Managing Madrid - La Liga 2013: Real Madrid vs GetafeDominating European football since March 6th 1902https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50831/mm-fav.png2013-01-27T23:08:42+01:00http://www.managingmadrid.com/rss/stream/36847892013-01-27T23:08:42+01:002013-01-27T23:08:42+01:00The View From The Press Seats
<figure>
<img alt="Santiago Bernabéu some minutes before kickoff against Getafe" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/8X5qoXq6hjL5KxH-eBDWUL7cZD8=/0x91:1100x824/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7206287/img_20130127_113142.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Santiago Bernabéu some minutes before kickoff against Getafe | Lucas Navarrete</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>As you may now notice, Managing Madrid had the opportunity to enjoy a press pass for a game played at the Santiago Bernabéu almost one month after the match against Espanyol. There are some things that are easier to see when you watch a game in such good seats, and that's what this piece is about.</p> <p align="justify">European football can sometimes be all about hard work. Players like Coentrao and Khedira might go unnoticed for some analysts who focus on <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110670/cristiano-ronaldo">Cristiano Ronaldo's</a> hattrick or Özil's stylish plays, but both Coentrao and <i>Panzer </i>Khedira are playing at their finest level right now.</p>
<p align="justify">Coentrao has stood up to the occasion in this past month, just when Marcelo should be trying to get back in the team's rotation. Marcelo is arguably a better player, that's for sure, but Coentrao's defensive transition is much better, and that's something Real Madrid needs. The Portuguese defender is also starting to feel more comfortable on the offensive part of the game, and he could be seen in <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/la-liga/teams/getafe">Getafe's</a> box many times throughout the game. He even had a very good scoring chance saved by Moyà few minutes before <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110857/sergio-ramos">Sergio Ramos</a>' first goal.</p>
<p align="justify"><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110267/sami-khedira">Sami Khedira</a> was <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/">Real Madrid's</a> second underdog player. The German midfielder joined the game for Raúl Albiol at halftime and Real Madrid soon started its engines. His physical presence served Modric well, but he also distributed the ball well and made himself visible for the team's defenders to get the ball to dangerous positions. Right now, Sami Khedira is arguably Real Madrid's second most irreplaceable player. That might sound crazy for some fans when the likes of Sergio Ramos, Özil, Benzema, Pepe or Casillas play for this team, but this version of Khedira is the key for the team's midfield, not <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110858/xabi-alonso">Xabi Alonso</a>.</p>
<p align="justify">Cristiano Ronaldo's performance is something that nobody missed, but how he helps his team offensively is another completely different thing. This is his very best season with the club, there's no question about that. Ronaldo is helping the offensive rhythm of the team a lot more and he's always demanding the ball to open up some spaces instead of just going to score his goals. It should amaze everybody how rarely he gets caught offside with the pace he has. He's a true legend.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/27/3922328/madrid-getafe-press-analysisLucas Navarrete2013-01-27T13:49:15+01:002013-01-27T13:49:15+01:00Madrid Prevails
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/WEOO2cb8ZQxZ0D6EZ0croH0vuKc=/0x88:4000x2755/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7184751/160156477.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Denis Doyle</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Mourinho decided to give some rest to Alonso, Khedira and Arbeloa, so Modric and some other players that aren't getting many minutes had the chance to start against Getafe. A very slow pace prevented Real Madrid from scoring in the first half, but Ramos' goal off a corner-kick opened up the defense and even allowed Ronaldo to score a hattrick.</p> <p align="justify">The team started the game by having a lot of the possession, but no depth whatsoever. Cristiano Ronaldo played besides Higuaín so Coentrao had the whole left wing for his own. Real Madrid took a little time before waking up, and it could be seen that the players aren't used to play at 12:00 CET.</p>
<p align="justify">Cristiano Ronaldo and Di María ha Real Madrid's first chances, both of them far from Getafe's goal. Ronaldo shot a free-kick from distance but Moyà saved it nicely. Di María's chance turned out to be dangerous thanks to a rebound off a Getafe defender.</p>
<p align="justify">Getafe played defensively throughout the whole first half, but they had a good chance in a counterattack that was saved by Di María an Coentrao. Adán played quite inspired and had some good saves when Getafe tested him during the first half of the match.</p>
<p align="justify">It was Mesut Özil the man that had Real's best chance of all the first half. Unfortunately for Real, his shot was powerless and right where Moyà was standing. It was him the one that launched the counterattack, though. The first half concluded with a couple of missed opportunities by Özil and Modric, but Real Madrid still found themselves 0-0 in the scoreboard. Very slow pace from Mourinho's men.</p>
<p align="justify"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify"><span lang="EN-US">Sergio Ramos scored Real’s first goal off a corner-kick after Moyà deflected a good chance by Coentrao, and only ten minutes later, Cristiano Ronaldo ended a good counterattack started by Sami Khedira with a good goal with his left foot.This goal opened up Getafe's defense, and Ronaldo scored Real Madrid's third goal a little bit later. Khedira had replaced Raúl Albiol at halftime, so Ramos moved to the center on the defense and left the right wing to Michael Essien. Khedira played great again and proved himself as one of the best players available for Jose Mourinho.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The Portuguese player scored his third goal and rounded his hattrick off a penalty-kick. He left the field sooner after that to leave some minutes for Benzema and received an standing ovation from the whole Santiago Bernabéu, who chanted "Cristiano Ballon D'Or!".</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="justify">The rest of the tame went on as expected, with Real Madrid trying not to run too much prior of the Copa del Rey match against Barcelona, to be played this next Wednesday. It wasn't a brilliant first half, but the team still broke Getafe's defense in the second. Adán's good game should be noted now that Diego Lópezhas signed for Real Madrid.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/27/3920756/real-madrid-getafe-liga-2013-scoreLucas Navarrete2013-01-27T11:51:49+01:002013-01-27T11:51:49+01:00Match Thread
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vkuhJUBZVd5U94FYR6pxgVB9xv4=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47827969/large_managingmadrid.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>Adan starts. Khedira, Alonso, Marcelo on the bench.
