The tribute to Paco Gento is sealed with a victory
Real Madrid 2-0 Partizan
December 06, 2007 -The 29th edition of the Santiago Bernabéu Trophy was a celebration in honour of Paco Gento, legendary Real Madrid player who won six European Cups with the Whites. The former footballer gave the honorary kick-off to a game in which Real Madrid managed to defeat Partizan without much trouble. Men who don’t get the chance to play too often, such as Baptista and Drenthe (who scored) were given the chance to shine tonight.
The Santiago Bernabéu Trophy was meant to take place in August but it was delayed due to the death of Sevilla’s Antonio Puerta, who was in everyone’s mind tonight. The match was also a celebration in honour of former Madridista Paco Gento, who was deeply moved with the welcoming the Bernabéu gave him, showcasing the six European Cups he won for the Club on its pitch.
Baptista scores the opening goalReal Madrid presented several changes in the line-up because Bernd Schuster decided to give a chance to shine to the players who haven’t participated much this season in the League and in the Champions League. Dudek took the goal, Míchel Salgado played as right back, Cannavaro and Metzelder were lined up as centre backs, Torres performed as left back, Robben took the left wing, Gago and Drenthe were paired as midfielders, Baptista played as attacking midfielder, Higuaín was placed on the right wing, and Saviola was the striker.
Real Madrid took the lead of the game from kick-off and had chances on Bozovic’s goal only three minutes into the match. Robben came close to scoring from a free kick on the 6-minute mark. Two minutes later, the Dutchman gave a brilliant assist to Saviola, but Partizan’s keeper saved the Argentine’s shot. Sixteen minutes of playing time had gone by when Saviola had a dangerous shot inside the box; Bozovic saved the ball again and Metzelder failed to score from the rebound.
Partizan soon had their first dangerous chances. Dudek saved Diarra’s shot on the 18-minute mark with ease, but Juca’s shot a minute later was saved by the crossbar and Diarra missed a shot from a one-on-one with Dudek in the 22nd minute. Real Madrid wanted to score the opening strike and decided to counterattack. Higuaín and Robben tried, but it was Baptista who netted it on the 34-minute mark. He came close in the 26th minute, but it was eight minutes later when he brilliantly defeated Bozovic with a magnificent crossed shot with the inside of his foot.
Second goal and victory
Schuster replaced Cannavaro and Gago with Pepe and Diarra in the second half, and he had Guti, Soldado and Marcelo warming up on one side. The game was slightly less intense and Partizan were the first to have a chance through a header by Juca from a corner kick (48’). The ball didn’t get into any of the boxes in a very long while until the Serbian keeper saved a free kick by Robben. Robben insisted again with a marvellous cross to Drenthe, but the latter’s shot grazed past the far post.
It was through Guti’s magic that the second strike of the night was scored. The former youth system player gave a pass to Drenthe when he was facing Bozovic alone; the Dutch winger then brilliantly scored by nutmegging the keeper (67’) –Gento vividly applauded the strike-. The final two good chances of the encounter were a Partizan free kick on the 75-minute mark and a good shot by Higuaín that was saved by Bozovic in the 78th minute.
Match report by Laura Navas
Photos by Alejandro González
Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell
Flash Content
