Real Madrid 4 - 2 Osasuna (Spanish League, Day 38)

Pleasant spectacle at the Bernabeu to bring the season to a close. Real Madrid won against Osasuna and ended the season as the only team in the big European leagues that has not lost a home match. Higuain, who scored the Whites’ 100th league goal of the season, opened the scoring and Essien scored the second before the break. The visitors equalised after the break with goals from Roberto Torres and Cejudo, but Benzema put Real Madrid back in front and Callejon, following a spectacular run of more than 20 metres by Higuain, put the finishing touches to an exciting match in which academy players Omar and Llorente made their debuts.

End of cycle with a win

Real Madrid brought down the curtain on the season with the intention of finishing the campaign as the only team in the big European leagues to have not lost a single home match. At least that is what the start of the match showed. The Whites dominated possession, although the first opportunity fell to Osasuna. A headed shot by Llorente and extraordinary response from Jesus. The full-stretch save by the Whites’ academy player earned him the crowd’s applause on 14 minutes and his team reacted, having scored twice and having had, at least, six chances to increase the scoreline in the following half hour.

Real Sociedad 3 - 3 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 37)

Real Madrid drew in Anoeta against Real Sociedad, who were fighting for a spot in next season’s European Cup, in their last official away match of the season. The Whites took advantage of the chances that they created and completed a great display of efficiency against a team that never gave up in front of a crowd that were fully behind their team. Higuain cleverly took advantage of Mikel Gonzalez’s mistake and gave the Whites the lead with a shot into the far corner in the 6th minute and then, in the second half, Callejon, with a subtle back-heel, increased the lead. Xabi Prieto pulled one back with a penalty before Griezmann equalised the match twelve minutes before full-time. But just as the home crowd were putting on more pressure, Khedira’s amazing individual move in which he linked with Ozil was finished with a nice chip to beat Bravo. In added time and the very last play, Xabi Prieto levelled the match despite the great display from Diego Lopez.

Real Madrid missed out on the win in last second

Real Madrid played their last official away match of the season against Real Sociedad. The home team were not going to make it easy. In fact, they needed the win to get closer to their aim of Champions League football next season. Despite that, the Whites responded to the continuous home support by putting themselves ahead in Anoeta with their first shot on goal. Higuain cleverly took advantage of Mikel Gonzalez’s mistake to beat Bravo with a shot into the far corner in a one-on-one. Only six minutes had passed before the Whites went ahead on the scoreboard.

Espanyol 1 - 1 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 35)

Real Madrid, who are unbeaten in their last four visits to the Cornella-El Prat Stadium, drew with Espanyol in what was their fourteenth consecutive unbeaten league match (12 wins and 2 draws). The match started badly. Varane's injury and Stuani’s goal following a corner, made things tough for Real Madrid, but Higuain, who continues his good scoring record against the Catalans, scored in the second half for a share of the points six days before the Copa del Rey final against Atletico.

Real Madrid said goodbye to the Spanish League

Real Madrid came into the match against Espanyol with the clear goal of getting their seventh consecutive win in the championship and prolonging their romance with the Cornella-El Prat, in which they have won on their previous three visits. The start of the match was not very promising. First came Varane's injury in the 17th minute whilst challenging for the ball against Wakaso and six minutes later came Stuani’s goal, which made things even more difficult for the visitors. It could have been worse had it not been for the reflexes of Diego Lopez, who prevented the Uruguayan striker’s second in a clear one-on-one as the match was approaching the half hour mark.

Real Madrid 6 - 2 Malaga (Spanish League, Day 36)

Real Madrid keep winning in the Santiago Bernabeu. The Whites reached their 1000th home league win with a rout. The first half was intense and saw six goals scored, four for the home team and two for the visitors, one sending-off and a missed penalty. Albiol scored right at the start and Santa Cruz, on the quarter-hour mark, levelled the match. The captain on the night, Ronaldo, missed a penalty five minutes later but made up for it by converting an indirect free kick and making it to 200 goals for Real Madrid in all competitions. Ozil, who came off injured, made it three after a spectacular cut inside against Antunes, who went on to pull one back with a great goal himself. Benzema, in first half stoppage time, and Modric and Di Maria, in the second half, sealed the rout. Fabinho made his debut and joined in his team’s display in front of a devoted Bernabeu crowd.

