Liveblog: Valladolid v Real Madrid

By: Steve | September 23rd, 2007

Hala Madrid! Great news folks! As reader John pointed out in a previous post, the fiasco between Mediapro and Sogecable has been cleared up for now, a temporary solution put in place while they hammer out a permanent agreement, which means the TV rights for our beloved Whites are back on! And as such, the Liga match tonight against Valladolid will be on Sky Sports 1 at 8pm GMT.

Check Corey’s preview of the match, then come back around 8pm GMT (3pm USA/Canada EDT aka GMT-5) for the liveblog.

PREGAME: Alright, let’s do this! Big shout-out to my buddy and fellow Madridista Apollo who’s in Toronto where he’s got no access to Sky Sports, Eurosport or any Liga coverage at all.

PREGAME: Apparently, this match is the first time Vallodolid has sold out their stadium in 25 years. Nice.

1min: No pregame coverage that I saw, so I don’t know the exact lineup yet. I’ve seen Drenthe, Diarra, Guti and Marcelo so far.

4min: Robinho, Cannavaro, Ruud, Raul, Salgado and Sergio Ramos round out the side.

5min: So Ramos and Cannavaro at centreback, Salgado and Marcelo at the wingbacks, Drenthe, Diarra, Guti, Robinho across the midfield and Raul and Ruud up front.

6min: Valladolid have started out the better side so far, applying really good pressure, but haven’t managed a shot on Casillas yet. It’s a bit chippy so far, quite the physical matchup.

7min: wow, great pressure from Valladolid, Casillas having to come far out into the box to manage a great cross from the attackers. He didn’t get a good punch on it, but managed to grab it after a little scare from the other Valladolid forwards.

10min: great observation from the commentators… 9 minutes gone and there’s been no touch of the ball from Robinho, Guti, Ruud… I’m not even sure Raul has had one yet.

11min: Unbelievable, even when Madrid starts with possession, they’ll give it back to Valladolid within the first 2 passes. There’s no flow to Madrid’s match so far, it’s all on the home team.

13min: Madrid’s given up their second corner of the match already… and Real have barely managed to get over the halfway line with any attacking intent.

14min: This left side for Madrid, Drenthe and Marcelo, is not doing too well.

15min: First good attacking moves from Madrid almost results in a goal. Robinho sped up the right wing and put in a cross that was just nicked out of bounds beyond the far post by Ruud. The right wing, with Robinho and Salgado, has far more experience than the left, and I’m not sure why they haven’t gone more to that side.

18min: Good link-up play by Ruud and Raul, but with little support, Valladolid wins the ball back… Salgado then commits a bad tackle in the midfield, and gets the first card of the match.

21min: Madrid’s finally starting to get some possession, with a half-chance for Ruud that the Valladolid keeper did well to come out and smother. But Madrid’s first touch on the pass is not up to par, and they’re giving away the ball far too much.

26min: Diarra has a bad rep for not being good on the ball. I think it’s unwarranted. He’s so far had a pretty good touch, making solid short passes to retain possession. He might not have the vision that Gago has, or the ability to make that pass, but Diarra’s skills are the same type as those of Makalele, and it was clear that Madrid lost something when the latter left for Chelsea.

27min: ooh, Salgado is pretty lucky to not be penalized for a handball in the box. It could’ve gone either way, in my opinion.

29min: So far, after almost a half-hour of football, it’s been pretty even, with Valladolid playing better, but Real with the better chances so far.

30min: Robinho just undressed the leftback for the second time, and his shot/pass skipped through the middle of the penalty area without a touch from either side. I’m betting that Robinho could go to town all day on the leftback and would win about 80% of the time. Why they’re not exploiting that matchup more is beyond me.

34min: Great effort from Valladolid to get a chance, but the shot goes wide to Casillas’ left. Real’s lucky, if that shot was on target, could’ve taken a couple bounces and deflections on the way.

35min: Great tackle from Diarra in the box, cleaning up the mess from the defense… and Ruud is tracking all the way back to Real’s own half to get the ball, pretty damning evidence on the Real midfield thus far.

