Preview: Real Madrid vs Almeria

Real Madrid vs Almeria

Sitting level with Hugo Sanchez and Zarra as La Liga's single season top scorers of all time with 38 goals, Cristiano Ronaldo's last shot at rewriting history takes place today when Almeria visits the Bernabeu; a match that also brings down the curtain on the Whites' 2010/11 season.

Real Madrid bring the season to a close at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, where they host Almeria for an inconsequential match in terms of final standings. A lot is at stake on an individual level, however, as Cristiano Ronaldo is only one goal shy of breaking La Liga's single season scoring record.

Eighteen men including the academy's Jesus, Mandi and Joselu have been called up for the task. Canales and Pedro Leon will also suit up, while Lass, Khedira and Gago remain unavailable due to injury and Casillas, Adan, Marcelo, Higuain, Di Maria and Garay will sit out due to a coaching decision. With both goalkeepers off duty, Dudek will make his final start of his four-year stint at Real Madrid.

Almeria and Hercules have already ensured their relegation to Segunda Division with 90 minutes left in both their seasons. After four consecutive seasons in Spain's top flight, the Andalusian side bids farewell to La Liga at none other than Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

"The way the team is currently playing favors Cristiano Ronaldo and his scoring ability," commented assistant coach Aitor Karanka during Friday's press conference, "That incentive is still there, and that is why we are motivated for this match." The players are sure to oblige by their coach's words, and so is Cristiano Ronaldo, who has history at the tips of his toes.

Notes:

Cristiano. Launched in a devastating final sprint, the figure of 40 goals, unthinkable before the start of the League, not only is within reach but seems easily overcome. We should memorize how he did it because in a few decades is possible that we may need to explain it to unbelievers.

Vertigo. To the fans at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, what they like most is that their team runs free, that the players seem to sharks in the festival of the sardine. This year it has been seen so rarely and almost all out of home. Valencia, Sevilla, Bilbao, Villarreal... are not easy fields and there they saw the most spectacular face of the team.

Playmakers. View the call of the Real Madrid, today we could enjoy a midfield full of playmakers. Xabi Alonso, Granero, Kaka and Özil would ensure the management of the match and the flow of play so that the personal account of Cristiano Ronaldo fires up to the unrepeatable. It would be fun.

Almería. Since its descent was consummated, its play has improved. The reaction is completely natural. Today thay want to reject the role of cake at a banquet that is prepared to Cristiano. Although Real Madrid has stumbled more with teams at the bottom of the table, does not appear that Almeria can escape unharmed.

Hamit Altintop: "I am very happy. I am lucky"

Hamit Altintop is now in Istanbul, where he landed yesterday from Munich to continue his recovery plan for back problems that has dragged on this final part of the season. The recent signing of Real Madrid wants to accelerate his physical tuning to be ready to face the crucial match between Turkey and Belgium, very important game for the Euro 2012 qualifying.

Hamit Altintop (Turkey)

The duel will be played on June 3 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. The Belgians, second with 10 points, face the Turkish national team, which is third, with 9 points, in a struggle for second place in a group led by Germany. Along with Altintop is expected that Nuri Sahin will be at that meeting. Altintop explained that his premature arrival in Turkey, the country of origin of his parents: "The injury I have is not small and for this reason I have come before the concentration of the Turkish national team, to work and try to recover for the match against Belgium".

On his more immediate future, he did not want to go into details: "Everyone knows that playing at Real Madrid was my biggest target. On holidays I will work hard to get the best possible in the preseason. I will do everything possible to succeed there. But now I want to focus on the game against Belgium". But he dropped a couple of sentences according tohis logical status of a new player of Real Madrid: "I'm very happy, I'm lucky".

Hamit wants to eliminate back pain as soon as possible and so, before leaving for Istanbul in the morning, spoke with the physiotherapists at his former club Bayern Munich. From Turkey he will fly to Belgium, where he hopes to play on June 3, and then is expected to fly to Madrid, to pass physical examination and to be presented.

