Real Madrid has already lost one point more than in the entire 2011-2012 season

Espanyol drew at the Santiago Bernabeu and left Real Madrid further away from the head of the League. The defending champion is already thirteen points behind Barcelona, which continues its historic march: 16 games, 15 wins and a draw in the Nou Camp in the Classic. A brutal pace, 46 points of 48, impossible to be followed by Atletico Madrid (37 points after the defeat at Camp Nou) and Real Madrid. The white team is on 33 points and has already lost ​​15 in just 16 matches of the competition. An excessive 'bleeding' for a team that signed historic numbers for the reconquest of the league 2011/12.

Jose Mourinho: Worst league start in Real Madrid

Last season Real Madrid scored 100 points scoring 121 goals for with only 32 against. 100 points out of 114 possible, huge numbers based on 32 wins, 4 draws and just 2 defeats. Now Real Madrid has lost 15 points out of 48; 10 wins, 3 draws and 3 defeats.

In further analysis of that last season, we discover that in week 16, the Real Madrid had only lost 8 points: 1 loss against Levante (week 4), a draw in Santander in the day 5 and, precisely in the week 16, the defeat (1-3) in the Classic against Barcelona at the Bernabeu. Now the Real Madrid has lost almost double points, 15; 4 at home (on the opening day draw against Valencia and yesterday against Espanyol) and 11 away (a draw at the Camp Nou and three defeats in Getafe, Sevilla and against Betis). Real Madrid had already lost 10 points in the first seven days and since leaving the Camp Nou tried to right the ship with no luck. Whites won five straight matches but failed against Betis (day 13) and yesterday in Madrid against Espanyol.

In addition, the Real Madrid adds 39 goals for and 14 against. The first of these figures can not stand comparison with the 121 goals of last season. The Real Madrid is much less effective and team is paying its mistakes dearly.

In season 2010/11, the first of Mourinho as white manager, the numbers in the league were not as good as in the next, in fact Barcelona was the champion, and the white team lost a total of 22 points in 5 draws and 4 defeats. However, in the first 16 days of that season Real Madrid did not win in only three games; goalless draws in the fields of Mallorca (day 1) and Levante (day 5) and strong defeat 5-0 at the Camp Nou in the Classic match played in week 13. After, Real Madrid failed in Almería (1-1, day 19), against Osasuna (1-0 in week 21) and against Deportivo (0-0, day 25) before finally lost the League at the Bernabeu Stadium; losses against Sporting (0-1, day 30) and Zaragoza (2-3, day 34) and between these two matches the draw in the Classic against Barcelona (1-1, day 32). Now in the third year of Mourinho, Real Madrid (currently unknown) has got its worst league start since the arrival of the Portuguese coach.

Real Madrid 2 - 2 Espanyol (Spanish League, Day 16)

Two shots against the woodwork, one from Modric in the first half and another from Di Maria in the second half, and a great performance from Kiko Casilla (Espanyol goalkeeper) thwarted the Real Madrid win in the final home match of the year. Sergio Garcia put Espanyol ahead with the visitors’ first shot on goal, but Ronaldo, moments before the break, and Coentrao, who scored his first goal for the Whites, turned the scoreboard around. Albin, in the 88th minute, squared up a match that Real Madrid deserved to win both for the way that they played and the chances that they created.

Cristiano was not enough to beat the Espanyol.

Real Madrid played their last match of 2012 in the Santiago Bernabtu Stadium. They came to the match having completed a one year unbeaten run in the league in front of their home crowd and with the intention of getting a third straight victory in the championship in the month of December. Coentrao, recovered from his illness, returned to the starting eleven, whilst Benzema was left out following the knock that he received last Wednesday in Balaidos. Cristiano Ronaldo played as the highest player and the Portuguese player was the first to shoot on goal. His shot from the edge of the area on three minutes went wide.

It was the first warning. The second was to come a minute later. Cristiano Ronaldo passed to Modric, who controlled the ball with his chest and shot on the volley. Within just five minutes the Whites had already had two chances. The match was dominated by the home side. Real Madrid dictated the match and patiently built up plays against a team that defended very compact close to their area hoping to get through the tricky moments and to try and create chances on the break. The Whites remained focused on putting themselves ahead on the scoreboard and were close to doing so three minutes before the half hour mark. Modric shot from the edge of the box but, having beaten Kiko Casilla, his shot hit the post.

