Real Madrid vs. Granada, 0-1

[flywoman]

Que injusticia!

Cristiano Ronaldo was definitely Man of the Match: he worked his ass off and scored the only goal. Unfortunately, he headed the ball into the back of his own net.



This was one of the worst matches I have ever seen Real Madrid play. Perhaps the absence of playmaker Mesut Ozil was to blame, perhaps tiredness after Wednesday's match against Barcelona, but they failed to create any chances at all in the first half against a team near the bottom of the league table. To be fair, Granada didn't have any shots on target either. Their goal came from a corner kick that Ronaldo tried to clear but only managed to launch past his startled keeper for an own goal, the first of his career. Obligatory rivalry joke: Let's see if Messi can score two of them tomorrow! (Or more likely Mascherano. Heh.)

Mourinho clearly agreed with me that the first half was horrible because when the match restarted, Gonzalo Higuain and Sami Khedira had been replaced by Karim Benzema and Jose Callejon. The changes paid off in that RM did create a lot more opportunities in the second half, keeping the Granada defenders and keeper on their toes. But they did not manage to equalize, even with four extra minutes on the clock.

Now, I'm sure that some folks will complain that RM were robbed of a corner - which they were - and that Ronaldo was wrongly reprimanded for pushing another player who had his arm wrapped around his neck. All I can say is, Modric could have been sent off with a second yellow when his clumsy tackle was followed by a handball, and Xabi Alonso should have been - the brute.

Comments

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

I supported the Spain NT before I became a fan of Barcelona, so for a while I was more or less following both teams equally. (And this year there's been so much drama going on with RM that I don't want to miss anything!)

I still like Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos a lot, but I have lost so much respect for Xabi Alonso. He's such a thug, and not in a psychotic way like Pepe - I'm sure he knows exactly what he's doing.

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

lol my dad just came in and said about that, we have mutual feelings on Ronaldo so that fun (between that and my dad's massive man-crush on Puyi clasicos are fun)
So, does that still count towards the pichichi or not? ;)

Wow that's pretty damning actually, given how many clasicos they've been thrashed in.
*sigh* if only they had San Iker. There's no excuse really; they should get him to prowl the touchline with a megaphone merrily swearing away.

OMG don't say things like that! the way we're going they probably will (legit question; has Messi scored an own goal?) because 'everyone else did it'. Maybe own goals are the new knocking her up then.
None the less am fairly sure right now the only person who feels comfortable when our defenders are defending is San Iker.
We'll be fine though, because unicef bribed the referee so we got an extra day to prepare. ;)

Well done Granada then. Real drew against Espanyol, and they're right down. It seems like before Madrid was seen as untouchable, but now they've faltered this season teams have more belief so they'll give it a good go. Interesting games are interesting.

Yeah when you tally everything up with fouls and stupidity then it probably all evens out so you can't really complain. Maybe I'm just jaded because y'know Barca not getting a corner just means we can't screw it up.

I'm really going off Xabi Alonso of late. He has this vicious streak under the charm. At least Pepe is just plain batshit so you know where you stand.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, guess we'll have to see how Marca counts it, although at least Nolito still got the assist.

Seriously, can't he captain from behind the goal?

I don't think Messi has scored an own goal yet. Oh yes, "some teams" are able to control the calendar, unlike RM, boo hoo.

I have to say it's refreshing to see teams giving it their best shot against RM, and to see that RM aren't invincible when it happens.

Ahahaha, yeah, being robbed of a corner never hurt us any. Direct free kicks on the other hand...

Xabi should have been sent off in the Clasico, and Arbeloa too. Kicking and slapping everyone around, who the fuck do they think they are??

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

They probably will, anything to undermine Barca/Messi.

Don't see why not, that'd be awesome.

Maybe that's another one of his records then.
How do they decide the schedule in Spain anyway; does it involve blindfolded monkeys throwing knives? that would make more sense.

Hmm yeah true, Xavi looked so up for in the clasico (think he missed Iker).

Exactly, especially when they both did it to Leo (then he looked at the linesman like 'why are they touching me?', all baffled and puppy-eyes). That's just never ok anyway, but not in a game that important and to people who never start trouble.