Real Madrid 4 - 0 Zaragoza (Spanish League, Day 10)

Real Madrid secured their sixth straight win in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium against Zaragoza, where they remain unbeaten. The Whites took less than half an hour to decide the match. Higuaín, in the 23rd minute, put his team ahead, scoring in his third straight match and Di María celebrated his 100th official match two minutes later. In the second half, Essien scored the third in the 89th minute and Modric completed the scoring in added time. The Whites’ third straight match without conceding a goal in the championship, who are now, along with Malaga, the team which has conceded the fewest goals in the competition. Also, Mourinho's 100th win, which makes him the coach who has reached this commendable figure the quickest. Excellent news ahead of the match this Tuesday against Dortmund as they mount their assault for the lead of the group in the Champions League.

Modric and Essien scored for the first time playing with Real Madrid jersey

Real Madrid could not have started the penultimate month of the year better. The Whites thrashed Zaragoza, who arrived at the Santiago Bernabéu hoping to make it three consecutive victories. With Albiol as a starter in centre of the defence and Essien y Modric sharing central midfield, the Whites dominated from the start and with the intention of getting their sixth straight win at home, where they remain unbeaten. At least that was what they showed in the first 20 minutes, in which the home team had two chances against the team from Aragon’s zero. Both chances came in the form of Ronaldo headers, but the first went just inches wide of the goal defended by Roberto in the 14th minute and the second, in the 18th, went high.

Zaragoza took their time to create a threat on Casillas' goal, but did so with dangerous diagonal shot from Helder Postiga in the 20th minute forcing the Whites’ academy player into a great full length dive to save it. The move woke Real Madrid up, who inside just five minutes decided the game. Higuaín was the first to score in the 23rd minute. Modric was responsible for taking the corner and Albiol headed towards goal. Roberto’s stop deserved a better result for the visitors, but the Argentine was there and he intelligently picked up the keeper’s deflection to score at his pleasure from the goal line. The third match in a row in which El Pipa has found the back of the net.

The second came thanks to Di María two minutes later and it was the best reward for his persistence. His initial cross hit Abraham, but the rebound fell back at El Fideo’s feet, who shot with a volley and again for a third time to beat Roberto, who had thwarted the Argentine’s second attempt. The first half-hour of the match was not yet completed and Real Madrid had already taken a decisive lead in the match with two goals that showed the strength of the punch that they can pack. They could have even got the third in the 27th minute but Ronaldo’s shot went wide of the far post from inside the area. It was the last clear chance to either team before the break.

Zaragoza came out braver in the second half, but their attacks were either foiled by the solid home defence or by an inspired Casillas. The latter is what happened when Víctor Rodríguez released a venomous shot in the 58th minute which was met with a superb response from the Whites’ keeper. The visitors went closer five minutes later, but the shot of José Mari from the edge of the area crashed against the crossbar.

Real Madrid turned their attentions to putting the match to bed, knowing that in three days they have a demanding match in the Champions League. Things went perfectly to plan and in the final minutes they finished off their opponent. Ronaldo, found the crossbar with a long range free-kick in the 84th minute which was a great introduction for what was to come. Essien, in the 89th minute, and Modric, in added time, scored their first goals for the club and completed the rout. The sixth consecutive home win and third straight match in which the Whites have finished with a clean sheet in the competition. Excellent news ahead of the match this Tuesday against Dortmund as they mount their assault for the lead of the group in the Champions League.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 72,000
Goals: 1-0 min. 23 Higuain; 2-0 min. 25 Di Maria; 3-0 min.89 Essien; 4-0 min. 92 Modric.

Essien: “I can help Real Madrid winning the European Cup"

Essien is one of the new faces in Real Madrid’s squad for this new season, and just 45 days after his arrival in Madrid the Ghanaian player has looked back on everything that has happened in this time in an interview published on his own website (www.michaelessiengh.com). “Mourinho has not changed at all. He wants his players to work hard and always demands the best from them, that they give 100%. His ambition is still to win everything. He is a winner and that is not going to change. I have always got on well with him”, he added.

Michael Essien

The coach and the player already knew each other from their time together at Chelsea, something which Essien accepts made it easier for him to sign for Real Madrid: “It is no secret that José Mourinho has been a big influence on my career since he took me to England. He was kind enough to accompany me on a fundraising trip to Ghana when we were in Chelsea. So when he showed an interest in signing me for Real Madrid, I had no doubts about it at all. Of course I had to come to an agreement with Chelsea first, but once they agreed, everything started to move. One minute I was getting ready to play the Supercup in Monaco; the next I was packing my bags to move to Madrid. It was crazy, but that is what football is like. It looked like I was going to spend another season in Chelsea after a good preseason, but here I am, in Madrid. I never dreamt this would happen when I went back to work with Chelsea in July, but football is full of surprises and this is definitely one of them”.

