Spain - Copa del Rey

Dodomeki · Nov 12, 2010

Dodomeki · Nov 12, 2010

Real Madrid avoids early exit

Published Nov 11 2010

Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo from Portugal, left, tries to control the ball as Murcia goalkeeper Alberto Cifuentes, right, looks on.

Real Madrid avoided another embarrassing Copa del Rey exit to a lower-tier club with a 5-1 fourth-round victory over Murcia on Wednesday. After a scoreless first leg, Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero curled Pedro Leon's pass into the top of the goal from long range in the fourth minute to put his team ahead. Gonzalo Higuain made it 2-0 in the 44th.

Madrid ran away in the second half with goals from substitute Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Xabi Alonso. "The people of Madrid will be satisfied because we have left behind the history of Real Union and Alcorcon - and we played well and had fun," said coach Jose Mourinho, referring to the third-division teams which knocked out Madrid in the past two seasons.

Mourinho forced several fans from their seats in the front row of the Santiago Bernabeu stadium after being sent from the touchline in the 39th minute. "When I was sent off I knew that I could not stay in my place and I had to look for the best place possible," the Portuguese coach said. "I didn't have a problem."

Higuain made up for a close-range miss by doubling the advantage and Madrid came out strong after the break with Ronaldo's entrance. Benzema hit the crossbar in the 61st and the attacking push continued after Angel Di Maria came on in the 70th to find Ronaldo from the left side for the Portugal forward to score his 13th goal of the campaign.

Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa was shown his second yellow card in the 82nd and, moments later, Alonso handled inside the area for Murcia pull one back through Pedro Sanchez's penalty. But Benzema scored his second of the campaign - and first since Sept. 21 - from a penalty in the 85th after Di Maria was pulled down, and Alonso added the last in the 89th.

Barcelona, the record 25-time champion, smashed Ceuta 5-1 to advance 7-1 on aggregate, but lost defender Gabriel Milito to a thigh injury. Manuel "Nolito" Agudo started Barcelona's scoring spree in the third minute, while Milito also scored in the first half. Guzman Casaseca struck Ceuta's lone goal in the first half after teammate Vitor Moreno had been sent off to leave the third-tier club with 10 men.

Pedro Rodriguez, Bojan Krkic and Lionel Messi, a second-half substitute who scored his 17th goal of the campaign, all found the net in the second half.
Barcelona later announced Milito is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks by the the club's medical staff. United States striker Jozy Altidore scored his second goal of the two-legged series to help Villarreal to a 2-0 win over Poli Ejido and advance 3-1 overall. Jefferson Montero hit a first half goal at El Madrigal stadium.

Defending champion Sevilla routed Real Union 6-1 to go through 10-1 over two legs, while Atletico Madrid drew 1-1 with Universidad de Las Palmas to go through 6-1 on aggregate. Real Betis joined fellow second-division club Cordoba in the next round after beating Zaragoza 2-1 to advance on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate score.

Betis went ahead in the 12th on an own goal by Matteo Contini before Jiri Jarosik put Zaragoza back ahead again two minutes later. But Ruben Castro slotted home Arturo "Arzu" Garcia's pass in the 35th to seal the second division leader's progression.

Athletic Bilbao, Levante, Deportivo La Coruna, Almeria and Espanyol also advanced.

Cordoba eliminated Racing Santander on away goals Tuesday. Four games Thursday wrap up the fourth round.- AP

Dodomeki · Nov 12, 2010

Dodomeki · Nov 12, 2010

Dodomeki · Jan 7, 2011

Dodomeki · Jan 7, 2011

Copa del Rey wrap: Real, Atletico set up derby date

7 January 2011

Real Madrid will meet city rivals Atletico in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals after both sides progressed on Thursday.

The two Madrid sides will face each other after Real defeated Levante 8-2 on aggregate, while Atletico had to work harder to progress, edging Espanyol 2-1 over two legs.