37min: Haha, replays are showing that the great tackle by Diarra I just mentioned was really the luckiest bounce, as he was able to nick the ball away from Sisi with his trailing leg, which then also clips the forward.

39min: Wow, a fantastic chance for Valladolid, and the only way they didn’t get a shot on goal was a marvelous tackle from Sergio Ramos who was miles away at the start of the play. That kid is a keeper.

40min: Robinho is playing amazing, getting around multiple defenders and creating chances… and Ruud just muffed one with a poor first touch that causes his subsequent kick to sky out of play.

43min: OHHH! Raul gets an amazing shot on goal, stepping into a cross from Drenthe, and the Valladolid keeper manages to parry it… and then less than a minute later, Valladolid causes Casillas to make a similar diving fingertip save. It’s starting to get interesting.

45min: Diarra’s almost been playing as a third centreback. Great defending by him, less so by Cannavaro.

HALFTIME: Well, so far it’s been pretty even, which isn’t saying much for Real, considering Valladolid is one of this season’s promoted teams. Good marks so far to Robinho, Raul, Diarra, Sergio Ramos and Casillas.

HALFTIME: Drenthe has been alright, Marcelo is playing more defense this match than in last week’s Champions League match, Ruud has been uncharacteristically off, Salgado has been really rash in some tackles. Guti and Cannavaro have been a bit anonymous, which isn’t good for Guti, but alright for Cannavaro, though the fact that Diarra has been playing so deep isn’t saying very much about the Madrid defense so far.

HALFTIME: I’m not sure what it is, but the Spanish sides that have just been promoted to the Liga are far better than the English ones. Valladolid won last season’s Second Division with the most number of points ever, so it’s not like they’re a walkover. Almeria and Real Murcia are also doing alright, and they’re not losing like Derby County in the Premiership this year.

HALFTIME: The most dangerous Madrid player so far is easily Robinho. Great runs with the ball, creating chaos in the Valladolid defense. Hasn’t been matched by Ruud who still seems to be a bit off from his form from the end of last season.

HALFTIME: It’s early days for the fallout from Jose Mourinho’s departure from Chelsea, but reports have already indicated Madrid’s interest in striker Didier Drogba. I think that would be fantastic. He was absolutely amazing in the Premier League last year and he’s got similar instincts for goal as Ruud does. I don’t think Mourinho would be a good fit now though, not after Chelsea’s showing the past 3 years have indicated a less interesting type of football. If Capello’s not good enough, why would Mourinho be?

46min: No substitutions at halftime for either team.

48min: Wow, Valladolid has had 8 corners to Real’s 1 so far. That’s not good.

49min: Ouch, ugly giveaway by Ramos, clearing the ball straight onto the path of a Valladolid attacker. Good save by Casillas to once again save the Madrid back four.

49min: Actually, there was a substitution… the head ref has been replaced, reportedly due to a leg injury.

50min: Whoa, a Valladolid cross skips straight through the six-yard box without a touch. Good pressure to start the half again by the home team.

51min: Aside from that giveaway, Ramos has been outstanding… his latest exploit was beating Kone to the ball and forcing a free kick.

56min: The linesmen haven’t been getting the offsides right… One play each for both teams have been called for offsides when they weren’t.

57min: My favourite thing is watching Robinho in open space. The ball is on a string for that guy… so amazing.

59min: The commentators have been talking about the choice of footwear for the players as there’s still a lot of slipping and sliding going on, even after halftime.

60min: First substitutions for Real coming up… looks like Higuain and Robben will be coming on.

61min: Only the second corner for Real… and it amounts to nothing.

62min: Robben on for Drenthe, taking his left midfield place. Higuain is on for Robinho, which is surprising, because Robinho has been outstanding.

64min: Robben’s made an instant impact, he’s far better than Drenthe. Robben’s shot gets deflected and it almost falls at Raul’s feet, but it rolls out for a corner.

66min: Guti has been anonymous on offense, and only slightly better than a pylon on defense. Why he wasn’t taken off for Sneijder is baffling. Real really need to start pressing for a goal. These are the kinds of matches they need to win.

68min: Ohhh! Higuain muscles his way into a great position off the last defender at the top of the box, but his last touch goes wide of goal. That would’ve gone in if it was on target, the Valladolid keeper was in no position to make a save.

