Eight for eight at home and Raúl takes over as Pichichi
Real Madrid 3-1 Racing
December 01, 2007 -Real Madrid fans haven't left the Santiago Bernabéu with their heads hung since 4 February, and with tonight's victory the Whites extended their League leading point total to 32. Sneijder and Baptista returned in top form, Van Nistelrooy and Raúl again proved that they are the perfect couple in attack, Casillas played his 400th match in white, and the captain took over the League Pichichi with two brilliant goals.
Real Madrid are using their home turf as the staging ground for their best football. The Santiago Bernabéu has been their best ally, and the stats prove it. Including Saturday's victory over Racing, the Whites are nine for nine at home this season. What's more, the Madridista faithful haven't witnessed a defeat since 4 February. It's not magic. It's efficiency and hard work.
Racing Santander landed in the Spanish capital fresh off a win over Valencia and nine straight matches without a defeat. They were one point off a UEFA spot and boasted the top defence in the League having conceded just nine goals. Today, however, Toño could only watch as Real Madrid tore through his net from the opening minutes of the match. Lest we forget, Real Madrid are the top scoring team this season with 33 strikes.
The Van Nistelrooy-Raúl affair
A primary reason the Madridistas have found the back of the net so often can be found in the Raúl-Van Nistelrooy connection. The two forwards make the perfect couple in attack, and tonight was no different. After three consecutive Racing corner kicks, Julio Baptista, who made his first start of the season, found Van Nistelrooy with a brilliant one-touch between defenders. The Dutchman in turn provided the assist to the captain, who snuck the ball past a charging Toño and right by the near post where nobody expected it. Number '7' could have tallied his second of the half had Garay not been under the crossbar to clear.
The Madridistas stepped on the gas and began reaching Notario's box in no time. The first warning shot was fired in by Guti, but Sergio Ramos' shot went straight into the keeper's hands. Madrid struck gold two minutes later when Gago crossed a ball into the opponent's box for Guti, who then crossed it to the far post for Robinho to header home. It was the Brazilian's fifth goal in League play and seventh of the season.
Casillas continues his record-setting pace
The Whites looked relaxed and comfortable, and every player got a share of the action. Racing, meanwhile, had no intention of ending their streak and never fell into crisis mode. But Iker Casillas, who celebrated his 400th match with the First Team, also had a say. The young player from outskirts of Madrid, who has delighted fans since his League debut in September 1999, continues confirming why he's the best at what he does.
The first significant Green-and-White attack required Casillas to abandon his line to cut off a strike by Smolarek following a Jordi López pass. On the 14-minute mark, the goalkeeper brought the crowd to its feet after saving a powerful Duscher shot.
The Bernabéu was still warming up when Real Madrid struck for the second of the night. The play initiated with a counterattack along the left flank. Marcelo and Robinho combined to get the ball to Julio Baptista, who found Sneijder in full stride after beating his man. Toño prevented the goal, but the Dutch midfielder stayed with the play, found the deflected ball, and tried his luck on goal. In his best effort to clear the danger, Sergio Sánchez scored in his own goal.
Raúl, PichichiRacing bravely never threw in the towel, but the Bernabéu had plans of its own. With just over 20 to play, Raúl scored off a set piece, the only way we haven't seen the captain strike gold this season. The forward asked Sneijder for the kick, looked on goal, and perfectly curved the ball with his left foot; the eighth goal for the Pichichi -joining Messi and Luís Fabiano- of the League. The Bernabéu went wild and burst into “Raúl, Raúl” cheer.
Racing's best performance of the night came from Pedro Munitis, who netted a consolation goal for an opponent who never had a chance from minute one. The Madridistas' pledge following the match in Germany came to fruition, and Schuster's men notched a crucial win to remain at the top of the table. A victory that comfirms that the Santiago Bernabéu is the best cure-all.
MATCH REPORT:
REAL MADRID: Casillas; Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Marcelon; Diarra (Gago, m.69),, Sneijder (Saviola, m.87), Baptista, Robinho (Robben, m.74); Raúl and Van Nisterooy.
RACING: Toño; Sergio Sánchez (Moraton, min. 62), Oriol, Garay, Luis Fernández; Duscher, Colsa (Jordi López, m.79), Jorge López, Serrano; Munitis, Smolarek (Tchité, m.70).
REFEREE: César Muñiz Fernández. Booked Sergio Ramos (min. 17), Serrano (min.43), Marcelo (min.45), Oriol (min.80), Munitis (85).
GOALS:
1-0, min.4: Raúl finishes off a brilliant collective effort.
2-0, min.10: Baptista serves the assist to Sneijder, and Sergio Sánchez scores an own goal.
3-0, min.69: Raúl scores off a direct free kick.
3-1, min.72: Munitis finds the back of the net.
NOTES: Matchday 14 of the Spanish League played at the Santiago Bernabéu. Attendance: 80,000. A minute of silence was held prior to kick-off in honour of Raúl Centero, assassinated this morning in Southern France by ETA.
Match report by Cristina Monge
Photos by David R. Aranchuelo
Translation by Matthew Goltz
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