Real Christmas Update

The year ended on a bad note with a somewhat humiliating to 0-3 loss to an excellent Recreativo de Huelva (newly promoted this year and above mid-table). Capello put in all the offensive firepower to no avail.

Things are quiet over the Christmas break. There are rumors of Cassano to Milan on loan with a purchase option. Cassano says he doesn't want to go anywhere, that he want to be successful at Real Madrid, yet he keeps getting himself into problems. Hopefully he can end up helping the team.

Beckham is said to have recieved at least 20 offers, one in particular from Inter who will be selling Figo (who is rumored to have signed for a Saudi team?). In 3 days Beckham is free to negociate with whoever he wants. I think he will, however, re-sign with Real. He's not going anywhere until he's successful here, that's my guess. Now that Capello is changing his mind about the 'double-pivote' of Emerson and Diarra, Beckham will probably get more starts.

The Argentinian for Boca, Gago, is now on board and boy do we need him! Capello has yet to solve our midfield problems, we need someone who can defend and distribute the ball well. He has been compared to Redondo, and if he can perform as well our midfield problem may finally be solved.

Next match is at Zaragoza followed by a Copa quarterfinal tie against Real Betis.

Real top Español with 10 men

Tonight's match was a defensive struggle for most of the first half. Neither Real Madrid nor Español could get much attacking going. The Real midfield was very solid and well organized. Capello dropped Diarra from midfield and played Guti next to Emerson. Emerson was fantastic, much improved as he did a great job stopping Español and as well as distributing the ball.

In the beginning the of the second half Van-Nistelrooy scored the only goal of the match from a pass from Guti. He had a defender in front of him but he quickly turned around and shot past the defender and the goalie. Shortly after the ref gave Canavarro his second yellow which sent him off for an apparent handball, but the ball actually hit him in the eye (not in the arm) and he had a red face to show for it. The rest of the match Real spend defending with only 10 men and they actually had a few chances to score. Diarra came on late to help defend and played quite well with a couple chances to score on offensive counter-attacks.

Capello is effective once again wich pulls us back up to 2 points behind Sevilla and 1 point behind Barca (who have a game in hand). Next league match is mid-week at Recreativo.

Loss at Sevilla, Español on Sunday

Well, we lost a close match at Sevilla last weekend. Real played fairly well in quite an intense match, but Sevilla made best of their chances. Beckham hit an amazing free kick from way out on the left side of the field into the back of the next. The ball curled into the corner catching the goalie out of place. Beckham will be out for the next match as he picked up his 5th yellow.

The loss takes us 4 points adrift of Barca and 2 points behind Sevilla. We need a big win this weekend at the Bernabeu against an in-form Español who, after a poor start to the season, is on a 4 game win streak and is in great shape in the Uefa cup. Helguera is still out with injury so the back like will be Ramos and Carnavaro in the center with Michel on the right. Capello hasn't revealed if Ronaldo will be starting or not.

Valencia and Zaragoza are playing tonight. Hopefully Valencia will pull back a win so Zaragaza, currently in 4th place behind Real will drop some points.