Madrid’s new midfielder has come here after winning the Champions league with his old club, and is well aware that winning number ten is one his new club’s aims for this season: “Yes, I know, and I hope I can help Madrid to achieve this success. Apart from this achievement for the club and the city it would be a great personal achievement for me to win two consecutive Champions Leagues after winning it last year, so I will do my best to try to be part of this achievement”.

Essien had already competed in the Premier League with some of his team mates such as Carvalho, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xabi Alonso and Modric, and he emphasised how easy it has been for him to settle in thanks to the rest of the squad: “Yes, I knew several of my team mates before coming here. Apart from those names, the other day Casillas reminded me that we had played against each other in the Meridian Cup in South Africa when we were 16 or 17. And I remember playing against Kaká in the Under-20 World Cup in Argentina. They have all been very supportive, even the team mates I did not know at all. We are a team in every sense of the word and training is always fun”.

“There are no easy matches at this level in Spain or in England. Every match I have played in or seen from the bench in Spain is one that we knew would be tough. I had not played regularly before signing for Real Madrid so I needed more games to get my rhythm and I am managing that. As long as I carry on training hard everything will be fine”, he said about his adaptation to the team’s style and to the competition in Spain.

The city has also pleasantly surprised Essien who has already discovered the affection of the Real Madrid family. “I have only been here for six weeks but I have been impressed by how affectionate and welcoming people are in Madrid and by the city in general. From the president and the coach, to the other players, the training staff and the fans, everyone has been friendly and welcoming. In Ghana we are proud of our hospitality, and Madrid is no different. It is great how they make you feel the same way here”, he said.

To conclude Essien spoke about his Foundation and the possibility of another charity match with stars from around the world playing African stars in Ghana: “We are looking into it and we will make a decision at the end of November. The Peace Match two years ago was a great success and we would like to do it again so we can raise more money for charitable work in Ghana. Some of the players who took part in April 2011 have already said that they would like to do it again, so we are working on it to make it reality. Also, the Foundation’s other projects are still running. We have taken on another 10 people in our training workshops and we are working on building a library with the money raised by the watch with my name on it”.

Squad: Michael Essien

Michael Essien

When he signed for Chelsea in 2005, José Mourinho defined Essien as a "multifunctional" player. The Ghanaian international has a quality that stands out above everything else: his versatility. The Real Madrid player has spent most of his career in midfield but has also played at right-back and in central defence.

After shining for Ghana u-17s in the 1999 New Zealand World Cup, Essien took the leap into European football in 2000 to when signing for Bastia. Two seasons were enough to dazzle one of the Europe’s big clubs and he signed for Olympique Lyon in 2002. Three years later he ended up at Chelsea. His physical power is remarkable and makes him a great midfielder, but apart from that Essien also has the ability to organise attacks and score goals.

His powerful stature has earned him the nickname of The Bison. The Real Madrid player, who was described in the past by José Mourinho as an "athlete who can run for hours, a spectacular athlete", is a physical marvel. The Ghanaian will be coming to a coach who he already managed him at Chelsea for three seasons from 2005 to 2008.

For Essien football is not everything. The player is very committed to his country and to the living conditions there, especially of those most in need and of the children. Whenever he has the opportunity he participates in charity events.

Data

• Place of Birth: Accra (Ghana)
• Date of Birth: 12/03/1982
• Position: Midfielder
• Weight: 85 kg.
• Height: 177 cm
• Nationality: Ghanaian

Honours (Clubs / National team)

• Champions League: 2011/12
• English League: 2005/06, 2009/10 
• FA Cups: 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10, 2011/12
• Community Shield: 2009
• English League Cup: 2066/07
• French League titles: 2003/04, 2004/05

Honours (Individual)

• Best player in the French League: 2005

Michael Essien: New Real Madrid player

Essien by Lass. Real Madrid staged a lightning move in the final hours before the close of the transfer market and has signed, for a season, the Chelsea Ghanaian player as a substitute for Lass, who will go to Anzhi, the Russian team. The Frenchman had not closed last night his contract (they offer him 5 million euros per year) but has time to achieve it, until August 5, the date that is the deadline in Russia.

Michael Essien

Around 7:00 pm yesterday reached an irresistible proposal at the Bernabeu Stadium form Anzhi and Real Madrid, knowing it was the last option for cashing by Lass, frantically tracked down a replacement. Then came the name of Michael Essien. Di Matteo announced before the final the European Super Cup that the player was not summoned because he could go on loan. Chelsea refused to lend him to Arsenal, rival for the Premier, and quickly the talks began between Madrid (Florentino Perez, Jose Angel Sanchez and Mourinho) and London, with Michael Emenalo (Chelsea sporting director) carrying the negotiations, while Abramovich was in Monaco.

"He is ready, is ok" said a relevant source last night in Monaco, referring to Michael Essien. But the fact is that the midfielder since 2008 has suffered serious injuries which have stopped his progression. He went from being the player who could do anything to be a usual guest at the nurse room. In the 2008-09 season Essien missed seven months and the half part of the following season with torn ligaments in both knees (played 14 games in 09-10). He often participated in the season 10-11 (33 games), but only played 14 matches last season.