Las Palmas-Real Madrid: Ruben responsible for the Whites KO
It did not happen this time. Real Madrid left Las Palmas empty-handed. Sending off Munitis right at the beginning of the second half meant Real Madrid's ruin.
It did not happen this time. Real Madrid left Las Palmas empty-handed. Sending off Munitis right at the beginning of the second half meant Real Madrid's ruin.
The locals made a huge benefit from the referee's decision and got the three points with two actions by Ruben. The action knocked the Whites out of the game which for some reason was out of Real's control at determinant moments (five minutes into the match and they were losing 1-0). The take-off in Liga will have to wait.
The absences of the international players (Figo, Roberto Carlos, McManaman), the injured (Flavio and Helguera) and Savio's illnes leave for his tonsils condition recently cured, forced Del Bosque to make changes on the line-up, yet not on the playing diagram: he betted on the rhombus once again in Liga and forgot the double pivot, the latter being in use only in Europe for the moment (he might change his tactics once Zidane's ban in Champions League is over, but that's to be decided in the future).
Real Madrid went to the Canary Islands with these remarkable absences, although the squad is certainly made up of some other top-class players.
The coach sought the most brilliant line-up and put Karanka on the left to play Roberto Carlos' role, with Ivan Campo and Hierro as central defenders.
Geremi's job was to try and make us forget about Figo (a pretty difficult task), Solari's position was in front of Karanka, where the Argentinean player feels at ease (he can be Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde, that is, he knows how to defend and how to run forward when either ability is needed.
The goal was put again in Casillas' hands, and this is the fifth straight game that Raul and Munitis have been the defensive duo. Del Bosque left the midfield playing for the French duet (the defensive job for Makelele and the creative one for Zidane).
Real Madrid tried with all its heart, but the well-organised local defence did not give a break. On top of that, Ruben rounded it off with a shot over the keeper's hand into goal in the extra time.