travel along Andrássy Street – József Attila – Hercegprímás – Zrínyi – St. Stephen's Square. The Roman Catholic mass will begin at 7 pm. All the events during the Day of Mourning will be broadcast live on state television (MTV, m2, Duna Televízi&#243 and Radio Petőfi.

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Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello spelt out in no uncertain terms that he is expecting Boca Juniors' highly-rated midfielder Fernando Gago to sign with the Spanish giants.

"We need Gago but when he's signed I'll talk more about him," said Capello at a press conference, pointedly using the word 'when' rather than 'if'.

"They (including Real target Gonzalo Higuain in his comments) are young players with a future. They move a lot, get there and are good quality," added the Italian coach.

Spanish media reports said that Boca president Mauricio Macri was expected in Madrid later on Saturday to start negotiations for the transfer of his 20 year-old player.

Gago, one of the stars of Argentina's team that won the Under 20 World Cup last year, has drawn comparisons with the Argentine and Real Madrid icon Fernando Redondo for his abundant talent and also his long, lank hairstyle.

He is expected to sign a six-year deal, although the transfer fee is the main sticking point with Boca apparently wanting 20 million euros for their man compared to Real's reported upper limit of 15 million euros.

Real are also openly after River Plate striker Gonzalo Higuain, who holds both French and Argentine passports and recently turned down a call-up to the France squad.

However, it is believed that River Plate coach Daniel Passarella wants to hold on to Higuain for the Copa Libertadores which begins in January.

Real Madrid travel to Espanyol on Sunday but will do so without former England capatin David Beckham, who is suspended.

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"I hit the ball with my face, not my hand"

Fabio Cannavaro was unjustly sent of in minute 53. Replay footage clearly shows he hit the ball with his head, not his hand, which explains the player's anger at the end of the game.





"I didn't like being sent off and it's hard to accept. The ball didn't hit my hand. Thank God we won the match in the end, because we needed the points after the defeat in Seville. Espanyol are a good team that, until today, stood undefeated here for a very long time. We will surely be champions if we win every game. We don't think about how other teams are performing. I hope I can play on Wednesday if my red card is rescinded."
"I don't know if I'm FIFA World Player or not. My teammates told me in the dressing room. I'm traveling to Geneva tomorrow, but I have no idea who has won. I did know about the Ballon d'Or beforehand, but I don't know about this one yet. It would be amazing to win it. This has been a spectacular year for me, as I won the World Cup, the Italian League, I joined Real Madrid..."