Cristian Ronaldo; 200 goals for Real Madrid

Real Madrid played their penultimate home league match against Malaga and were looking to extend their excellent run of 42 matches unbeaten in the Bernabeu. The Whites did not speculate against the Champions League quarter-finalists and showed their credentials in the very first moments of the match. In fact, inside three minutes they already had their first goal on the scoreboard. Modric’s corner was met by Albiol who put the ball in the back of net with a header. Things were going well with what was the Spanish international’s first goal of the season.

Real Madrid 4 - 3 Valladolid (Spanish League, Day 34)

Real Madrid once again had to come from behind at home. Oscar put the visiting side ahead in the eighth minute and in the twenty-sixth minute the match changed completely. All of a sudden the match began to flow and in just six minutes the Whites were ahead on the scoreboard. Di Maria equalised the match with a shot that deflected off Marc Valiente and Cristiano Ronaldo, with a header, put his team ahead in the thirty-second minute. Three minutes later Javi Guerra equalised for the visitors. Despite a Benzema goal being disallowed for offside and Cristiano Ronaldo hitting the crossbar from a free kick in the last ten minutes of the first half, Real Madrid’s seventh consecutive victory at the Bernabeu was sealed in the second half. Kaka, five minutes alter the restart, and Cristiano Ronaldo, scoring his second goal with a header from a free kick with twenty minutes of the match left, completed the victory, despite Sastre scoring the visiting team’s third goal in the eighty-seventh minute.

Kaka returned to the goal

Real Madrid entered the match against Valladolid with a desire to achieve their seventh consecutive victory at home. The start of the match made their objective look difficult. In fact, with eight minutes of the match having passed, and with their first shot on goal, the visitors were already ahead on the scoreboard. Oscar stole the ball and beat Diego Lopez in a one-on-one. The crowd were not made to wait long for the home team’s reaction. They pressed further up the pitch and in five minutes had two clear opportunities to equalise. Di Maria, with a volley in the ninth minute, and Modric, with a crossed shot in the twelfth minute both attempted to bring the Whites level.

Atletico Madrid 1 - 2 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 33)

Real Madrid won again at the Vicente Calderon and displayed the strength in depth that Jose Mourinho has available. Things went against the Whites very early on, but they showed their resilience and turned around the scoreboard following Falcao’s fourth minute opener. Di Maria played a key role. The first goal came from a free-kick taken by the Argentine that deflected off of Juanfran before beating Courtois. The second was his and with a shot into the far corner. It was deserved and that is what was shown by the ovation that the Real Madrid fans in Atletico’s stadium gave him when he was replaced by Modric. Eleventh consecutive unbeaten league match (ten of them have been wins) and a morale boost ahead of their attempt to turn around the tie in Tuesday’s semi-final second leg against Borussia Dortmund and reach the final at Wembley.

Derby win and now to think of Dortmund

Real Madrid played the La Liga derby at the Vicente Calderon three days ahead of their Champions League semi-final second leg match. The match began in the worst possible way. A free-kick taken by Gabi to the 4th minute and, following a block from Diego Lopez, Godin picked up the rebound before crossing to Falcao, who finished with an easy header. Everything was against them from the start but the Whites don’t give up easily and equalised nine minutes later, also from a set piece. Di Maria’s shot, having been encharged with taking the free-kick, deflected off of Juanfran as it was in flight and beat Courtois.

Real Madrid 3 - 1 Betis (Spanish League, Day 32)

Real Madrid once again showed that they head into each of their matches with confidence and defeated Betis, who arrived at the Bernabeu as the third best team in terms of points won away from home in the championship, four days before the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals at the Signal Iduna Park. Özil’s goal on the edge of halftime was key, causing significant damage to the team from Andalusia. In the second half Benzema completed a brilliant counter-attack and extending his team’s lead in the fifty-seventh minute, while Jorge Molina, from a penalty, halved the lead in the seventy-third minute. Özil, scoring his second goal one minute from the end of normal time, knocking a volley by Callejon over the line, sealed his team’s victory. Seventh consecutive victory at the Bernabeu and an outstanding debut by Casemiro. The only downside was Marcelo, Modric and Benzema being withdrawn due to niggles. Borussia Dortmund await on Wednesday.

