Winning Streak

Unfortunately, due to a present change of residence to a new country, I have been unable to see any of the three last matches. I don’t mind so much considering Real Madrid has won all three.

After poor officiating and mediocre performances in the previous three matches Real has returned to winning ways with victories over Bilbao, Alaves, and a much needed win hosting Olympiacos in the Champions League. After a poor start and just 3 straight victories Real now sits third in La Liga behind Celta and Getafe and second behind Lyon in their Champions League group.

Raul has become the all-time leading scorer in the Champions League moving past Alfredo Di-Stefano with 50 goals. With Ronaldo serving his second match of suspension, the cantero, Roberto Soldado, came on and scored the winning goal against Olympiacos in Wednesday’s match.

Luxemburgo Bashing

Vanderli has taken heavy criticism this week for the 2 losses last week and his no-winger formation. Memories are short in and around Madrid. The same system propelled Real to a total number of points last year capable of winning the title - if Barca had not been exceptional (finishing even 4 points higher).

The criticism is a natural response to 2 years of frustration, felt by everyone, including yours truly. I was uncharacteristically harsh in my last post, a natural reaction to seeing a collection of world all-stars unable to perform well as a unit, not well enough at least, since the end of 2003-2004 season.

Luxemburgo has accepted all of the blame for the poor results. Accepting responsibility is the key to success and Vanderli Luxemburgo has a proven history of such success. I believe that over the next 2 months, through Lux's persistence, results will be had and the team will play as they should.

From Bad to Worse

Real lost for the second time in a row tonight in the Champions League opener against Leon. The only player who seemed to show any kind of form is the new whiz-kid Robinho, but even he can't save this sinking ship. Some player have left, some have arrived, but the magic formula to success is yet to be had by the club directors.

How can a team with all these great players be so bad. Are they jinxed? Maybe next year they should skip the summer tour and start training early.

The coach has cut off their wings, literally, and its not helping the play of the team. It makes things quite simple for the opposition, congregate in the center of the field and form a roadblock.

It has been probably said enough times, but I'll repeat it here just once more, the team hasn't been the same since Makalele left. He brought organization and defensive quality to the midfield and kept the team together. When you have a winning team and a winning coach, don't mess with the formula, don't be too ambitious, and if it 'aint' broke, then for heaven's sake, don't fix it!

Defeat in the Bernabeu

Real Madrid lost 3-2 to Celta Vigo. Really they tied 2-2 but the referee decided to give Celta a goal that bounced on the post and didn't go over the line midway into the second half. In the first half Real was potent in attack but weak in defense.

The play was a bit chaotic, the only bright spot being more fancy footwork from Robinho. No one played particularly well and there were many lost balls on bad passes. Real was also awarded a penalty on Baptista which didn't really look like a penalty. Helguera then delivered a beautiful pass to Baptista who headed the ball in late in the second half to make it 2-1.

Sergio Ramos came on for Pavon, who had a yellow card for a hand ball penalty in the area which Celta transformed into a goal to make it 2-2. Raul started on the bench due to some minor pain and probably to get some rest from international duty. Real missed several clear-cut chances to score.

Not a good start for the Galacticos. Will this season continue where the last one left off? No trophies. No glory. A failure to live up to the hype and expectation. We'll see.

It may be time for Real to bring their world class recently recovered center fullback, Woodgate, of the bench.