Real Madrid kept applying pressure and when it looked likely that they goal would soon arrive Espanyol went ahead with their first shot on goal. Verdu with the assist and Sergio Garcia, who beat the Whites’ centre back pairing for pace, beat Casillas in the 31st minute. A comeback was needed for the second consecutive league match, but Real Madrid already showed against Valladolid that they are not afraid of the situation. Nine minutes later they came close to levelling the contest with a play that began with a masterful assist from Özil which Cristiano Ronaldo latched on to, but he could not beat the goalkeeper in a one-on-one. Everything was pointing towards Real Madrid going in at halftime behind on the scoreboard, but the ambition of Cristiano Ronaldo is the best weapon to overcome any obstacle. A threaded cross from Khedira and the Portuguese appeared at the back post and finished with the instep of his right foot. Phenomenal resourcefulness to level the match in first half stoppage time at what was a psychologically great time to score.

Mourinho, aware of the overwhelming dominance of possession that his team had, tried to stretch the play and chose to bring on Di Maria for Modric. The Argentine’s entrance was a successful for the Portuguese and his vertical play was key to his team being able to get in front on the scoreboard. They only took three minutes to do so. Cristiano Ronaldo controlled the ball just inside the area and saw Coentrão pushing forward and played the ball to his compatriot, who controlled with the left and surprised Casilla with a right-footed shot. 2-1 and the Portuguese’s first Real Madrid goal.

The home team were not satisfied and they increased their speed in attacking situations. In the first ten minutes of the second half had they had not only scored but had also created two other good chances to beat the visitors’ goalkeeper. Arbeloa had the first after cut back from Callejon, which held up a lot. The Whites’ right back’s shot had was met by an excellent reaction save from Casilla in the 50th. Four minutes later the academy player showed some more of his best. A great Di Maria shot from the edge of the box was met by a spectacular full stretch save by the Espanyol goalkeeper, who tipped the ball against the crossbar.

The Catalan side looked to be beaten and they weren’t pushing their lines forward to try to turn the situation around and they could only retreat to try to relieve the pressure. The chances followed and Özil, with a shot across the goal in the 72nd minute, could not find the target. Morata, who had replaced Callejon a minute earlier, was on target with his first touch of the ball. An assist from Özil leading to the Whites’ academy players’ header which was blocked by Héctor Moreno on the goal line. The crowd were enjoying a good second half and if the Whites hadn’t scored more goals it was due to the great efforts of Casilla. Luck was cruel for Real Madrid and with just two minutes remaining of the match Albín equalised following a series of ricochets. An unfair draw for the Whites and more than Espanyol deserved.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 65,000
Goals: 0-1, m.30: Sergio Garcia. 1-1, m.45: Cristiano Ronaldo. 2-1, m.48: Coentrao. 2-2, m.88: Albin.

Celta Vigo 2 - 1 Real Madrid (Spanish Cup, Last 16 1st Leg)

Real Madrid and Celta Vigo will play for a spot in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey (Spanish Cup) on 9th January at the Santiago Bernabeu. The tie will be decided in the Whites’ fortress following the match at Balaidos, which the home team won 2-1 thanks to goals from Bermejo and Bustos, and to which Cristiano Ronaldo replied in the 86th minute. In a match without a clearly dominant team, all of the goals came in the second half, following a first 45 minutes in which Celta did not have a shot on goal.

Cristiano Ronaldo fought against the entire Celta team

Real Madrid went on to the field at Balaidos with Adan, Varane, Carvalho, Essien, Modric and Di Maria as the changes to the starting line-up. The Argentine was the player who had the first chance in the 1st minute with a long range shot following a nice piece of team play on the edge of the area. Celta tried to play the ball out of defence and Real Madrid pressed forward to try to win the ball. Essien had the second chance to try to surprise Sergio from distance after he himself stole the ball. Both teams looked to dominate the match but did not manage to impose themselves on their opponents.

Cristiano Ronaldo was amongst the most involved of Mourinho’s team in the first half. A good move from the Portuguese on the right in the 15th minute and a subsequent cross to the centre of the area was narrowly missed by Modric. Celta, on the counter attack, had their first opportunity with an Aspas cross from the left which Park put wide of the far post. On the half hour mark the Real Madrid coach had to bring on Callejon for Benzema (32') because of an injury to the Frenchman, and shortly after coming on the academy player shot against the post but it would not have counted as it was given as offside.

