LA LIGA & REAL MADRID

[raul julia]

MADRID (AFP) - David Beckham gave an insight into why Real Madrid have looked a different side since the start of the year.

"The secret of the team's success is easy - unity and hard work," said the England captain.
Real Madrid are now unbeaten in nine games in all competitions since 2006 began and the Spanish giants have rattled off four straight wins in the league.
"We're playing well under Lopez Caro and our confidence is growing.
"I'm pleased with my personal performance but particularly with the way the team played overall," said Beckham after Saturday's crushing 4-0 win over Espanyol.
Jose Maria Gutierrez opened the scoring after just 13 minutes, finishing off an outstanding cross from the right wing by Beckham, with two goals from Zinedine Zidane and another by Ronaldo completing the scoring spree.
"The victory is important because it allows us to continue our good run, but for me, the most important aspect is that the team is showing the right mentality with all the players working hard for each other," added Beckham.
"We have an excellent team, we're working well and we have an obligation to continue improving - then we'll see what happens about the title race."
Real Madrid started the weekend in third place, 13 points behind their bitter rivals and league leaders Barcelona.
"It's not impossible (to win the league) but it will be difficult, Now, we will have to see whether we can reel in Barcelona little-by-little."
Beckham has yet to win a trophy, apart from the relatively insignificant Spanish SuperCup, since his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu in the summer of 2003.
Many pundits in Britain and Spain have speculated that Real's recent failure to add to their extensive silverware collection was a reason why Beckham has not yet signed an extension to his contract that ends in June 2007.
However, he insisted on Sunday that everything was in hand and that discussions about a new deal would start soon.
"I'm very happy here and I'm just waiting to talk to the president about my renewal before the end of the season."
Beckham's display of inch-perfect passes which frequently disected the Barcelona-based side had the home fans roaring their approval.
"The fans are behind us again. It's fantastic to see the Bernabeu like that."
Another reason for Beckham to smile was the fact that he came through the game unscathed despite suffering back and ankle problems in training last week, niggles that made him doubtful until 24 hours before the kick off.
Real are still involved in the Champions League and Spanish Cup as well as contesting the Spanish title and have a schedule until the middle of March that involves them playing two games nearly every week.
If Real are to continue their assault on an unprecedented triple crown by a Spanish side, which their legendary team of the 1950s couldn't achieve despite five consecutive European Cup triumphs, they will need Beckham in top form.

[fingolfin]

4-0 win over Espanyol. I wonder what's with Lopez Caro, coz everybody in the team is praising him. one common adjective - HUMBLE

[raul julia]

MADRID, Spain (Ticker) - David Beckham has revealed there is a "99 percent chance" he will sign a contract extension at Real Madrid before the end of the season.
The former Manchester United midfielder has been linked with a move back to the Premiership, especially after Madrid president Florentino Perez admitted several English clubs were interested in acquiring the 30-year-old.
But the England captain said on Tuesday, "There is a 99 percent chance that I will stay and sign a new contract with Madrid.
"We will begin to talk before the summer but there are no doubts, I will remain here."
Beckham is expected to be offered a contract extension until 2009, with his current deal ending in June 2007.
"They (Madrid) know that I want to stay and I know that they want me to stay," he added. "I have just moved house and the club knows this. They are not worried by my situation, they know I don't want to leave.
"Perhaps in England things are resolved earlier but here things are different. This is one of the biggest clubs in the world, so why would I want to leave?"
Beckham also played down suggestions he would be joined in the Spanish capital by current England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson after the World Cup.
"I have a good relationship with him (Eriksson) but I don't know what will happen in the summer," Beckham said in remarks reported by Marca. "(Current Madrid boss) Juan Ramon Lopez Caro is doing well.
"He has brought unity to the group, which was something we lacked before. He has succeeded at making us play like a team."

[fingolfin]

.. Beckham will stay in Madrid. No other club deserves his services and non is bigger than Madrid. Ac Milan may come close but still not enough. I like this rotation being done by Caro. Each game the player comes in refreshed. And this Cicinho is something else, he has the same veins as Carlos even more attack-minded than Carlos. Roberto is a wing back, goes to the wings when he is attacking while Cicinho goes to the middle, he is a defender-forward type of player. yummy. Robinho is finding his feet now in Madrid, starting to feel comfortable. And Jonathan Woodgate, now i understood to why they bought him even when he was injured, damn, this guy is good.