</p> <p><b>RM XI</b>: Adán; Ramos, Carvalho, Albiol, Coentrao; Essien, Modric; Di María, Ozil, Cristiano; Higuaín.<br><i>Subs</i>: Diego López, Varane, Khedira, Benzema, Marcelo, Xabi Alonso y Callejón</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>Getafe XI</b>: Moyá, Alexis, M. Torres, Lopo, Sarabia, Gavilán, Colunga, D. Castro, Valera, Borja y Xavi Torres<br><i>Subs</i>: Codina, Álvaro, Alcácer, Rafa, Míchel, Fraile y Diego Benito</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have fun discussing the match. Remember to be respectful and Hala Madrid!</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/27/3920752/real-madrid-vs-getafe-match-threadJ A Marsano2013-01-26T22:56:23+01:002013-01-26T22:56:23+01:00Who Starts?
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/XFjff5ueOBqPg6GGzoQ_Gpujr8I=/0x36:4000x2703/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/7163769/159942824.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Denis Doyle</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Real Madrid plays Getafe tomorrow quite early in the day, giving the team a chance to close the points gap, even if only temporarily, on second and first place in the league. Mourinho's choice of goalkeeper will be of the greatest interest to fans.</p> <p></p>
<p>It will be a rare morning kick-off for Madrid. Pepe is still missing from injury, and Casillas is out with injury, so the big question for tomorrow’s game is to see if José Mourinho decides to use Madrid’s new signing: former youth and first team player Diego López, who’s return home to Real Madrid was finalized ahead of schedule yesterday, from Sevilla, when the news about Iker Casillas’s injury made his early arrival necessary. He has passed his medical and even trained in the whirlwind of the last 24 hours.</p>
<p>Mourinho could also stick with Antonio Adán. His choice should signal who his first choice goal-keeper will be for a large portion of the remaining season. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Previous Spanish press reports that Diego López cannot possibly feature are false: at the time of writing, he has been called up.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Sergio Ramos and Kaká – both suspended last week – return to the squad. So does Marcelo. Whether they will feature or not is unclear. Mourinho will likely consider this game a chance to get his defence and his chosen goalkeeper for midweek a chance to get used to each other in competition. On the other hand, he may rest outfield players. The injury situation necessarily complicates his choice of line-up.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Getafe are the Liga’s most out-of-form team at the moment. Their coach will have to watch from the stands as he has fallen victim to the zero-tolerance policy of the Spanish officials this year on mouthing off at the linesman. They have no wins in 6 and only 4 point out of 18 points. The game is played at the Santiago Bernabéu tomorrow, which doesn’t bode well either: Madrid remain unbeaten at home this season. Getafe also don’t have the services of former Real Madrid player Pedro Leon, or of Angel Lafita (a key player this year), Mane, or Xavi Torres. They have lost 7 of the last 8 outings against Madrid: significantly though, not the fixture earlier this season on August 26, when they won at home in spite of Madrid going ahead early in the match.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It is possible that their new signing, Sergio Escudero, will feature tomorrow. And their best player this season – the centre-back Alexis, who creates some danger off set-pieces – has his work cut out trying to stop an in-form Cristiano Ronaldo.</p>
<p>In other notes, José Mourinho turns 50 today. He has received official congratulations from Porto and Inter, Real Madrid, and many current and former players.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/1/26/3919396/match-preview-real-madrid-getafeJ A Marsano