The home team pushed their lines forward in the closing stages of the first half and the connection between Aspas and Park produced chances for Celta. In the 38th minute Aspas found the Korean in the area but he failed to control the ball and in 40th minute a cross from Galician from the right was put wide by Park at the far post. Celta had three consecutive corners immediately before the end of the half.

Özil came on for Di Maria after the break, but the match continued in the same vein that the first half had finished with Vigo set up with their lines very high up the field and they won two corners in the opening two minutes. Ronaldo kept trying to create chances for his team, with long balls into the box but could not find anyone to put them away. A ball won in midfield by the home team in the 56th minute produced the match’s first goal. Krohn-Dehli crossed from the left which went through the middle of the area before Mario Bermejo put a low shot past Adan at the far post.

Mourinho reacted by bringing on Kaka for Essien in the 65th minute. With the three changes already made, Varane received a knock and ended up playing at centre forward. Özil played between the lines and that is how the Whites went looking for the reply. Modric could have scored following an Alonso ball into the box, but Sergio made a good stop down low. Celta were looking to hit Real Madrid on the break and following an Augusto long range shot in the 72nd which was stopped by Adan the same player went on to score the second goal in the 78th minute. Celta put pressure on a Whites throw-in in their own half and the ball fell to Bustos, who made it 2-0 with a shot from outside of the box which the Real Madrid goalkeeper could not have done anything about.

Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s best player, kept trying to create chances. In the 81st minute he shot from outside the box but it was saved by the ‘keeper and a minute later one of his crosses from the right went straight into Sergio’s hands. The third chance went passed him in the 86th minute following a great looping pass from Xabi Alonso into space which he finished with quality with his left foot. Alonso looked for Cristiano again in the 88th minute but he was given offside when he didn’t look to be and in the 91st minute Modric tried his luck from outside the area but Sergio pushed the ball wide for a corner.

Summary

Stadium: Balaidos
Attendance: 30,000
Goals: 1-0. m.55: Bermejo; 2-0. m.78: Bustos; 2-1. m.86: Cristiano Ronaldo.

Valladolid 2 - 3 Real Madrid (Spanish League, Day 15)

Real Madrid showed courage in Valladolid and got their fourth consecutive win after turning around the scoreboard against a highly motivated team that had put themselves in front on the scoreboard twice in front of a home crowd euphoric with their team’s season so far. Manucho put the home team ahead twice from set pieces, while Benzema, in the first instance, and Özil, with a masterpiece on the stroke of halftime, levelled the match. The visitors’ dominance was overwhelming in the second half and the Whites, who ended up taking off to defenders to bring on Di María and Modric, took the win through an Özil free-kick. The German had a spectacular match and led his team with two goals worthy of framing.

Özil scored a great and important victory goal

The match could not have started worse for Real Madrid. Within seven minutes the scoreboard was against the Whites and they had to make an extra effort to make the comeback in a stadium where Valladolid have only lost once in the eight official matches that they have played there. Valladolid’s goal came in their first jaunt into Casillas’ area. Alvaro Rubio’s corner lead to a series of ricochets in the area before Manucho put the ball into the net from close range.

They needed to make a comeback and the Whites got to work to bring things level on the scoreboard. It only took five minutes to do. Callejon, who along with Nacho were the changes to starting line-up, was very attentive and stole the ball from Balenziaga. He drew in the goalkeeper Dani Hernández and played a square ball to Benzema, who only had to push the ball home. The match was level once again, but it felt like it was going to be short-lived and after the two subsequent Real Madrid chances that fell to Khedira in the 17th minute and Ronaldo, from a free-kick, in the 19th minute they came close to going ahead themselves.

In spite of that, it was Valladolid who again went ahead in a move that was very similar to the first goal of the match. Valladolid’s second corner and Manucho’s second shot that had ended up in the net, this time from a header in the 22nd minute. It was more than the home team deserved for what they had shown in the match so far, who had found refuge in their set pieces, and it made it even more difficult for Real Madrid to get their fourth straight victory against a highly motivated team that had twice gone ahead on the scoreboard and were playing in front of a home crowd that were euphoric with their team’s season so far and understood the significance of what their team were achieving.