Cristiano Ronaldo: "Collective titles are the most important"

Hugo Sanchez and Cristiano Ronaldo appeared together on Real Madrid TV to talk about the record of 38 goals that holds the Mexican, with Zarra, which tomorrow can be beaten by the Portuguese. "It's a great honour match to someone like Hugo. To me it would be a pleasure to make the record, but I'm not obsessed. I do not feel totally satisfied with what has been achieved because the individual titles are important, but even more the collective titles", said Cristiano. And he confessed his envy for Hugo: "I would have liked to do his chilean (against Logroñés)".

Hugo Sanchez and Cristiano Ronaldo

"I always wanted that was someone from Real Madrid who beat my record. I would not have liked that was Messi, who is from Barcelona. If Cristiano overcomes it, I will congratulate him. The record is in his boots. I would prefer that there was a tie with Zarra, but Cristiano is on a scoring streak. He has scored nine goals in the last three games of the season, the best average ever", said Hugo.

The Mexican explained that his motivation in the 89-90 season, when scored the 38 goals in the League, came from outside: "I was thinking to score as many goals as possible with an eye to Stoichkov, who then played in Bulgaria. I was looking for the Golden Boot because I was assured the Spanish top scorer trophy (Pichichi). It was the first time I chose it. Before, there was no factor depending on the category of the leagues. It was hard to win it playing in a major tournament. In fact, I could only match the 38 goals of Stoichkov".

It is said strikers remember every goal they have scored, and that they are capable of describing all of them in detail. Both men prove this to be right. "My favourite in my 38 goal run was the last because it was the one that allowed me to catch up with Zarra and win the Golden Boot", says Sanchez, "It came from a cross by Michel. I overtook the defender and shot on target". Cristiano also chooses the goal that allowed him to equal the historic record: "My favourite is the second strike I netted against Villarreal. I like many of the goals I've scored, but I prefer that one because it's the most recent".

Cristiano also revealed what Mourinho has asked the team: "Mourinho wants that we fight for being the highest scoring team in the League. I will try to score one or two more, but with the 38, I am happy. It was not easy but my peers helped me to get them. This is a prize for everyone".

Hamit Altintop: New Real Madrid player

Hamit Altintop is now a new player of Real Madrid. The white club made ​​it official yesterday through its website, at 5:45 pm. The Turkish international will play at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium next four seasons, at 2.5 million euros for each one of them. His agent, Reza Fazeli, the same of Nuri Sahin and Mesut Özil has facilitated the operation. The footballer is a request for Mourinho, who likes the player a lot.

Hamit Altintop is new Real Madrid player

Real Madrid will not have to pay a single euro because Hamit Altintop finishes his contract with Bayern next June 30. The player arrived yesterday at Munich airport, from St.Petersburg, knowing at 1:00 pm that he was a new player of Real Madrid. Later he was in the Sports City of the Bavarian team to 3:00 pm. He said goodbye to all peers and arranged the last documents with Bayern Munich.

Altintop has played the last four seasons at the Allianz Arena. He has played 63 Bundesliga matches and scored seven goals. The new Real Madrid player has won in Germany: two League titles, two German Cups and one German Super Cup.

Altintop decided not to continue in the Bayern Munich a few months ago: "I'm very happy and pleased with everyone except with Van Gaal who ignored me this season. When Robben could not play, he did not look at me" said the past Saturday at the tribute paid to him in his club's farewell. Jose Mourinho learned of the discontent of the player and the possibility to contract him for next season. It was one of the requests and the third reinforcement of Real Madrid for next season after Callejon and Sahin. Altintop will try to find a house in Madrid next week and in the next few hours will pass the medical examination.

Canceled the friendly match in Angola

Real Madrid will not play the Wednesday's friendly match May 25 in Angola. Organizational problems have forced Real Madrid and the African country's government, headed by Jose Eduardo dos Santos, to cancel the friendly match that Jose Mourinho's team was scheduled in the next days in Angola against a combination of the best players in the African country to commemorate the 35th anniversary of its independence.

Luanda Stadium

Although the match was not officially announced either by the Angolan authorities nor by the Real Madrid, its celebration was given for granted. While an emissary of Real Madrid, Cristoffer Komen, traveled to Luanda and yesterday evaluated both the stadium where the game had to be played, on November 11, as several hotels where the Real Madrid's issuance could stay. In fact, local media published yesterday the satisfaction words of the emissary: "The information we had from Angola was different from what we've seen here. I've had time to verify that the country is growing rapidly", he said.

