Managing Madrid - Real Madrid Vs. Málaga, La Liga 2013Dominating European football since March 6th 1902https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50831/mm-fav.png2013-05-08T23:27:13+02:00http://www.managingmadrid.com/rss/stream/40734032013-05-08T23:27:13+02:002013-05-08T23:27:13+02:00Madrid Wins, Özil Gets Injured (6-2)
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<figcaption>Denis Doyle</figcaption>
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<p>Real Madrid earned a comfortable 6-2 win against a Málaga side that ended the game down with just 9 men. The bad news are that Mesut Özil left the game with a probable ankle injury.</p> <p>Real Madrid won the three points in a game similar to a friendly match. The teams scored six combined goals in the first half. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110670/cristiano-ronaldo" class="sbn-auto-link">Cristiano Ronaldo</a> had the time to miss a penalty in those first 45 minutes, with Málaga's keeper Willy Caballero saving it with his ankle and getting injured in the meantime.</p>
<p>The whole team played brilliantly but Málaga being down to 10 men after the penalty (Sergio Sánchez was sent off) certainly helped. Modric's game in the Attacking Midfielder position was polished and beautiful again, and so was Benzema and Özil's. The German took on a much more offensive role this time, leaving the playmaking duties to Modric and scoring a really beautiful goal. Benzema still lacks the killer instinct, but he still had the chance to play well enough and show he's Real's best striker. Modric left the pitch with a standing ovation after he scored Real's fifth goal. Some Spanish journalists even said that Betis' Beñat or Arsenal's <span>Santi Cazorla</span> are better than Modric. They might be hidden in their caves after Modric's recent games.</p>
<p>Albiol scored his second goal as a <i>madridista </i>and celebrated his wife's recent pregnancy. Mourinho gave him some minutes with Varane, Nacho and Coentrao in the defensive lineup. Pepe was left off the team's list and <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110857/sergio-ramos" class="sbn-auto-link">Sergio Ramos</a> is still recovering from his injury. Albiol definitely has the quality to play as the team's backup center back, so he should not be on the transfer list if he accepts his role, especially with <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110641/ricardo-carvalho" class="sbn-auto-link">Ricardo Carvalho</a> leaving the team at the end of the season.</p>
<p>Málaga didn't play great, but nobody could ask a lot from them after that early red card. Nacho appears to be much more comfortable in that right wing, and he's now trying to do a little bit more offensively. <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110858/xabi-alonso" class="sbn-auto-link">Xabi Alonso</a> didn't like that as much as one could see Real's number 14 encouraging the <i>canterano </i>to be more defensive-minded. On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo didn't have a memorable night, but he helped Coentrao a lot in the defensive part of the pitch.</p>
<p>Higuaín is still getting booed every time he steps on the pitch. it would be good to see the Bernabéu supporting both the players and the coaching staff, but that might be just the way it goes after such a painful Champions League elimination. Castilla right back Fabinho had the chance to make his debut with the first team replacing Fàbio Coentrao. He's been playing well with <a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Real Madrid's</a> B team, showing he can be a powerful right back, probably not good enough to make the first team's roster though.</p>
<p>It should be noted that <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110300/michael-essien" class="sbn-auto-link">Michael Essien</a> completed a fairly good game in the midfield once again. He's not been playing there a lot this season, but <i>The Bison</i> has proven to be valuable for Mourinho and his teammates. He might not me the powerhouse midfielder he was years ago, but he's always been a very smart player. Di María scored the team's sixth and last goal in the injury time.</p>
<p>The bad news for Real Madrid are that Mesut Özil had to leave the game in a stretcher with an ankle injury. He clearly felt the pain, so it's still unknown whether he will feature in the Copa del Rey Final or not. The team will likely release a medical statement soon. Özil is a very important player for the team and will surely do everything he can to play against Atlético Madrid on May 17th.</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/5/8/4313318/real-madrid-vs-malaga-liga-2013-scoreLucas Navarrete2013-05-08T20:50:29+02:002013-05-08T20:50:29+02:00Real Madrid Vs. Malaga, La Liga 2013: Match Thread
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<figcaption>Jasper Juinen</figcaption>
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<p>Hello Madridistas! What a quiet week around here, huh. Well luckily there's a midweek fixture against Malaga that will at least give us something to talk about. </p> <p>Malaga will look to jump into the top 5 with a victory today and Real Madrid...well...who knows what to expect from this team psychologically with the Copa final still a little ways off.</p>
<p>So come on in and discuss this match with us right here in ye' ole <i>Managing Madrid</i> matchday open thread.</p>
<p>Update:</p>
<p>Enter del Bosque! Among other things he was recently quoted as saying "<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/news/del-bosque-good-madrid-fans-160400403--sow.html">good Madrid fans must love Casillas</a>."</p>
<p>Chew on that while we await the official lineups.</p>
<p><b>Real Madrid</b>:</p>
<p>Lopez, Nacho, Albiol, Varane, Coentrao, Essien, Alonso, Modric, Ozil, Benzema and Ronaldo</p>
<p><b>Malaga</b>:</p>