Except for an Ebert free-kick, which troubled Casillas, Valladolid did not get back into the visitors’ area during the first half. Real Madrid, however, continued to play well and tried to go in to the dressing room with the match at least all square. The Whites created up to four dangerous scoring chances before Özil scored the second just before the break. The move that produced it was a masterpiece. The German received the ball on the edge of the area, went passed two opponents by combining with Benzema, who laid off back to him with a back heel, before he placed the ball between the legs of Dani Hernández. 2-2 and all to be played for in the remaining 45 minutes.

The evidence that Real Madrid were going to fight for the win until exhaustion was irrefutable and increased further after the break. A brave Mourinho brought on Di Maria and took off Nacho. The Whites dominated and when they didn’t have the ball and they were biting at the heels of Valladolid and didn’t give them a moment to breathe which resulted in the home team not being able to string together more than three passes. Perhaps that is why the scoring chances all came in the home team’s area. Ramos, from a header in the 50th minute, Benzema, from the edge of the box in the 52nd minute, and Ronaldo, also from outside of the area in 55th minute, were the creators.

If anything was on show from Real Madrid it was bravery. Mourinho personified that as much as anyone and removed another defender, specifically Arbeloa, to put on another midfielder: Modric. The match had become end-to-end and Real Madrid kept going for the win. Di María, in the 63rd minute, had a one-on-one with Dani Hernandez, but the goalkeeper came out on top. Ramos did beat him two minutes later, but Pérez Montero incorrectly ruled out the visitors' goal for offside.

The comeback was completed in the 72nd minute in the same manner that both of the home team’s goals had come: from dead balls. It came from a free-kick on the edge of the area that Ronaldo feinted to shoot and Özil hit the ball in such a subtle and precise way, hitting the crossbar that it meant that the outstretched Valladolid goalkeeper could do get now where near. The German had a match worth framing and led his team to their fourth straight win and third in the month of December in which the Whites have won every match that they have played.

Summary

Stadium: Jose Zorrilla
Attendance: 25,000
Goals: 1-0: Min. 6, Manucho. 1-1: Min. 11, Benzema. 2-1: Min. 21, Manucho. 2-2: Min. 44, Özil. 2-3: Min. 71. Özil.

Real Madrid 4 - 1 Ajax (Champions League, Day 6)

The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium remains the undefeated fortress that it has been during the past two Champions League campaigns. Although Real Madrid were already qualified for the round of 16, their badge brings with it an inherent competitiveness to every match, in every competition. They performed perfectly and were led by Modric, who played what was possibly his best match since arriving in the Spanish capital. In less than half an hour the Whites had already decided the match with two goals. The first came from Ronaldo in the 13th minute and the second from Callejon in the 28th minute and they had also crashed the ball against the post through Coentrao. In the three passages of play the Croatian played a key role. At the beginning of the second half today’s captain, Kaka, joined the show and scored the match’s most spectacular goal and Real Madrid’s 950th in European competition. Boerrigter reduced the arrears for the Dutch side, which despite the defeat achieved their aim of qualifying for the Europa League, and Callejón capped off the scoring in the 88th minute. The Whites now wait to find out their opponents in the round of 16. In two weeks they will find out.

Kaka played and scored again for Real Madrid

Real Madrid, having already qualified for the round of 16, finished the group stage by playing against Ajax for the sixth time in the last three seasons. The history of the previous five matches foretold of the Whites’ victory and their on-field efforts met with those expectations. With academy player Nacho, who made his Champions League debut, in the starting line-up, the Whites blew the opposition away in the opening stages and only thirteen minutes in they had already had a Benzema goal disallowed in the 7th minute, hit the post through Coentrao in the 10th and also gone ahead on the scoreboard. Cristiano Ronaldo was the scorer, although Modric may deserve some of the credit for the steal that he made before giving the ball to Benzema. The Frenchman, after bringing the high ball under control, set up the Portuguese.

The match could not have been going better for the home team, who were close to scoring the second from a solo Benzema run, but a Coentrao suffered from a pulled muscle and Mourinho was forced to make the first change of the match in the 21st minute. Pepe replaced his compatriot. The Whites continued with their positive momentum and before the half hour mark they managed to widen the gap on the scoreboard. Modric saw Callejon lose his marker and put him through with a pass from inside his own half. The academy player did not waste the Croatian’s gift, and, after bringing the ball down and setting himself, he hit the ball into the far corner beyond Vermeer in the 28th minute. 2-0. Real Madrid, guided by Modric, were putting on a show for their fans to enjoy and they also managed to completely cancel out Ajax’s efforts and they finished the first half without having had a shot on goal.