After thumping Levante 8-0 in the first leg, Real boss Jose Mourinho took the opportunity to rest the likes of Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso, while Cristiano Ronaldo missed the match through illness.

Mourinho would nevertheless be disappointed by his side's display as Levante won 2-0 at home thanks to a penalty from Xisco and a strike from Sergio.

After a 1-0 first-leg victory, Atletico looked to have sealed their progression when Sergio Aguero, who signed a two-year contract extension with the club this week, opened the scoring after 25 minutes.

Espanyol continued to attack in search of a goal that would renew their hopes but Fernandez Luis Garcia's strike proved to be mere consolation.

In other matches, Real Betis booked a quarter-final match-up with Barcelona after a 3-1 away win over Getafe sealed a 4-3 aggregate result.

Villarreal scored four second-half goals to defeat Valencia 4-2 on aggregate in a remarkable turnaround. Heading into the match trailing 2-0 after the first leg, Villarreal put in a scintillating second-half display in front of their home faithful as Santi Cazorla and Giuseppe Rossi netted after the interval. Marco Ruben gave Villarreal the lead just after the hour mark before Rossi completed the turnaround with his second.

Elsewhere, Almeria recorded a thrilling 4-3 away win over Real Mallorca.
After the first leg ended 0-0, Almeria stormed to a 4-0 half-time lead courtesy of doubles from Pablo Piatti and Jose Ortiz.

A Fernando Cavenaghi brace and a Michael Pereira goal set up a tense finale, but the visitors held on to book a quarter-final clash with Deportivo La Coruna.

Dodomeki · Jan 7, 2011

Dodomeki · Jan 15, 2011

Dodomeki · Jan 15, 2011

Dodomeki · Jan 15, 2011

Dodomeki · Jan 15, 2011

Copa del Rey wrap: Real come from behind, Almeria edge Depor

14 January 2011

Real Madrid came behind before cruising to a 3-1 win over Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their Copa del Rey quarter final on Thursday.

Diego Forlan opened the scoring after only seven minutes at the Bernabeu, but Sergio Ramos had Real back on level terms just seven minutes later.

Cristiano Ronaldo notched up his 30th goal in all competitions this season on the hour mark, when he found himself on the end of a dangerous cross from Mesut Ozil to score from close range.

And Ozil ensured Real would take a two-goal lead into the second leg on Thursday at the Estadio Vicente Calderon when he capitalised on a defensive blunder to fire home a third past David de Gea in the Atletico goal.

Elsewhere, Almeria will take a one-goal advantage into the second leg of their quarter-final tie with Deportivo La Coruna after a 1-0 win at home in the first leg.

Juan Manuel Ortiz scored the only goal of the game after 34 minutes, when he picked up the ball inside the penalty area, beat a defender and sprinted to the by-line to fire a low ball across goal which took a kind deflection off a defender and into the net.

The second leg will be played next Thursday at Deportivo's Estadio Municipal de Riazor.

Blanka · Feb 2, 2011

Watch Sevilla create an upset by knocking Real Madrid out of the Copa del Rey competition.

0 - 5 again? Don't be surprised if Barcelona decides to field their reserve (second stringers). They can even afford to lose 4 - 0 to Almeria and still qualify for the final to face either Real Madrid or Sevilla. Remember this is the 2nd leg match.

Dodomeki · Feb 3, 2011

Copa del Rey wrap: Barca, Real set up Spanish showpiece

3 February 2011

Barcelona and Real Madrid set up a tantalising Copa del Rey final after both posted wins in their semi-final second leg matches.

Leading 5-0 after the first leg with Almeria, Barca scored another three goals in the away leg to run out comfortable 3-0 winners at the Estadio de los Juegos Mediterraneos.

Despite resting Lionel Messi, Xavi, David Villa and Andres Iniesta, Pep Guardiola's men still had far too much firepower for Almeria, who they thumped 8-0 in their last league meeting on November 20.