Two goals from Özil and a win over Betis

Four days before the first leg of the semi-finals of the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid faced Betis at an impregnable Santiago Bernabéu, where the team are unbeaten in 15 months. There were many new faces in the Whites’ starting XI, among them the debutant Casemiro, against an opponent that before the start of the matchday were the third best team in terms of points away from home in the championship and two points away from the European places. The clash got off to a vibrant start. The visitors were the first to create a chance. A corner taken by Beñat and an impressive stretching save by Diego Lopez after the shot from Nosa in the eighth minute. Ruben Castro made the most of the rebound and knocked the ball over the line, but referee Alvarez Izquierdo ruled the goal out due to it being scored from a clear offside position. Real Madrid did not take long to react and a minute later Casemiro, who was very active, caused problems for Adrian with a volley from 25 metres.

Athletic Bilbao 0 - 3 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 31)

Real Madrid bid farewell to San Mames with a thrashing and with the look of solidity that has seen them sting together nine league matches unbeaten, eight of which have been wins. Cristiano Ronaldo, as he was five days ago in Istanbul, was decisive. His second consecutive brace and the assist for Higuain for the third is testament to this. The Whites soon went ahead on the scoreboard. The Portuguese was the architect, scoring from a direct free-kick in the 2nd minute and becoming the currently active Spanish League player with most goals from direct free-kicks. In the second half, and again from a set piece, the Portuguese headed in Xabi Alonso’s cross before completing his magnificent performance by making the final pass for the third goal.

Cristiano honored San Mames

Real Madrid played their last match in 'The Cathedral' with the confidence that comes from having strung together eight matches unbeaten in the championship. The Whites are the team that have won the most competitive matches in San Mames and were looking to continue in the same vein as they said goodbye to the Basque side’s famous old stadium. The start of the match could not have given more hope for that aim to come to fruition. Straight from the kick-off, following a combination between Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo, the Portuguese was brought down by Herrera outside the area. The Portuguese masterfully executed the free-kick, put his team ahead and became the currently active La Liga player with the most goals from direct free-kicks. 0-1 and it was game on from the second minute.

Real Madrid 5 - 1 Levante (Spanish League, Day 30)

Real Madrid keep racking up points in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The Whites thrashed Levante and have still won every home league match this year. Despite how the match finished, they had to come from behind following Michel’s opening goal. They did so resoundingly. Higuain, with a beautiful volley, scored the goal of the match to equalise before Kaka, from a penalty, put Real Madrid ahead prior to the break. In the second half, Cristiano Ronaldo and a brace from Ozil completed a rout that could have been more had it not been for the brilliant performance of an inspired Munua. A morale boost before of the quarter-final second leg against Galatasaray.

Spectacle and goals against Levante

Real Madrid were looking to maintain their perfect home league record this year and get their seventh straight home win in the championship. It was not going to be easy. The ever competitive Levante would try not to let that happen. The intentions of both teams were clear, as were the tactical approaches. The visitors chose to drop deep and let Real Madrid have control of the ball with the intention to surprise on the counter. The opening exchanges left that clear. Marcelo had the first shot on goal in the 2nd minute prior to Acquafresca’s effort two minutes later.

After the first ten minutes of play, the chances began to come for the home team thanks to their dominance in possession and continuous movement. They had four in just seven minutes. Higuain and Benzema, in the 13th and 14th respectively, had the first two of a series of shots from the edge of the box that was completed by Callejon, in the 19th minute, and Kaka a minute earlier. The Brazilian had the clearest of them up until that point. Higuain’s movement, taking two defenders with him, left the way open for the midfielder’s left-footed shot which brought the best out of Munua. Nevertheless, on the half-hour mark, it was the Valencian team that went ahead on the scoreboard. It came from a well worked counter-attack, although
Michel’s shot needed the lucky clip off of Pepe’s heel to take it beyond a surprised Diego Lopez.

Zaragoza 1 - 1 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 29)

Real Madrid drew in Zaragoza after the international break and became the first team to reach 4000 points in the championship. Rodri, in the seventh minute, put Zaragoza ahead with the home side’s first shot on goal and Cristiano Ronaldo equalised in the thirty-eighth minute after surprising Roberto with a left-footed shot. The Whites deserved more four days before the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals against Galatasaray; Marcelo’s shot crashed into the post and Loovens cleared the ball off the goal line.