The second half began with a gift to the Real Madrid fans. With just four minutes played today’s captain, Kaka, received the ball on the edge of the box and pulled a left-footed shot out of the hat and Vermeer could only watch as the Brazilian’s shot threaded its way through the crowd and nestled in the back of his net. The goal had added significance because it was the Whites’ 950th goal in European competition.

Boerrigter, with a volley, reduced the gap in the 60th minute and Callejon put the icing on the cake for the home team in the 88th minute after heading home a precise cross from Morata. Both teams achieved their aims. Ajax qualified for this season's Europa League (the final will be played at the Amsterdam Arena) and Real Madrid finished the group stage with a win and are unbeaten in their stadium for a ninth consecutive match. The Whites now wait to find out who they will face in the round of 16. They will find out in two weeks.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 58,000
Goals: 1-0, m.13: Cristiano Ronaldo. 2-0, m.28: Callejon. 3-0, m.49: Kaka. 3-1, m.60: Boerrigter. 4-1, m.88: Callejon.

Real Madrid 2 - 0 Atletico Madrid (Spanish League, Day 14)

The history of the derby shows that they cannot be predicted, but the script for recent derbies against Atletico de Madrid since 1999, above all at the Santiago Bernabeu, tends to repeat the same ending and joy for the Whites’ supporters. It was not a beautiful game, but an important morale booster for the home side, who aim to win every match they play in the last month of the year. Cristiano Ronaldo, who played magnificently, opened the scoring with a straight shot from 35 metres that will possibly be the goal of the weekend because of its importance and beauty, while Özil, after a great assist by Ronaldo, scored the second and match-winning goal. Real Madrid remain unbeaten at home this season and have gone a year unbeaten at the Bernabeu. Matches like today’s lead us to think that this spectacular run still has plenty of legs.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the first goal of the match

Real Madrid started December with the first derby of the season at home. The Whites started with a desire to demonstrate why they are unbeaten at home this season and the fans that had packed into the stadium wanted to play a determining role in the push for victory. Pressing very high up and preventing the opponent’s defence from playing the ball out easily, each fifty-fifty ball was a battle of life and death. The Bernabeu applauded the effort of their players. Perhaps it was because of this that the fans were in rapture after the first dangerous move of the match for the home side. An amazing goal by Cristiano Ronaldo from 35 metres was his way of thanking the fans for their constant support. The Portuguese, who celebrated as he knows best his recent candidacy in the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or, placed the ball with care and struck the free kick so accurately that the stretch of the tall Courtois (1.95 m) could not prevent the ball from finding the back of the net in the fifteenth minute.

The match was set up to the Whites’ liking, with an advantage on the scoreboard and the home fans supporting the cause. Despite having the option of the counterattack, possibly the best in the world, they did not want to lose control of the ball and their determination to continue dominating a game unlike many others was clear in each action. There were few chances before reaching the end of the first half. One for Atletico that was cleared by Casillas, showing off his reflexes after a shot from Falcao in the thirteenth minute and another for Cristiano Ronaldo, the home side’s second chance alongside the goal, when the Portuguese player put pressure on Courtois by shooting from practically the halfway line in the thirty-sixth minute.

The second half was as hard-fought at the first. Fouls were committed constantly in the midfield and minutes without a stoppage in the game were few and far between. Despite this Real Madrid was the only team that put pressure on the rival penalty area in the first quarter of an hour. A move by Özil and Benzema ended in a cross-shot by the French player that was cleared by Courtois in the forty-eighth minute. Another run by the German player ended in a left-footed shot by Cristiano Ronaldo that went wide in the fifty-fourth minute and a shot from a free kick forced the Belgian goalkeeper to be at full stretch to prevent a goal in the sixtieth minute.

These chances took place during the build up to the second goal of the night, a goal that brought calm to the Bernabeu’s stands. The move was started by Benzema, who backheeled to Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese once again found the French player, but Godín read his intentions and intercepted the ball. This was no obstacle for Cristiano Ronaldo, however, who regained the ball and set up Özil, who corrected his poor first touch with the volley that put the ball in the back of the net in the sixty-fifth minute. 2-0 and Cristiano Ronaldo was the decisive factor: a goal and an assist capped a performance worthy of being framed.