70min: I’ve forgotten about Baptista. He should come on for Guti, there’s just no life in the Spaniard’s legs right now.

71min: Goal! OMG, a wicked lightning strike from at least 30 yards out by Valladolid’s Lopez. No chance for Casillas, that was insane. Valladolid 1-0 Real Madrid.

73min: Wow, that shot by Lopez was ridiculously good. I saw him shape up to shoot, and I thought there was no way… but that was just a rocket, still going up when it hit the back of the net. Unreal.

75min: Madrid’s playing keep-away as if they have the lead, and Valladolid is playing great pressure without the ball… except it’s the home team who’s leading and looking the hungrier side. This is depressing.

77min: Marcos on for Sisi for Valladolid. Defense for offense.

78min: Ugh, there are endless reminders of why Marcelo is no Roberto Carlos, but none are starker than Marcelo’s inability to tackle to win the ball. He’s just brutal.

81min: Well, after 80 minutes, there’s no way Real deserve a point out of this match. They have been thoroughly outplayed, and there’s just no rhyme or reason to their ball possession. It’s just ugly.

82min: Guti’s giving away the ball loads, Marcelo is giving away the ball loads, Salgado is getting abused at rightback… bleh.

83min: Another change for Valladolid, Dorado on for Rubio.

84min: Last substitution for Madrid, Saviola’s on… not clear for who though.

87min: Looks like it’s for Guti, as Raul has dropped deeper into midfield, and Saviola is partnering Ruud. Real’s throwing everyone upfront, causing chaos in the Valladolid defense, but no shot.

88min: GOAL!!! Saviola scores in an open net after a square pass from van Nistelrooy. Valladolid protest for offsides, but it’s clear the last defender was late in trying to spring the offside trap. Valladolid 1-1 Real Madrid.

90min: Just before the goal, I was going to write that by committing so many people to goal, Real was giving up a lot of odd-man attacks by Valladolid, and were lucky to get away unscathed.

91min: Ohhh!! Casillas bobbles a save and a Valladolid attacker skies the ball away. That was the win right there.

92min: And it’s done. A cracking finish to the end of the match, chance after chance, mostly by Valladolid, but Real crack the code for the home side’s defense, and manage to escape with a point. Unbelievable. Real didn’t really deserve that.

POSTGAME: Casillas is still bailing out Madrid’s back four but is far off top form. That last bobble almost cost Los Merengues the match.

POSTGAME: Hmm, looks like Guti was still on, passing the ball onto Ruud that led to Real’s goal. I can’t figure out who Saviola came on for then…

POSTGAME: Ahh, it was for Salgado. That explains the lack of defense…

POSTGAME: Real Madrid stay atop the table, but only by a point over Valencia and Villarreal. Their goal differential remains at +8, best in La Liga still.

POSTGAME: So final marks… Casillas still passes, though that bobble was a huge scare. Ramos played a great match, Cannavaro was solid if unspectacular. Marcelo was better than last week’s match against Werder Bremen but still substandard, as was Salgado. Diarra was pretty good, playing far back to protect the shaky defense. Guti was miserable, lacking his normal vision and passing, and thus had no good input into the game. Robinho was dangerous as was Robben after coming on for Drenthe, who was mediocre but not horrid. Higuain also played well, but needs to work on his final touch. Raul played well, and Ruud was a bit off, but you know his instincts are still there and he did assist on Saviola’s goal, whose intro into the last 10 minutes was a decisive move by Schuster.

POSTGAME: Alright, overall a good result for Real, earning a point they really didn’t deserve. What’s more important is what this says about Schuster’s still-forming side. Real’s defense is as shaky as ever, despite Ramos’ individual brilliance. I just don’t know what it is… if Guti isn’t playing well, it seems that Real can’t mount a good offensive, even though Robinho will almost always be able to break down his guy. Strange. They just aren’t coordinating well enough yet, and it’s obvious that they are still in the same middling form as last season, in contrast to the inspired performance away to Villarreal a few weeks back.

POSTGAME: Alright, that’s it for the liveblog. I’ll still be around a while for comments, if anyone cares to share their opinion of the match.