The match had created great excitement in Angola, a former Portuguese colony, where Real Madrid has a legion of fans and where the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo, Pepe and Carvalho in the template of Real Madrid was a big incentive to go to the stadium.

Real Madrid is now thinking about playing another friendly before that Mourinho and his players go on vacation. It has not been ruled out the possibility that the team plays a match in tribute to one of the promotion teams to Spanish First Division, Betis or Rayo Vallecano (almost certainly).

Adebayor's future could be decided today

Adebayor's future at Real Madrid is at stake today, now that the season comes to the end. His loan spell ends on June 30 and white team he has to communicate to Manchester City if club wants to sign the player, paying the purchasing clause of 16 million euros which is stipulated in the contract.

Adebayor with the Real Madrid jersey

Appointment will be at the Santiago Bernabeu with Adebayor and his agent, Darren Dean, and the sports managers of the club. It is not ruled that Mourinho also appear in the meeting because he is his main supporter and his view on Africa player has always been very positive. In any case, the club is aware of what the Portuguese coach wants.

The meeting will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of paying 16 million euros for the signing of Adebayor. The player's initial performance has been remarkable, but has decreased in recent games and is also his high salary (2.1 million euros) makes that Real Madrid thinks the case a lot. Therefore, in the club there are certain doubts to be cleared today with what will be discussed together.

Moreover, Togo player, who has several offers of Premiership teams and even of Italy (the City does not want him), also wants to know what would be his role if he stays at Real Madrid. He want to know what position he would take, if Benzema and Higuain are ahead of him or the club thinks to further strengthen his position.

These five months in Madrid have been helpful to him. He is delighted with the club, template, coach and city. He is acclimated to all, as proven in the goal celebrations and his fellowship in the day to day with his peers. He is joking and happy, and his arrival has added unity and positivity to the group.

Team Murcia vs Real Madrid: Goals for hope

TEAM MURCIA 2 - REAL MADRID 2

Team Murcia (coached by Jose Antonio Camacho) and Real Madrid did their best to entertain the crowd. Mourinho used regular starters such as Casillas, Ramos, Arbeloa and Ozil, as well as Castilla players like Pablo Gil and Mandi in his initial lineup. Murcia native Pedro Leon and Sergio Canales also played and were the most active Madridistas in the first half. Granero had the most chances on goal, but both his shots were saved by Andres. Toche had Team Murcia's clearest chance on the 25-minute mark, but sent the ball over the crossbar.

Team Murcia vs Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Kaka, Xabi Alonso, Pepe and youth teamer Carvajal came on after half-time and helped make the Whites' game more vertical. The first goal in the match came from a combination of passes between Benzema and Xabi Alonso, after which the French striker sent the ball into the back of the net from inside the box (48'). Team Murcia also worked hard for a strike and, five minutes later, managed to draw the score with an own goal from Pepe, who unfortunately defeated Dudek as he was trying to head out a cross by Aquino. Team Murcia scored again through Meca, who headed in a free-kick in the 65th minute. Real Madrid responded swiftly: Pedro Leon served an excellent pass towards the box for Kaka, who then assisted Cristiano Ronaldo in the equaliser.

The final minutes of the game saw former Madridista, and current Real Madrid Team Delegate, Chendo wear the Real Madrid number '2' shirt and the captain's armband once more. Chendo appeared in some plays for Real Madrid and committed a foul. Murcia stadium chanted his name when people saw him leave the bench. He played his last official match on June 30, 1998 after having played sixteen seasons and get eighteen titles.

Chendo played the last ten minutes of the match

Xabi Alonso offered his thoughts on charity match shortly after it concluded: "This kind of gesture during hard times can cheer people up and bring them hope. We lend our support by playing football, which is the best way we know how. With this little bit of help and the vitality and enthusiasm of this city, they will overcome this. This was a nice, entertaining match and we all had fun playing".

Granero also talked about the game: "The Madrid tries to help whenever it can, but today we have to thank because there have been many people in Lorca and we thank all who have come and fill this stadium because their help will be very important".

Summary

Stadium: Nueva Condomina
Attendance: 31,000
Goals: 0-1. Min. 48: Benzema. 1-1. Min. 53: Pepe (o.g.). 2-1. Min. 65: Meca. 2-2. Min. 68: Cristiano.