Reply With Quote[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqguMil0CM8]Espanyol Vs Real Madrid 0-4 | All Goals & Highlights | 2-10-2011 Real Madrid 4-0 Espanyol - YouTube[/ame]
Match Report: Espanyol 0-4 Real Madrid - Goal.com
Gonzalo Higuain hit three goals as Real Madrid moved to within a point of fierce rivals Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Sunday night following a 4-0 win in the Catalan capital against Espanyol at Cornella.
The Argentine was joined by Espanyol old boy Jose Callejon on the scoresheet as Jose Mourinho's men romped to another convincing victory domestically.
Madrid, like Barcelona, were playing in black, and just as their arch-adversaries had done earlier in the evening in Gijon, the capital club secured an away success.
Higuain was in for the injured Karim Benzema, one of a number of sidelined stars for coach Mourinho, who was also missing Pepe, Ricardo Carvalho, Fabio Coentrao and long-term absentee Nuri Sahin.
In the absence of the two Portugal defenders, right-back Sergio Ramos partnered Spain team-mate Raul Albiol in a makeshift central defensive pairing and the duo did not look entirely secure at the back.
Nor did Espanyol, however, and the locals almost conceded after three minutes, when Cristiano Ronaldo's fierce drive was parried clumsily by Argentine keeper Cristian Alvarez, who must have been mightily relieved to see the ball rebound off his right-hand post and out to safety.
Sergio Garcia blasted over the other end and Romaric shot wide as Mauricio Pochettino's men threatened again after 16 minutes.
But moments later, they found themselves behind as Ronaldo received the ball from Kaka and set up Higuain on a quick counterattack, which the Argentine culminated by crashing a powerful right-footed angled drive into the net.
Espanyol looked lively despite going behind and Iker Casillas made a fine save to deny Sergio Garcia, but it was all over as a contest as Higuain struck a brilliant second midway through the second period, when he latched onto Alvaro Arbeloa's ball and lashed an unstoppable right-footed drive into the top right-hand corner.
Home fans then applauded as their former hero Jose Callejon was introduced as a substitute late in the game, but just five minutes later the summer signing had hurt his old club by finishing off a quick move after being set up by an unselfish Ronaldo.
And Higuain made it 4-0 in added time following a mistake from Hector Moreno to put a gloss on the scoreline and make it a night to remember for the Argentine and Madrid, who now have 13 points - one less than Barcelona.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqguMil0CM8]Espanyol Vs Real Madrid 0-4 | All Goals & Highlights | 2-10-2011 Real Madrid 4-0 Espanyol - YouTube[/ame]
Real Madrid's latest Galactico - Introducing Enzo Zidane
The son of the former France great, Zinedine, has starred at youth level and trained with Jose Mourinho's side last month. A bright future in the game awaits
Enzo Zidane Fernandez was born in Bordeaux, France, on March 24, 1995. Back then, his father was already a great player, capturing the attention of Juventus, starring for France in the 1998 World Cup win and later earning a big move to Real Madrid, where he would end his playing days.
But as Zinedine grew, so did Enzo, and Zizou still had time to teach his son the game that he loved. Growing up with a famous father can be either an advantage or a burden; there's no middle ground. Can there be a better coach for a growing boy, though, than Zinedine Zidane? Probably not. Watching his father shine at Juventus and in Madrid, Enzo - named after Uruguayan great Francescoli - showed the same passion for football, a desire to follow in the footsteps of his father. And now he is.
While Zinedine took a long route to the top, via Cannes and Bordeaux, Enzo begins in a privileged place: Madrid. And the youngster, a very mobile midfielder with excellent vision of the game, is keeping his options open, with both French and Spanish nationality, plus eligibility for Algeria. One day he must choose which country to represent, but that will come later. For now, he is having fun at Real.
SNAPSHOT | Enzo Zidane (Real Madrid)
Age: 16
Born: Bordeaux
Clubs: Juventus, Liceo Frances, San Jose, Real Madrid
Position: Attacking mid
Height: 5ft 9in
International: Yet to decide. Eligible for France, Spain and Algeria
Current Form: Very promising
A bit like: Zinedine Zidane
Asked about the progress of his son, Zizou responded: "He's named Zidane, so he doesn't have square feet." Of course not. The young midfielder with the thick mop of hair has been a revelation at junior level and has already come to the attention of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese called Enzo for a workout with the first team on September 5, and the youngster lined up in training alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Mesut Ozil, Angel Di Maria et al.
And of course, his dad - now Madrid's sporting director - was present, too, watching on as Enzo rubbed shoulders with some of the world's greatest talents. At the age of 16, the youngster is a step closer to emulating his idol - his own father.
The latest Zidane possesses excellent ball control, wonderful technique, awareness and a vision reminiscent of the great man himself. He has fantastic shooting ability, can create space where there appears to be none and has even inherited his father's famous 'Roulette'.
Footballers' sons don't always make it big, of course, but the talent is there for Enzo Zidane and under the watchful eye of Zizou and Mourinho, his future lies in the best possible hands.
Thanks reality
hopefully waiting.....
Welcome Giggs
real madrid vs real betis tonight..
its will be a good game.....Originally Posted by baazigar89
madrid won the match 4-1.... hiquain scores hatrick again....
Real Madrid 4-1 Real Betis: Gonzalo Higuain hat-trick the highlight as Jose Mourinho's side record comfortable win
Despite performing poorly in the opening 45 minutes, Real Madrid made up for it with a fantastic performance in the second period to defeat Real Betis 4-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Gonzalo Higuain was the hero for Madrid this evening, as he continued his wonderful form in recent weeks. His well-taken hat-trick tonight made it nine goals in four games for club and country in the past 11 days. Kaka netted the home side's other goal.
With the scores still level in the first half, Betis keeper Casto did well to push Cristiano Ronaldo's devilish cross to relative safety only for Mezut Ozil to hack the ball back towards goal and it was only a decent block from Dorado that ensured the scores remained level.
Betis' best chance of the first half fell to Ruben Castro but he could only volley over from 10 yards out after being found in space inside the penalty area.
It was a disappointing half for the home side, and as the whistle was blown their efforts were meeted with jeers by an expectant crowd at the Bernabeu.
Having said that, it was not long before they broke the deadlock in the second half - less than 45 seconds in fact.
Marcelo hooked a wonderful ball over the right back and Ronaldo exhibited his electric pace to get the wrong side of the defender and pull the ball back to Higuain, who calmly slotted into an empty net from six yards out.
Kaka made it 2-0 with a superb effort after Ronaldo found him on the edge of the area after steaming past Chica down the left. Kaka took a touch to set himself and then whipped the ball round Casto and into the bottom corner of the net. The Brazilian was clearly delighted with his strike and despite being substituted immediately after was sporting a grin as he took his place on the bench.
Betis pulled a goal back minutes later, after hesitancy in the Madrid area allowed Castro to burst through, the ricochet fell to Jorge Molina who controlled the ball well and fired past Casillas.
Higuain made it 3-1 on 70 minutes, rounding Casto and slotting home from an acute angle after another glorious assist, this time from the substitute Angel di Maria.
Di Maria was the provider yet again as Higuain completed his hat-trick, his second in a row in La Liga. The Argentine saved the best til last, lobbing a beautiful finish over Casto's head after racing through one-on-one.
Betis meanwhile, will be disappointed to be beaten in such a manner in the second half, but will not have been surprised by the form of some of Madrid's in-form stars.
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