REAL MADRID 6 – MÁLAGA 2 A tennis set scoreline postpones Barça’s celebrations:

11 years ago | Posted in: Sports | 628 Views

In the end there were no league title celebrations or surprises. Madrid thrashed Málaga with the predictable might of one of the big sides to leave Barça waiting that little bit longer to start popping corks. Despite the smell of spring circulating around the Bernabéu, Cristiano wasn’t suffering from hay fever, unfortunately for the visitors.

Nothing went Málaga’s way, a trend started by the opposition. With just two minutes gone Málaga received a wake-up call as Albiol got on the end of a corner to head Madrid in front; textbook defensive frailty.

In a matter of minutes it emerged that one side had the game exactly where they wanted it; for the other it was becoming their worst nightmare. Madrid were playing on the break at the Bernabéu. Nevertheless, Málaga reacted courageously and skilfully and reached Diego López’s area almost at will. The third time they entered Madrid territory it was all square. Lugano headed a cross on and Santa Cruz found himself alone at the back post.

But Madrid didn’t stay down for long and continued with the bit between their teeth – running and attacking, like children playing Cowboys and Indians. Cristiano came close on two more occasions, and, as we all know they weren’t just chances, they were warning signs. Just minutes later, he was pulled down by Sergio Sánchez (who was shown a straight red) inside the area, with the clumsy challenge not producing too many complaints. But, surprisingly the penalty was not the foregone conclusion that most imagined as Caballero managed to save the Portuguese’s effort with his feet, injuring himself in the process.

Málaga breathed a sigh of relief, which was rudely interrupted in the next Real Madrid move as the referee signalled a dubious indirect free kick inside the area. Cristiano was in no mood to make the same mistake twice and from such close range there was only ever really one outcome. A goal, naturally.

Iturra replaced Baptista, who was clapped off by the Madrid faithful. It looked like Madrid were moving in to cruise control but Málaga had other ideas, even though the home side took a 3-1 lead as Cristiano fed Özil.

Málaga pulled one back through Antunes’s splendid right-footed strike from outside the area, which flew into the top corner of Diego López’s goal to leave certain sections of the ground wide-eyed. But it was just a mirage of hope, a kind of dry oasis.

Shortly afterwards it was confirmed: Málaga were doomed with ten men and so much space, particularly against such ruthless opponents. Even Isco could do nothing to stop the rout, though his quality is never in doubt, nor his maturity – if Madrid don’t sign him then Mourinho or someone in England will.

Benzema was then handed the fourth on a plate by Cristiano Ronaldo as Málaga claimed he was offside. The game was already dead and buried by the time the second half came around, but Madrid remained as voracious as ever; Modric scored a fine goal just minutes after Ronaldo had bagged his usual brace.

The rest of the game was about damage limitation for Málaga, and quite possibly for Madrid as they saw Özil stretchered off with a nasty looking injury just eight days away from the Copa del Rey final. Málaga also had time for another red card, this time for Demichelis for two bookable offences.

When the referee, Gil Manzano, signalled three minutes of injury time, substitute Di María popped up with a fine sixth goal to complete the tennis set scoreline and create optimism and encouragement before Mourinho’s next press conference.

Sources:www.as.com/english

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