Just Real Madrid News

The players and coaching staff of Real Madrid knew that an awat trip to face Galatasaray in Istanbul was going to be a challenging experience, but a 3-0 victory in the first leg at the Bernabeu last week meant that progression to the semi-finals of the Champions League was almost a formality.

If it was not for Cristiano Ronaldo, though, Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho could have been having a very bad day today. The Portuguese striker scored a good early goal and it is just as well he did, because once the Turkish side got going and got the crowd behind them, Madrid wobbled. Then we kept wobbling, as Galatasaray scored once, twice and a third time, all withing 15 second half minutes.  ......Read more...

Real Madrid have had plenty of problems with injuries this season, especially in defence, but it is disciplinary issues which are causing Jose Mourinho problems this weekend. Two of the most important players for the Spanish champions are unavailable for the trip to Pamplona to play Osasuna.

Christiano Ronaldo has been the most influential player by far for Los Blancos this season, but he received his fifth yellow card of the season against Real Sociedad last weekend so is suspended for today’s match. At least Mourinho has his two other strikers, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema, available after the Argentinean has recovered from his hamstring problem.  ......Read more...

There will be just one of the regular first choice defenders on the pitch when Real Madrid attempt to get the Primera Liga campaign back on track against Real Sociedad today. Alvaro Arbeloa is the only one who is not injured or suspended for this vital game, and he will probably play out of his normal position.

Because both left backs, Marcelo and Coentrao are not fit to play, Arbeloa will play in that position. Essien may be called upon to fill in at right back, as he has done for Mourinho before. Pepe and Albiol are also injured, while Ramos is suspended, so the youngster Varane and the veteran Carvalho will be the central defenders.  ......Read more...

Real Madrid have some injury worries for the crucial Champions League game against group leaders Borussia Dortmund. With the left backs Marcelo and Coentrao out, Mourinho will be glad to have his right back, Arbeloa, available but will play him at left back tonight. Sergio Ramos will play at right back, as he used to do for Sevilla, and 19-year old Varane will partner Pepe in the centre.

Dortmund have good attacking power, with Reus, Gotze and Lewandowski, so Mourinho will be keen to keep them on the defensive, but he will have to do it without the French international Karim Benzema. The striker has a hamstring problem, so the central striker role will fall to Gonzalo Higuain.  ......Read more...

The 30-year old midfield general, Xabi Alonso, played his 100th competitive game for Real Madrid in September and he has become one of the most reliable players at the club, if not the world. He also played his 100th game for the Spanish national side during Euro 2012. He marked that event with both goals as Spain beat France in the quarter finals, on their way to lifting the trophy again.

Jose Mourinho will have to shuffle his playing pack tomorrow, however, as Alonso is suspended for the game due to collecting his fifth yellow card in this La Liga season. Alonso has always been combative but does not normally get booked quite so often.  ......Read more...

Real Madrid have defensive problems today, after losing Marcelo, Coentrao and Arbeloa from the defence. The international break has not been kind to Jose Mourinho and the Special One will be hoping that his team can cause enough problems going forward to negate the defensive problems.

Christiano Ronaldo has some extra incentives to get on the scoresheet and he is a player who often responds to such things favourably. At the minute there are three players tied at the top of the goal scoring charts in La Liga, with Ronaldo, Messi and Falcao all having scored eight league goals so far.  ......Read more...

Jose Mourinho will not want any more international games for some time, after losing three defenders during this break. Both of the central strikers for Real Madrid also picked up knocks but they are not as serious.

Having already lost Marcelo for three months and Coentrao for a month, Mourinho was having to think about shifting around his remaining defenders to accommodate. Last night we lost our right back Arbeloa to a muscle problem and he could be out for three weeks.  ......Read more...

After an excellent performance by Valencia, with Guaita claiming that it was his best ever game in goal, Real Madrid had to settle for a point. Barcelona`s 4-1 victory away to Zaragoza means that the lead at the top of La Liga is now just four points.

This was the first goalless league draw at the Bernabeu since 2007 and increases the pressure on Jose Mourinho and the players. Pundits had almost given Madrid the league title a few weeks ago when they pulled out a ten point lead, whereas some are now claiming Barcelona are favourites.  ......Read more...

Rumours have been flying about problems between Mourinho and players and also between the spanish and portugese players. Sergio Ramos has today denied any problem with the coach via his twitter page calling the accusations a “lie” . Arbeloa , meanwhile, stated in an interview that “the atmosphere is very good. I can state there is no rift and if necessary I will go to Portugal on holiday.” Support came from an unexpected source when Barcelona and Spain star Iniesta described the situation at Real as “idyllic” and that he could see no problem.