[raul julia]

He was signed as the replacement of the then retiring Fernando Hierro, too bad he got injured.

O.T
..mr. fin, could you pls post a link of espn-star sports where they show the schedule of replay games of real madrid. thanks in advance.

[fingolfin]

.. my head splitted when i read they lost 6-1 to Zaragoza. damn. they need 5-0 to advance to the finals. Their defense line was better, with Woodgate, Salgado, Carlos and Ramos. What the heck happened??!!!!!

[raul julia]

MADRID, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Real Madrid restored some measure of pride after a midweek Cup mauling at the hands of Real Zaragoza as they chalked up their fifth league victory in a row with a 2-0 win at Athletic Bilbao on Saturday.
An early Robinho goal and an injury-time strike from substitute Raul Bravo earned Real a win over the struggling Basque side that lifted them to second, seven points behind Barcelona who visit third-placed Valencia on Sunday.
Real Madrid, looking to bounce back after their humiliation in the Cup, made a promising start at San Mames when Robinho gave them a fifth-minute lead.
The Brazilian outpaced the Bilbao defence to latch on to a superb first time through pass from Zinedine Zidane and slotted a low shot underneath keeper Inaki Lafuente to score his fourth goal against the Basques in the league and Cup this season.
Bilbao responded well after the setback and laid siege to Real's area but they were kept at bay by some assured defending from Jonathan Woodgate and several sharp saves by Iker Casillas.
Real always looked dangerous on the break, however, and had three good chances to extend their lead before halftime.
Robinho sliced a shot over the bar after being put clear and was denied as Lafuente got a foot to a powerful half-volley. The Bilbao keeper then produced a fine block to stop a Ronaldo drive soon after.
Bilbao enjoyed the lion's share of possession in the second half but although the home side put together some promising attacks they nearly always broke down on the edge of the area.
Real made sure of the pointsd when fullback Bravo side-footed into an empty net after Robinho had slid the ball behind the Bilbao defence in added time.

[fingolfin]

...sigh, at least some good news. 6-1 is a hard loss. I hope Valencia can halt Barcelona. It will surely open up the championship race.

[fingolfin]

.. one goal evaded Madrid from going to the Kings Cup final. they did the impossible by winning 4-0 to Zaragoza. This Madrid is getting stronger in every game, the team is now a cohesive force. Barca lost 1 - 0 to Valencia, that equates to Barca now only leads by 7 points from Raul's squad and 6 points ahead of Canazares' men. Madrid's next target is Arsenal in the ECC quarters, Arsenal is in chaos, Madrid in football heaven. I expect a "White Wash" hehehehehe.

[raul julia]

MADRID, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Five straight league victories and a slump for leaders Barcelona have raised Real Madrid's hopes that the tide is finally turning in their favour.
Real produced a storming, if ultimately futile, 4-0 victory over Real Zaragoza in the King's Cup on Tuesday after losing the first leg 6-1, and they will take that spirit into this weekend's match against Alaves.
"We've proved that we are a competitive team and we are now more united too," Brazilian full back Roberto Carlos told Marca on Thursday. "We are a stronger and more dangerous side.
"From now on we know what sort of attitude we've got to have. We can be up there fighting to win both the league and the Champions League and if we play like we did against Zaragoza I'm sure we'll win one of them.
"The title race has become very interesting because Barcelona have let slip an important advantage. We are now up there in the frame and there are plenty of points to play for."
Real, without a trophy for three years, made an awesome start at the Bernabeu, firing three goals in the first 10 minutes as they attempted to claw back the deficit.
Roberto Carlos scored a fourth on the hour, but although they laid siege to the Zaragoza area for the rest of the game they were unable to get the all-important fifth that would have sent them through to the Cup final.
With one eye on next week's Champions League knockout tie against Arsenal, Real, who are seven points adrift of Barca in third spot in the standings, are likely to rest several players against Alaves.
Defenders Cicinho and Jonathan Woodgate and midfielder Zinedine Zidane are favourites to sit it out along with suspended midfielder Thomas Gravesen.