Brazilian defender Adriano opened the scoring after 34 minutes before Thiago Alcantara doubled the advantage eight minutes after half-time.

Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay added the third after 66 minutes as Barca progress to just their second Copa del Rey final in 13 seasons.

Real Madrid were less convincing in their semi-final, and after enjoying a 1-0 away win over Sevilla in the first leg they posted a 2-0 victory on Wednesday.

Germany international Mesut Oezil opened the scoring in the 82nd minute before substitute Emmanuel Adebayor scored on his home debut to seal a 3-0 aggregate result over the holders.

The April 20 final will be Real's first in the Copa del Rey since their 2004 defeat to Real Zaragoza.

Dodomeki · Feb 3, 2011

Dodomeki · Apr 20, 2011

Copa del Rey preview: Barcelona v Real Madrid

19 April 2011

Bitter rivals Real Madrid and Barcelona will lock horns for the second time in less than a week as they fight for the the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

Saturday's La Liga encounter between the arch rivals ended in a 1-1 draw, with stars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo each converting from the penalty spot for their respective teams.

Madrid, who were handed an 5-0 thrashing at the Camp Nou in November's league match, deployed a defensively sound approach in Madrid as they looked to stifle Barcelona's possession play.

But Jose Mourinho's men will need to open up take the game to the Catalans if they want to claim their first Spanish Cup since 1993.

Mourinho, who was criticised by some for his negative tactics against the defending League and Cup champions, is expected to bring German playmaker Mesut Oezil back into the XI as he looks to pierce through the defensively sound Barca rear guard.

Oezil's re-introduction, however, could see French striker Karim Benzema relegated to the bench.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has traditionally struggled to get into his stride against Barcelona, should be buoyed by his maiden goal against Pep Guardiola's men and is expected to be the focal point in attack.

Their opponents, who are widely expected to claim their third consecutive La Liga crown, again had the majority of possession against Real on Saturday.

Barcelona completed 817 passes while their opponents could only muster 278 attempted passes, while they were also winners last time the two sides met in the final of the same competition at the Estadio Mestalla.

Pep Guardiola is rumoured to be considering resting first-choice goalkeeper Victor Valdes - who was saved by the woodwork on Saturday when Ronaldo's dipping freekick rattled the post - in the Cup final, looking ahead to the upcoming Champions League semi-final legs with Real.

Barca captain Carles Puyol was stretchered off against Madrid and remains a doubt for the clash, meaning Gerard Pique will likely partner Gabriel Milito at the back.

Baimi · Apr 21, 2011

Copa del Rey
Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 0
Scored by C. Ronaldo after extra time.

Dodomeki · Apr 21, 2011

Baimi said:
Copa del Rey
Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 0
Scored by C. Ronaldo after extra time.

Dodomeki · Apr 21, 2011

Copa del Rey: Real Madrid 1 Barcelona 0

21 April 2011

Real Madrid won their first Copa del Rey trophy since 1993 after defeating Barcelona 1-0 in extra-time on Wednesday.

Jose Mourinho's squad also won their first trophy since 2008 at Valencia's Mestalla, thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo's terrific header in the 103rd minute.

The fixture between Spain's two biggest clubs is dubbed 'El Clasico', but this match was far from a classic, with Mourinho's side stifling Barcelona with their excellent defence and a crowded midfield.

Barcelona enjoyed most of the early possession but could not break down a stubborn Real side, who had the majority of the first-half chances.

The best of those came 10 minutes before half-time, with Barcelona's back-up goalkeeper Jose Manuel Pinto, who was called up to replace Victor Valdes, required to make a low save to deny Ronaldo.

Real nearly opened the scoring on the stroke of half-time when Mesut Oezil's ball was nodded onto the post by the impressive Pepe, who could only watch as the ball bounced wide after hitting the woodwork.

Barcelona improved early in the second half and Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta went close to scoring the opener, while Pedro did find the back of the net but had his goal correctly disallowed for offside after Messi had set him up, but played the pass marginally late.

