Real Madrid 5 - 0 Real Sociedad (Spanish League Day 30)

Real Madrid showered Real Sociedad with goals and cemented their leadership in La Liga with strikes from Cristiano Ronaldo (who's tally with the team ascends to 101), Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain.

Higuain showed the way to a therapeutic victory

Varane and Kaka took the places of the suspended Pepe and Ozil in the starting lineup, and Mourinho opted to use Higuain and Benzema together in attack. Real Sociedad were wary and hardly attacked, while the Madridistas continuously looked to finish them off. Higuain scored a first-touch goal in the opening minutes after receiving a pass from Benzema (6').

Cristiano Ronaldo nearly tallied the second on the 28-minute mark and also two minutes after that, but his finishing touch was only slightly off on both counts. The Portuguese player eventually netted it in the 32nd minute by nutmegging Bravo.

Real Sociedad did what they could to keep the Whites at bay, but a third soon came when a ball cleared by Ramos was masterfully controlled by Benzema and sent to the net with a lobbed shot (40'). The visitors nevertheless managed to net a strike through a Xabi Prieto shot on the box line that went in after hitting Ramos in the head.

Khedira sent the ball to the box in the opening minutes of the second half and Benzema scored over Bravo (49'). Ronaldo netted a fifth a few minutes later when Higuain managed to serve him a ball on the goal-line (56').

The team relaxed a bit from then on and Real Sociedad managed to enter Casillas' box on occasion without posing much of a threat. A Griezmann shot was easily grabbed by the goalkeeper and Mourinho decided to make Sahin and Coentrao come on for Khedira and Benzema. The Portuguese player came close to tallying a sixth for the team, missing the target only by inches.

Youth teamer Jese replaced Ronaldo on the 80-minute mark and a couple of minutes later Varane's chance to score was cleared between the posts by a defender. The match started to die down in the final minutes with the Whites starting to concentrate on Tuesday's UCL match against APOEL.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance:
Goals: 1-0, m.6: Higuaín. 2-0, m.32: Cristiano. 3-0, m.40: Benzema; 3-1, m.41: Xabi Prieto; 4-1, m.49: Benzema; 5-1, m.56: Cristiano.

Launched the Real Madrid Resort Island

Real Madrid and the Government of Ras al-Khaimah presented the Real Madrid Resort Island in the Presidential Balcony of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Thursday afternoon. It is to be a touristic complex and theme park in the United Arab Emirates under the Real Madrid brand. The event was attended by President Florentino Perez and Dr. Khater Massaad, representative of the Government of Ras al-Khaimah and CEO of RAK Investment Authority. Jose Mourinho, Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Football Director Miguel Pardeza, First Team Director Zinedine Zidane, Director of Institutional Relations Emilio Butragueño and former players Santamaria, Pachin and Amancio Amaro were also in attendance.

Presentation of the Real Madrid Resort Island

Florentino Perez talked about this new challenge for Real Madrid: "When the Real Madrid Resort Island opens its gates, visitors will become part of the legend o this club, which strives to be eternal and universal. We adhere our name and potential to a unique location, a strategic meeting place and a project of unprecedented dimension located less than four hours away by flight of 2,000 million people".

"Once again, the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium serves as the starting point of a thrilling project. The world of sports and Real Madrid again prove to have no boundaries and that football is a fantastic tool with which to make different people and cultures come together. This team's fans are passionate wherever they may be and never give up. Their dreams motivate us on a daily basis".

"Santiago Bernabeu gave Real Madrid the unique capacity to go beyond this country's frontiers and those of us who administer this legacy are aware of the challenge that comes with handling what gave this club a mythical and legendary status. Real Madrid Resort Island will be a sports touristic complex of the highest level, covering 50 hectares in which tourism and sport will seduce millions of people in search of a quality leisurely activities".

Real Madrid Resort Island

"This is a decisive and strategic step that will enhance the strength of this institution in the Middle East and Asia, a key region in which the passion for this club has been apparent. Our collaboration grows increasingly stronger and we are proud of it. Real Madrid and the Government of Ras Al Khaimah want to transmit the passion of Real Madrid and what it means throughout the world".

Louis Armand de Rouge, RAK Participations & RAK Marjan Island Football CEO, and Dr. Khater Massaad analysed the Real Madrid Resort Island, explaining it will hold a theme park, the first stadium open to the sea, a Real Madrid museum, numerous sports facilities, a sport port, a residencial area and luxury hotels.

One billion US dollars have been invested in the project and it is expected to open in January 2015. It will be the first theme park on an artificial island to combine tourism and sports, and it will be the first recreational tourism complex built under the Real Madrid trademark.