The Portuguese’s performance, which was the best part of the match, was not over yet. With fifteen minutes of the match to go, another shot from the Portuguese crashed into the crossbar from a free kick after a magisterial individual move from Benzema that forced Miranda to bring down the Frenchman on the edge of the area. Four minutes later Ronaldo found the post again after a magnificent assist from Özil, who wanted to return the favour of the second goal to the Portuguese. There was not time for much else, except from the appearance of the reserve team player Jose Rodriguez, who made his league debut. Real Madrid, who are yet to be defeated at home this season, are unbeaten in La Liga at the Bernabeu for a year. Matches like today lead us to think that this spectacular run still has plenty of legs.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance:79,500
Goals: 1-0 min.15 Cristiano Ronaldo; 2-0 min.66 Özil.

Real Madrid 3 - 0 Alcoyano (Spanish Cup, Last 32)

Real Madrid made their home debut in the current edition of the Spanish Cup (Copa del Rey) with a goalfest. A goal from Di Maria and a brace from Callejon, all in the second half, were enough to defeat Alcoyano and send Real Madrid through to the round of sixteen. The Whites, who began the match with academy players making up more than half the line up (six), have scored in their last 13 matches in the tournament and remain unbeaten on home ground this season in the dozen matches they've played with eight wins and two draws. In addition to the great score and qualification, Jose Rodriguez played a great match and Cheryshev made his first-team debut in an official match, being the first Russian to do so. Furthermore, the game marked Mourinho's 400th official win as a manager. Real Madrid's rival in the next stage will be the winner of the clash between Almeria and Celta.

Callejon and Di Maria were the most valuable players of the match

Real Madrid made its debut in the only official competition in which it had yet to embark at home following the Spanish Super Cup, la Liga and the Champions League. It did so with a new starting line-up in which academy players filled more than half the positions. Notable among the young players trained in 'The Factory' were Cheryshev, who made his first team debut in an official match, becoming the first Russian to do so.

Mourinho had already made clear in the press room that it was not a matter of relying on the 1-4 first-leg score but winning and offering a great game for those that came to the Bernabeu. Real Madrid went out ready to put their coach's philosophy into practice, in spite of their difficult start to the match. Albiol, who was acting as captain, had to leave the field after a tackle from David Torres in the first minutes of the match. Coentrão went on in his place. It was the Portuguese who initiated the play that lead to their first chance at goal. Modric's on target volley from the front of the area was saved by a beautiful stretch from keeper Adrian Murcia in the 8th minute.

It was a twenty minute wait until the Whites' next opportunity at goal, despite their dominating the match. Academy player Nacho made a run and delivered a cross right to Cheryshev's feet. The player from the Russian national side overcame a visiting defender but was then stopped by the Alcoyano keeper. Callejón was unable to take advantage of the following rebound. He was also involved in the last incursion of the first half. The Whites' midfielder took a great free kick and Adrian Murcia replied in spectacular fashion. He left the ball loose but was back in place to clear Varane's subsequent shot for a corner. The visiting keeper was becoming the star of the match.

The Whites turned up the intensity in the second half, bearing down on their rivals with greater energy. As a result Alcoyano now struggled to make headway with the ball and the match became increasingly vertical. Morata almost opened the scoring from the front of the area after a great collective effort but his shot in the 60th went high. Di Maria's arrival a minute later, and Benzema's in the 70th lent the team even more bite.

From then on the Whites became a force to be reckoned with and the first goal now came quickly. Callejón made a run and delivered the ball to Benzema. The French player spotted Di María and assisted the Argentinian who then scored against an inspired Adrian Murcia in the 71st. Javi Selva complained to the referee and was given a second yellow card, leaving the visiting side a player short. The second goal almost came in the 87th but while the stands were already celebrating, Benzema's shot went high. They came even closer to the second goal a minute later when Di María hit the cross bar after a one-on-one with the keeper. When the second goal did arrive it was soon followed by a third. Both were scored by Callejon. The academy player took advantage of an assist from Özil to score his first in the 89th and another from Di Maria to seal the match in extra time. The Whiteshave scored in their last thirteen matches in the tournament and remain unbeaten on their home turf this season in the dozen matches they've played with eight wins and two draws. This Thursday they'll know who their next rival is, either Almeria or Celta.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 35,000
Goals:1-0, m.72: Di Maria. 2-0, m.89: Callejon. 3-0, m.92: Callejon.