<p>Caballero, Lugano, Demichelis, Sanchez, Antunes, Camacho, Baptista, Eliseu, Isco, Portillo and Santa Cruz</p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/5/8/4312898/real-madrid-vs-malaga-la-liga-2013-match-threadDennis J. Seese2013-05-07T20:54:30+02:002013-05-07T20:54:30+02:00Midweek match offers respite from madness
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<figcaption>Jasper Juinen</figcaption>
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<p>Jose Mourinho's Real Madrid will face off against Manuel Pellegrini's Málaga this Wednesday in a mid-week La Liga game. Given the controversy surrounding Jose Mourinho, Iker Casillas, and Pepe this past week, Madridistas are looking forward to seeing their favorite team back on the pitch to let their feet do the talking. </p> <p><a href="https://www.managingmadrid.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Real Madrid's</a> media circus has snowballed to such great heights in the last few days that Wednesday's match against Málaga has lurked in the backdrop while the Mourinho/Pepe/press saga continues to hog the limelight. Here's an honest attempt at highlighting the manager's presser while previewing tomorrow's football game:</p>
<p><b><i>JOSE MOURINHO</i></b></p>
<p>Real Madrid's manager attended the usual <a href="http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/Actualidad_Primer_Equipo/1330146963845/noticia/Noticia/Mourinho:_%E2%80%9CEl_Malaga_es_un_equipo_peligroso_y_si_no_jugamos_a_tope_sera_dificil%E2%80%9D.htm" target="_blank">pre-game press conference</a> on Tuesday and spoke about Pepe's comments, whether he's trying to get fired, and what Málaga brings to the table. Here is my translation from Spanish to English of Mourinho's best bits:</p>
<p>With regards to Pepe's comments, in which the defender said the manager should show more respect toward <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110845/iker-casillas" class="sbn-auto-link">Iker Casillas</a>, Mourinho said:</p>
<p><i>"Pepe's problem is easy to analyze. It's called Raphael Varane. You don't need to be very intelligent, in fact it's enough to be normal like me to understand that we are talking about frustration. It's not easy for a player like Pepe to be unseated by a 19-year-old boy, but the boy is fantastic. I have been brave enough to play him (Varane) so the problem is very simple. Pepe's life, on a sporting level, has changed."</i></p>
<p>On whether Mourinho is trying to force his exit from the club, the Portuguese had this to say:</p>
<p><i>"I intend to continue. The fans believe what you (the press) sell, so to make it very clear I am telling you that I will only charge Real Madrid through the last day I work here. I do not want even one Euro more I've decided I do not want to continue here." </i></p>
<p>On tomorrow's opponents, Mou said:</p>
<p><i>"Málaga is a dangerous team that can win here. If we are not at our best it will be difficult. They are a good team that play as a group. They have a good defense, a great attack and create a lot of danger especially with their counterattacks."</i></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;"><b><i>THE OPPOSITION</i></b></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 9px;"><b><i></i></b></span>Málaga sits in sixth place behind Valencia with a total of 53 points. The fourth place spot that guarantees an appearance in next year's Champions League is currently occupied by a Real Sociedad side boasting 58 points. After dropping points this past Saturday in a defeat to Granada, Málaga is desperate to bounce back with a victory and make a run at Valencia and Sociedad's standing.</p>
<p>After witnessing Málaga's exciting quarterfinal clash against Borussia Dortmund, Madridistas know that Pellegrini's side should not be underestimated. Pellegrini's preferred line-up in La Liga is a 4-2-3-1 featuring Isco in the hole and either Roque Santa Cruz or Javier Saviola at striker, but fans of both Málaga and Chelsea are eager to see more of young Brazilian forward Lucas Piazón. Nineteen-year-old Lucas is on loan from Stamford Bridge and plays a fast, direct style of football that draws comparisons to fellow São Paulo product and Madrid man Ricardo Kaká; however, Lucas has been quick to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/24902_lucas_piazon___i_don_t_think_i_resemble_kaka_.html">dispel those comparisons</a> and attributes them more to the players' shared roots than to their actual playing styles.</p>
<p>Málaga will be without midfielder Toulalan and defenders Jesús Gaméz and Weligton for tomorrow's match.</p>
<p><span><b><i></i></b></span></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><b><i>REAL MADRID SQUAD LIST</i></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Goalkeepers: Casillas, Diego López and Adán.<br>Defenders: Varane, Albiol, Coentrão, Carvalho, Nacho and Fabinho.<br>Midfielders: Kaká, Özil, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110858/xabi-alonso" class="sbn-auto-link">Xabi Alonso</a>, Essien, Modric, Callejón and Di María.<br>Forwards: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110670/cristiano-ronaldo" class="sbn-auto-link">Cristiano Ronaldo</a>, Benzema and Higuaín.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mourinho stated in his press conference that Diego Lopez will start in goal and with Nacho at right-back, Varane and Albiol at centre-back, and Fabio Coentrão at left-back. Castilla defender Fabinho is the biggest surprise on the squad list and the young Brazilian could make his first team debut tomorrow. Sergio Ramos, Arbeloa and Marcelo remain injured, while Khedira is either resting or nursing a mild knock. Pepe has been conspicuously left off the squad list.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 9px;">Managing Madrid, give us your starting XI predictions!</span></p>
<p><i>Real Madrid kicks-off on Wednesday, May 8th at 9:30 pm CET/ 3:30 pm EST/ 12:30 pm PST. </i></p>
https://www.managingmadrid.com/2013/5/7/4308556/real-madrid-vs-malaga-liga-2013-previewPedro Cesca