Real Madrid could not reach the victory against Zaragoza

Real Madrid returned to action after the international break against Zaragoza at La Romareda. The premise was clear: continue the excellent form and results that had enabled them to string together seven consecutive victories. The Whites’ objective was made difficult before the first ten minutes of the game had ended. Rodri made the most of a deflection in the seventh minute and beat Diego Lopez in a one-on-one. The home side went ahead with their first shot on goal. Real Madrid would have to come from behind again away from home, but they had almost the entire match ahead of them.

Real Madrid: Most valuable bench of the Spanish League

Real Madrid's bench is the most valuable in 'La Liga' (Spanish League) in more senses than one. No other team in the division makes more use of its benchwarmers, who have enjoyed 2495 minutes of action in total, an average of 89 a match. Second in the 'subs table' is Betis, with 2340 minutes (83 a game).

Khedira, Özil and Pepe at the bench

Sitting in the dugout next to Jose Mourinho must be a restless experience, because the Portuguese has rung the changes far more frequently this campaign. In his first two years in charge, the subs' average run-out totalled 70 minutes a match, far from the highest in the league. This figure has increased by 20 minutes a game, a sizeable difference that tells its own story.

Indeed, the Real Madrid manager has pulled players from the firing line before the restart in 13 of his side's 28 fixtures. In total, he has made 17 substitutions at half-time, a figure unmatched by any other club.

On most of these occasions, a slow start has required Mourinho to fish for a reaction. This was the case in the club's last league match, at home against Mallorca. With Real Madrid trailing 2-1 at the interval, the Portuguese drafted Benzema and Özil in for Morata and Arbeloa. The comeback did not take long to materialise, with 'Whites' taking just 13 minutes to open up a 4-2 lead. A similar scenario unfolded away at Deportivo. Khedira, Ronaldo and Özil were introduced in one fell swoop and a 1-0 deficit duly became a 2-1 victory.

Real Madrid 5 - 2 Mallorca (Spanish League, Day 28)

Real Madrid, despite being behind on the scoreboard on two occasions against Mallorca, sealed their seventh consecutive victory before the international break. The win was sealed in six fantastic minutes in the second half. They reached half time a goal down after goals from Nsue and Alfaro for Mallorca and Higuaín for Madrid. Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored a header from an Özil corner, Modric, who scored the game’s master piece with a strike from the penalty arc that rocketed into the net of the goal defended by Aouate, and Higuaín, who scored twice in his 250th official game for the Whites, decided the clash between the fifty-first and fifty-seventh minute. Benzema scored the fifth in added time. Real Madrid enjoyed themselves and put on a spectacle for the Santiago Bernabeu.

Comeback with three goals in six minutes

Real Madrid returned to the Bernabeu 14 days after their last home game intent on achieving their seventh consecutive victory before the international break. The matter was complicated six minutes into the match. A cross by Giovani from the left wing was met by the head of Nsue. The cross gained speed after the header and Diego Lopez’s stretch could not prevent Mallorca taking the lead. The visitors surprised Madrid with their first shot on goal and now Madrid had to come from behind, but there was still eighty minutes of the match left. The Whites did not need so much time to equalise. Modric drove forward with the ball and played a pinpoint pass for Pepe, attacking from behind the defenders, who found himself against Aouate. The Croat’s pass was magnificent, and Pepe’s pass beat the defence, finding Higuaín, who only had to touch the ball into the goal in the fourteenth minute

Cristiano Ronaldo: Real Madrid's lifeguard in Spanish League

Cristiano Ronaldo is invincible when scores in the Spanish league. Since he joined Real Madrid, the Portuguese international has never yet lost a Spanish League match in which he's scored a goal. It all started during his debut match with Real Madrid on August 29, 2009 against Deportivo at the Bernabeu, when he scored and they won. Three and a half years later, he's still advancing victoriously. And that's no mean feat.