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Villarreal 1 - 1 Real Madrid (Spanish League Day 29)

Real Madrid were only able to take one point from the match against Villarreal, during which referee Paradas Romero sent off Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho, fitness trainer Rui Faria and players Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil. The Whites took the lead with an amazing goal from Cristiano Ronaldo and conceded an equaliser in the final minutes of the encounter in a set piece that followed a dubious foul. Real Madrid are nevertheless leaders in La Liga with a six point lead.

The referee unsettled Real Madrid and Villarreal got the tie

Arbeloa played as right back and Lass in the centre of defence, leaving Kaka off the starting lineup. Villarreal pressurised at the start looking to net the opener, which was nonetheless nearly scored by Pepe from a header cleared by Zapata on the goal-line (9'). Nilmar had the clearest chance for the locals nine minutes later and forced Casillas to save the day with a stretch.

Real weren't dominating the encounter but created danger from set pieces and Pepe nearly netted a header on the 34-minute mark. Mourinho replaced Lass with Callejon in the 28th minute because he had a booking. Benzema took a shot with hardly an angle just before half-time and hit the outside of the net (42').

Altintop came on for Callejon in the second half due to the latter's injury following a late challenge by Bruno that the referee failed to see. Real Madrid started to dominate the encounter and looked for a goal, while the referee seemed more focused on their coaching area and eventually sent off fitness trainer Rui Faria (49'). Khedira missed the goal with a shot from outside the box in the 53rd minute that was followed by a Xabi Alonso free-kick that grazed the crossbar.

The Whites tallied their strike a few minutes later when Cristiano Ronaldo dribbled past goalkeeper Diego Lopez inside the box after receiving a spectacular heel pass from Ozil (61'). Villarreal suffered a blow and hardly entered Casillas' goal, and Khedira had a chance to seal the match with a shot that was cleared by Bruno between the posts (63').

Higuain came on for Benzema in the 76th minute and Villarreal looked for a goal of their own spurred by their fans. Altintop made a dubious foul outside Madrid's box on the 83-minute mark and the referee called it following his linesman's advice, even though he was just two meters away from the effort. Senna netted the equaliser from the ensuing free-kick and the referee, who always kept an eye on Real Madrid's bench area, then sent off Jose Mourinho.

Sergio Ramos saw a second yellow card in the 84th minute and Ozil was also sent off because, according to the referee in his report, he "scoffed the previous decision by applauding." Real madrid were down to nine men and didn't have time to react. Referee Paradas Romero was the unfortunate star of the encounter and made the players livid with his behaviour.

This match is over now and the Whites are still leaders with a six point cushion; they must now start preparing for Saturday's clash with Real Sociedad at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Summary

Stadium: El Madrigal
Attendance: 20,000
Goals: 0-1, m.61: Cristiano Ronaldo. 1-1, m.83: Marcos Senna.

Real Madrid 1 - 1 Malaga (Spanish League Day 28)

Football was unfair with Real Madrid. Jose Mourinho's team deserved a victory against Malaga, who drew the score in injury time. Nevertheless, an eight point lead over the runners-up this far in the season is very solid.

Benzema's goal was not enough

Lass played as right back and Benzema started as centre forward. Malaga played brave tactics at the Bernabeu, moving the ball well and preventing Real Madrid from showcasing their full potential. They had the first chance through Rondon, but Casillas saved the day. Isco missed the target with a crossed shot on the 14-minute mark and from then on Mourinho's men started to dominate the match, with Benzema coming close to netting the opener in the 27th minute.

The French striker scored a few minutes later by heading in a Ronaldo cross (35'). Malaga continued to keep possession, but were less of a threat on the local goal.

The visitors lost speed after half-time and Madrid played a more solid game. They had more chances to score and Caballero made an impressive save of a curved Ronaldo shot a few minutes into the half.

Callejon came on for Kaka on the 66-minute mark and nearly scored a header two minutes later. Then, Ozil pulled off a spectacular effort that Benzema failed to finish off with everything going for him. Real Madrid were not able to kill the beast and gave Malaga wings to make a comeback.

Controversy took centre stage close to the end when the referee failed to award a penalty when Marcelo was clearly challenged inside the box (85'). Mourinho made Granero and Higuain come on and Mathijsen was then forced to clear a Callejon chance (89'). Cazorla managed to score the equaliser with a solid shot in injury time (91'), making Madrid drop two points in the game.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 75,000
Goals: 1-0, m.35: Benzema. 1-1, m.91: Cazorla