Angel Di Maria, who was fantastic for the victors, had a chance to win the game in normal time, but his strike was well saved by Pinto as the match went to extra-time.

The goal eventually came thanks to fine work down the left hand side from Marcelo and Di Maria, with the Argentine producing an inch-perfect cross for Ronaldo, who met the ball with a powerful header to delight the Madrid half of the crowd.

Barcelona tried in vain to equalise and although Di Maria was sent off for a second yellow card in the dying stages of the second period of extra time, they were too late to grab a winner.

The result was the first defeat in a final for Pep Guardiola since he took over as coach of the Catalan giants in 2008 and could give Real a psychological edge heading into their two-legged Champions League semi-final with Barca, beginning on April 27.

Dodomeki · Apr 21, 2011

Mourinho hails ´special´ victory

21 April 2011

Jose Mourinho has described Real Madrid's 1-0 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final as a 'fantastic triumph' for his side.

After a tense 90 minutes at the Mestalla in Valencia, extra-time was required, with Cristiano Ronaldo's 103rd minute header separating the two sides on Wednesday.

The win signalled an end to Real's three-year trophy drought, with the club now taking confidence into their two-legged Champions League semi-final with Barcelona beginning on May 27.

"I am thrilled to win the Copa del Rey - it is something special," Mourinho said.

"It's a fantastic triumph against a great team like Barcelona - and we deserved it. We can take them on over two games; we have just done that."

"There is no reason we can't beat them in the Champions League because we have just drawn once against them and then beaten them. I came here to do a job and change the mentality of the club. We have started to do that and it's satisfying - but it's just the start.''

Recently, Barcelona legend Johan Cruyff said that Mourinho's only existence was to win trophies and that he was not a 'football coach', but Mourinho responded by saying he was pleased with the comment.

"Winning titles is winning titles, it's always good," he said.

"Only a few days ago someone called me a coach who wins titles and not football. Thank you. I like being a coach who wins titles."

Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos's comments after the match highlighted just how much Mourinho's squad believe in their manager.

"Mourinho is the captain of our ship and we are with him to the death," Ramos said. "What he is trying to instil in us is working wonderfully."

Goal-scorer Ronaldo backed up Ramos' comments and hailed the silverware as 'really important' for the club.

"We knew that whoever scored first would win it - and so it proved,'' Ronaldo said.

"Mourinho has given us a winning spirit and this is a really important trophy for us - it was an objective we had for this season and we have achieved it.''

Barcelona boss Pep Guardiola was disappointed after the match, but insisted his side will bounce back from the defeat.

"It's always better to win than to lose,'' Guardiola said.

"But life is like that - you can't always win. We will pick ourselves up - of course we will."

"We are more sad than if we had won, but that's part of the game. These players have been playing together for a long time and we'll bounce back.''

Dodomeki · Apr 21, 2011

Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos drops Copa del Rey trophy off bus

<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/NXxSuzRpTps?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

8:22AM BST 21 Apr 2011

The Real defender accidentally dropped the cup, 18 years after a Real Madrid player last had his hands on it, as he waved to fans who had gathered in Madrid to greet the team on their return from Valencia.

"The cup fell, it fell," Ramos said according to Europa Press agency. "But the cup is OK."

It was recovered by members of Spanish police who returned it to the driver.

The incident, which took place at around 4.15am local time, failed to derail celebrations which ended with the traditional crowning of the Cibeles statue.

Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey after defeating arch-rival Barcelona with an extra-time goal netted by Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.

It is Real Madrid's first Copa del Rey since 1993 and comes in Jose Mourinho's debut season since joining from Serie A side Inter Milan.

"After two complicated years, winning the Copa del Rey is a relief," Madrid captain Iker Casillas said before following the tradition of wrapping a Madrid insignia and club scarf around the Roman goddess that marks the square.

Spain - Copa del Rey

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