Real Madrid is undefeated in the Spanish League when Cristiano Ronaldo scores

When CR7 scores in La Liga (Spanish League), Real Madrid never loses. The only teams who have managed to scrape a draw in a match where he scored are, Barcelona (twice), Villarreal and Espanyol. The results are impressive: 75 wins and 4 draws. Thanks to the goals Cristiano Ronaldo has scored, Real Madrid has achieved 229 points. Or, to put it another way, white team has only conceded 8 points of a possible total of 237.

During his first season, the Portuguese scored in all 19 games and Real Madrid won each time: 19/19. It doesn't get better than that. In his second year at Real Madrid, CR7 scored more goals but did so in the same number of matches, 19. However, that season Barcelona crossed his path, and the end result was 18 wins and 1 draw. Last season not only did he continue to uphold 'Cristiano's Law', but the prolific striker was the undisputed master of the Spanish League. He scored on 27 matchdays and Real Madrid won on 26 occasions. This season it's been more of the same. He’s scored in 14 games and Real Madrid hasn't been beaten in any of them.

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2013: Good start for Real Madrid

Real Madrid is getting numbers of champion in 2013. The setbacks in the early part of the championship do not allow the white team to fight for the League but its numbers elude suspicion of contempt for the Spanish national championship. In fact, after this matchday, Real Madrid is second in the table, surpassing Atletico Madrid for the first time this season, and with better numbers than Barcelona (25 points vs 22). A reaction driven in large part by Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored two victory goals in Vigo.

Real Madrid is living a great 2013

In late 2012 the team of Mourinho, seeing the pace of the leaders and punished for its mistakes, decided to focus hard on the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) and the Champions League, and the plan still going smoothly (Cup finalist and Champions League quarterfinalist). But neither neglected the regular tournament. And is that the white team has won 8 out of 10 games (Real Sociedad, Valencia, Getafe, Sevilla, Rayo Vallecano, Deportivo, Barcelona and Celta Vigo) has played in 2013, drawn one (Osasuna) and lost another (Granada).

Celta Vigo 1 - 2 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 27)

Real Madrid were far superior to Celta and deservedly came away with the win from the Balaidos stadium, and should have come away with a bigger margin given the number of chances that they created. The crossbar, which Cristiano Ronaldo found with a header, and Javi Varas’ blocks prevented any goals before the break. They all came in the second half. It was the Portuguese who put the Whites ahead by taking advantage of a rebound from a Callejon shot when he beat Javi Varas on the half-turn. Two minutes later the match was once again level. Aspas shot, but the ball deflected off of Pepe and beyond a wrong-footed Diego Lopez. Kaka's introduction in the 66th minute was decisive and five minutes later the Brazilian provoked a clear penalty that Cristiano Ronaldo converted.

Cristiano Ronaldo's brace secures win in Vigo

In Balaidos Real Madrid were looking to continue their magnificent week in which they qualified for the cup final and the quarter-finals of the Champions League. It was not going to be easy considering that Celta were fighting to get out of the relegation zone and their stadium was filled to capacity for the first time this season. The home side’s bold and aggressive start, with a very high defensive line, was testament to that and they brought the best out of Diego Lopez, who showed the exceptional form that he is in. Aspas shot across the goal in the 10th minute and the visitors’ goalkeeper pushed the ball wide for a corner. The subsequent rehearsed set piece play ended with an Alex Lopez volley from the edge of the area and an amazing full stretch save from the Real Madrid goalkeeper.

Cristiano Ronaldo: A cannon to conquer Old Trafford

Another great performance by Cristiano Ronaldo against the eternal Real Madrid's rival. Although he could not score after coming on the field in the 57th minute (alongside with Khedira) replacing Benzema, Real Madrid was slowly improving to gain full control of the match.

Cristiano Ronaldo replacing Benzema

Cristiano Ronaldo did not start the match against FC Barcelona at the Bernabeu. There was more at stake than pride, and for this reason the Portuguese striker was not including in the starting lineup of Jose Mourinho. After the great match last Tuesday at the Camp Nou, CR7 remained on the bench and showed how much appreciates the importance of group goals.

