The Whites increase their lead to five at Recre's and Barcelona's expense
Recreativo 2-3 Real Madrid
March 01, 2008 -Real Madrid managed to pull off a complicated victory on Saturday against a feisty Recreativo Huelva squad. Raúl netted the equaliser and Robinho's brace took care of business. The win coupled with Atletico's defeat over Barcelona extends the lead to five atop the table.
Real Madrid had as many new faces in the starting lineup as it did on the bench. Drenthe and Diarra took up position on the turf in place of Guti and Van Nistelrooy, while Raúl was left alone in attack. Pepe and Robinho made their highly anticipated returns from injury in the second half.
In the other dugout, Manolo Zambrano recovered the services of Beto, Martín Cáceres, and Poli. Barber filled in for Jesús Vázquez -fractured left toe- while Bouzón replaced Edu Moya -gastroentiritis-. Real Madrid hoped to maintain the lead atop the table. Recre, meanwhile, intended to create a little breathing room between the 17th spot and the relegation zone.
One goal extends the lead
Recreativo owned the first twenty minutes of the match. Manolo Zambrano's men were well-positioned and knew what had to be done to knock off Real Madrid. Martins had the hosts' first chance to take the lead sail over the crossbar following a Sinama corner kick (6’). Eight minutes later he had another go at goal with a long strike that Casillas had little difficulty trapping. Three times a charm for the Portuguese, who on the 16-minute mark curled in a long free kick from the left wing which Martín Cáceres hammered past the far post and home.
Zambrano urged his players to continue pressuring a Real Madrid who had trouble mounting any kind of surge on Sorrentino's box. Robben and Drenthe switched sides, but Recre were still the faster team. The Whites' first scoring chance took a while in coming, but they made it count. Drenthe hung a high pass into the top of the box which found Raúl, whose header struck the back of the net despite the leaping challenge by Sorrentino.
Real Madrid appeared to shake off the cobwebs. Raúl retreated his position to assist in building plays, and the Whites won more possession and took control of the midfield. Martins and Baber combined for a tricky shot which Casillas got his hands on. The Madrisistas answered by way of Robben's weak strike five minutes before halftime. Sinama's close range shot and Casillas' ensuing save closed out the half. Real Madrid were sitting three points clear of Barcelona thanks to the 2-1 score at the Vicente Calderón.
Robinho brace and a five-point cushion
The first ten minutes of the second period were more intense than the entire first half. Martins sounded the alarms with a free kick that Casillas cleared to corner. The play resulted in the first of Mr. González's victims of the night: Beto was sent off for a scuffle with Heinze. The ensuing corner found Sinama wide open inside the six, but Casillas held on brilliantly (52’). The referee made it an even ballgame three minutes later by sending off Sergio Ramos, who saw his second yellow of the match.
Pepe came off the bench for his first appearance in more than a month, forcing Torres to cover the right wing. Raúl nearly completed his brace after beating his marker, but Sorrentino's finger sent the low right-footed shot clear of goal. Neither side was having much luck, until the second return of the evening, that is. Two minutes after setting foot on the pitch, Robinho curled a tight shot between the left post and Sorrentino to put the Whites up 1-2 (73’).
Quique Álvarez was sent off exactly five minutes later for a harsh tackle on Robben, who eventually came off for Higuaín. Torres kept Sinama from equalising from inside the small box (77’), and with two minutes to play, Robinho's spectacular lob over the Recre keeper clinched the victory. Martins injury time set-piece goal pulled Recre within one, but it simply wasn't enough. The 2-3 victory in the Nuevo Colombino combined with Barcelona's defeat at the Vicente Calderón steer Real Madrid five points clear atop La Liga.
MATCH REPORT:
RECREATIVO: Sorrentino; Bouzón, Beto, Martín Cáceres, Poli (Ersen Martin, 76’); Varela, Barber, Carlos Martins, Aitor (Quique Álvarez, 62’); Camuñas (Zahinos, 69’) and Sinama Pongolle
REAL MADRID: Casillas; Ramos, Cannavaro (Robinho, 73’), Heinze, Torres; Drenthe (Pepe, 58’), Gago, Diarra, Robben (Higuaín, 76’); Baptista; Raúl.
REFEREE: Iturralde González. Booked Bouzón (17’), Robben (69’), Cannavaro (72’), Martín Cáceres (80’), Sinama (86’), and Ersen Martin (88’). Real Madrid fitness trainer Jordi García (45’), Beto (51’), Ramos (55’), and Quique Álvarez (67’) sent off.
GOALS:
1-0, 16': Martín Cáceres
1-1, 27': Raúl
1-2, 73': Robinho
1-3, 88': Robinho
2-3, 90': Martins
NOTES: Matchday 26 of La Liga played at Nuevo Colombino Stadium. Attendance: 20,000.
Match report by Laura Navas
Photography by David R. Anchuelo
Translation by Matthew Goltz
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