The Whites take a giant leap towards the title
Real Madrid 3-1 Sevilla
March 30, 2008 -Winning was a must and both the fans and the team pulled rank in order to do so. Real Madrid impressively defeated Sevilla in a match that saw Gabriel Heinze's first goal this year. Raúl reached Santillana's 290-strike record and Higuaín netted the team's third goal. The Whites now have a six point cushion over runners-up Villarreal.
The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium was packed and the crowd made it seem like a massive pressure cooker, as if tonight's match was the final to a competition. Both them and the team knew exactly how important taking three points tonight was.
Two of the best squads in the championship faced each other with minor set-backs: Real Madrid couldn't count on Pepe due to an injury, while Sevilla missed the injured Dragutinovic and Escudé, and the suspended Maresca.
Bernd Schuster replaced Baptista with Higuaín in the starting line-up and brought on Robben for Robinho. Fernando Gago thwarted Sevilla's attacks in midfield and Higuaín moved well on the pitch. Sergio Ramos, who turned 22 today, had Diego Capel covered on the right wing and Robben proved overwhelming for Alves down the left.
Heinze's first goal
The Madridistas did a solid job in the opening minutes, especially through men like Wesley Sneijder, who co-starred in the team's opening goal with a brilliant set-piece that was finished off by Gabriel Heinze, who also performed brilliantly in defence minutes later by stopping Kanouté and Luis Fabiano on their feet (33').
The strike the Argentine scored gave Real Madrid some breathing space as it somewhat deflated Sevilla's game, who allowed the locals to have several chances on goal. On the 24-minute mark, Crespo cleared the ball from Higuaín's feet only for it to land inside the small box for Raúl to shoot. The ball was cleared by keeper Palop, who also saved the ensuing shot by Ramos. Two minutes later, Higuaín dribbled past Adriano and gave the ball to Raúl, who failed to defeat Palop (29').
Raúl again
It always seems in this sport that, just when one team dominates and has more chances, the other one scores. So, in typical football fashion, Kanouté scored from a set-piece in which the ball hit Keita's head only to land at the Malian's feet (37').
But moments later, a man who seems to be determined to break every record responded to Sevilla's equaliser. Raúl received the ball inside the box from Sneijder and scored sending it through the top right corner of Palop's goal, reaching Santillana's 290-strike record with the Whites and becoming the second top-scorer in the team's history along with the former legendary player.
Higuaín nets a much deserved goal
It always seems in this sport that, just when one team dominates and has more chances, the other one scores. So, in typical football fashion, Kanouté scored from a set-piece in which the ball hit Keita's head only to land at the Malian's feet (37').
The pace of the match slowed down in the second half although Sevilla tried their best to score another goal. Real Madrid still proved to be stronger with several more chances, such as one missed by Higuaín on the 58-minute mark after receiving the ball from Ramos, who in turn received it from Guti. The Argentinean striker missed twice again a few minutes later, but he eventually got his reward in the 65th minute thanks to a brilliant assist from Guti down the right wing.
Higuaín burst with joy, as did the fans seeing that their team earned a victory that made them stronger leaders in the competition. With Villarreal now six points away, there are only eight more 'finals' to go.
MATCH REPORT:
3 - Real Madrid: Casillas; Ramos, Cannavaro, Heinze, Marcelo; Gago, Guti (Diarra, 72'), Sneijder, Robben; Higuaín (Baptista, 83') & Raúl (Robinho, 85').
1 - Sevilla: Palop; Alves, Mosquera, Prieto, Adriano; Crespo (Navas, 27'), Poulsen (Renato, 45'), Keita, Capel (Koné, 72'); Kanouté & Luis Fabiano.
REFEREE: Fernando Teixeira Vitienes. Booked Crespo (6'), Heinze (22'), Mosquera (50') and Raúl (56').
GOALS:
1-0, 7': Heinze.
1-1, 37': Kanouté.
2-1, 39': Raúl
3-1, 65': Higuaín.
NOTES: Matchday 30 of La Liga. Venue: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Attendance: 80,000. One minute's silence was held in memory of the recently deceased former Real Madrid basketball player Sergio Luyk.
Match report by Cristina Monge
Photography by Alejandro González
Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell
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