Real Madrid 2 - 1 Barcelona (Spanish League, Day 26)

The two consecutive Classics could not have gone better for Real Madrid. Two wins, one in the Camp Nou and another at the Santiago Bernabeu, and the unshakable feeling that the Whites can win at any ground and against any opponent. The home team soon went ahead. Benzema finished a play in the 6th minute that was started by Ramos who had stolen the ball from Messi before passing to Morata with a threaded pass. Barcelona responded and twelve minutes later Messi scored past Diego Lopez. Cristiano Ronaldo and Khedira coming on in the 57th minute gave the Whites more impetus and they went ahead from a corner that was headed home by Ramos in the 81st minute. Another set piece, in the same minute that Varane scored in the first leg of the cup semi-final in the Bernabeu, took the Catalans by surprise. That was the decisive blow and they could have even got the third from a Ronaldo free-kick which hit the crossbar in the 87th minute. Another confidence boost ahead of Tuesday's match against Manchester United.

Real Madrid players celebrate the goal scored by Ramos

Real Madrid played their first match in front of their home crowd since becoming Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) finalists. They did it in another Clasico, the second in a row, and with the extra motivation from Tuesday’s result. It was clear in the opening minutes of play, in which they pushed their opponent to exhaustion and also went ahead on the scoreboard. There were five touches that were as fast as they were accurate. Ramos intercepted a ball for Messi and passed to Morata on the left wing. The academy player came up against Alves, lifted his head and put in a threaded cross to Benzema who put the ball into the back of the net in the 6th minute. It could not have been a better start to the match. The Whites had the advantage on the scoreboard and could make even more use of what many people believe is the best counterattack in the world.

Real Madrid vs Barcelona: The Classic of change

The Classic of change. Real Madrid and Barcelona will present tomorrow at the Bernabeu two separate starting lineups full of new faces. For Mourinho, the league has gone to a third plane after winning the clash to get a place in the Spanish Cup final on Tuesday at the Camp Nou. The Portuguese coach thinks only about the next match Tuesday at Old Trafford.

David Villa and Ricardo Kaka

Although he has not yet decided the starting lineup against Barcelona, Mourinho is clear that at least five of the ten usual players of Camp Nou will rest tomorrow: Varane, Alonso, Di Maria, Ozil and Higuain. The replacements would be Pepe at the defense , Essien and Callejon in the midfield, Kaka as playmaker and Benzema in the striker position.

Gonzalo Higuain: One hundred goals in the Spanish League

Gonzalo Higuain struggle to regain his best and at Riazor Stadium received a morale boost. Not only for scoring the winning goal of the comeback against Deportivo in the 87th minute, also because with that goal he already can boast of having achieved one hundred Spanish League goals. And he needed just 179 games to do: an average of 0.55 goals per game.

Gonzalo Higuain

Higuain thus became the second youngest Real Madrid player achieving this mark in the Spanish League, at the age of 25 years and 75 days. Only Raul was earlier, signing his target hundredth the April 15, 2000 with 22 years and 293 days. Raul then scored the 0-1 at the same venue, La Romareda of Zaragoza, which had seen his debut five years and a half earlier.

Deportivo 1 - 2 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 25)

Real Madrid came from behind against Deportivo at the Riazor stadium. The Whites headed to the dressing room at half time a goal behind after Riki scored in the thirty-fifth minute, but in the second half, and after a triple substitution where Mourinho brought on Ronaldo, Khedira and Özil in the fifty-seventh minute, Deportivo disappeared and the sombre visiting side came to the party. Kaka, equalising in the seventy-third minute, and Higuain, in the eighty-eighth, sealed the deserved victory based on possession and the chances Madrid had in the second half. In extra time Di Maria was sent off after being shown two yellow cards in the same move. A morale boost before ten days that sees the team play two Clásicos in a row, in the Copa and the other in La Liga, and the second leg of the last-sixteen match in the Champions League at Old Trafford.

Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo led the comeback

Real Madrid returned to the Riazor stadium two years after their most recent with the aim of making it three consecutive victories in La Liga. The first minutes of the match appeared to suggest that the Whites would be successful. In fact, the visitors had most of the possession of the ball, and the Whites wanted to surprise the Galician team with long balls behind their defenders. Callejón and Di Maria both tried to score in this manner, but the clearance by Aranzubia in the ninth minute and the misjudged control of the Argentine in the eleventh minute prevented the scoreboard from turning over. The first shot on goal by Madrid came in the fourth minute after a foul that was taken by the Argentine international. The home side’s goalkeeper was at full stretch to clear the ball for a corner.