Real 4-2 LDU Quito Debut Goals Galore

By: Corey | July 28th, 2009

This Picture, Along With the Last One of The Post Will Bring Me Immense Joy All Season

Real took on Liga de Quito in the second match of their Peace Cup group play, needing a win to advance to the later stages of the tournament, and they did just that with an inspired second half performance. Quito to their credit also played us pretty well, but seemed to wilt after half time and had no match for the Real midfield that was well marshaled by a robust Fernando Gago and the attacking talents of first Ronaldo and Robben, then Guti and Granero as catalysts for the offense. The first half was forgettable in much the same way the match against Al Ittihad was, but a Pellegrini pep talk at the half really sparked the team in to life. All is not perfect for the Real squad, as a distinctly meager service level to the forwards and a lingering inability to defend set pieces adequately will need to be worked on, but there was plenty of other encouraging things on display to look over.

1st goals for Ronaldo (from the penalty spot), Esteban Granero, Christoph Metzelder and Alvaro Negredo capped off a game of two halfs, but the first time goals for all four players will be something to remember, especially for Granero and Negredo who played so well that they have surely caused Pellegrini a bit of a selection head ache now for the next game of the tournament. As before, here are my mid-game impressions as stream of consciousness ramblings. It would be better if I could do spoked word like William Shatner for these commentaries, but it is not the proper forum.

1st Half:

—————Dudek—————
Salgado—Pepe—Metz—Marcelo
Robben—-Guti—Gago—-Ronaldo
———Benzema–Higuain———

A very attack minded line up that was looking to spread Quito with two quick wingers and the use of a more attack minded central midfield partnership. One of the strikers would drop off deep from time to time to spark an attack, and the hope was for attacking at pace given the attributes of the men selected. But Quito used a flat 3 man back line with wing backs which effectively made it a 5 man defense to contain the width of Real. Quito also tried to use the pace of its two off-center wingers to spark a counter that while nuisance, only threatened on a few occasions, two of which Jerzy Dudek saved well from. Real’s back line to their credit contained Quito to just outside the Real box the whole game with little damage.

- 1st action sees Robben get whacked in the back of his calf. Guti on the free kick which he whips in well enough but it is cleared.

- Ronaldo starts on the left again. I dont like him over there, as he was not very effective the last game when he was on the left.

- The 4-4-2 is pretty light weight, with only Metzelder and Pepe worth their salt in the challenge. Lets see if Quito chooses to tackle hard.

- Benzema with a rip from outside the box. Hard shot but its touched over. Should have used Ronaldo to his right.

- Michel shepards a Quito player into the right hand corner and then is able to force him to loose control of the ball for a goal kick. Nicely done by Salgado, thats telling experience right there. We all forget Salgado was one of the best right backs in the world for close to 7 years.

- Guti looks flustered already, yelling a Robben when Guti misplaces a pass in his direction. Could be a long day….

- Gago gets a panna for his troubles in midfield and Quito builds quickly but a stray pass allows Real to calm things down. Quito are pushing play down the wings in an attempt to speed up play and keep Ronaldo and Robben busy defensively. Quito also pushes its back line up quickly.

- Real still look lack luster with the short, creative passing between lines. No spark from Robben or Ronaldo.

- Marcelo with a good run forward, cutting in between two before shooting over.

- Ronaldo miss plays a ball that was a simple trap. He is looking nervous. Whistles could start soon, he better be careful.

- Higuain looks lost out there. No first touch and he rarely gets himself in a good positiong.

- Arbeloa may be on his way for 4 million according to Phil. I was unaware, I was at the gym and pool all day so I never checked the interweb.

- Another bad pass from Ronaldo. Jeesh, those are expensive mister.

- Salgado recovers after a Quito play cut back on him but Pepe hesitates to clean it up and ends up causing a mess that Metzelder has to help out with. Pepe almost conceded a penalty before running the ball out of bounds. Not one of his finer points.

- Robben yonks a ball off a Quito player in their half and moves to the byline, but his cut back is never met by a decent shot. Tricky stuff there Mr. Bojangles! Guti with a free kick that is easily cleared.

- I would have to say Gago has been excellent so far defensively. Not sure who has been worse, Higuain or Ronaldo?

- Quito has 5 men in defense, so its been pretty tight around their box. Higuain slots in Robben but its way offside. Guti was sneaking in on the far side but Higuain had his head down. Tsk Tsk.

- Gago again in the mixer and wins a foul. Nice scrum for the ball from Gago. Unburdened by dictating the play, he seems a rejuvenated defensive midfielder.

- Robben is clear in but he cuts back to Higuain who ignores Benzema and has his shot blocked. Blah/Yuck!

- So far I have not seen anything to indicate we are making progress as a team.

- Benzema gives Ronaldo some high five action after Ronaldo wins a corner. Benz looks like he wants to be friends with all his team mates, especially Ronaldo and Raul. Nice to see, and I am enjoying his signing for the club as much as Granero and Negredo.

- Quito is kicking the shit out of Real players. Its a friendly!

- Pepe and Salgado combine effectively this time to strip possession away from Quito. Nice defending there.

- Robben shimmies his way in to the box but his pull back is never directed at goal. Robben is trying at least.

- I spied some Spanish kids behind the Quito goal wearing flat brims. That horrible fashion trend has jumped the pond I guess? My brother loves his flat brims…

- Dudek with two nice saves, one off Quito’s best attack of the game and the second off a snap header from a corner. Salgado and Gago both slack in their marking in each instance.

- Cant get a good read on Pellegrini’s mood towards what he is seeing out there. These things will take time.

- Ahhk! Ronaldo breaks free and pulls back for Guti, who smartly chips the ball but it hits the top of the net. The keeper was in no mans land, smart stuff from Guti, but far to much pace on the ball.

- Granero in for Robben. I like seeing Granero, but its early. Robben may have a knock? Would not be surprised. I noticed Robben and Ronaldo never once switched sides, which is odd.

- Marcelo with a late lunge that gets a yellow.

- Benzema and Higuain have not created much space for themselves in the area. Lets see Negredo!

- Poor ball by Higuain and the half is over. Lacking is the word I am looking for from Real’s play.

2nd Half:

- No changes after the half, but Granero is on the right now after the earlier Robben sub. Raul seems to be warming up, as does Negredo and Drenthe.

- Ball moves quickly from Granero to Guti to Higuain to Ronaldo and penal! Ronaldo jinked inside two players then cut by another in the box and was hit on his pivot leg. Contact was not all that bad but it was a foul and penalty. Ronaldo dispatches the penalty for the 1-0 and his first as a merengue. Nice!

- Quito’s coach has been sent to the stands for arguing the penalty call. Its the Peace Cup for christs sake!

- Guti hustles well to win a ball back and is then caught from behind but the ref waves play on. Huh? Shitty call, this ref is pretty poor.

- Granero found Higuain well but Pipita’s touch is garbage and its out for a corner.

- Granerooooooooooooo GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Okay it was a rebound but still, its Pirata’s first for Real, and it came off a Ronaldo snap shot that was spilled by the Quito keeper. Granero runs towards the corner flag covering his eye. RRRRRR Matey! Nice celebration, he is continuing it from his Getafe days, I like that. 2-0

- Gago gets knocked in the face mid-slide and goes horizontal, taking out the Quito player. The foul is called on Gago? Wow.

- Benzema almost works a 1-2 in to a ton of space. He has taken 5 shots as of the 59th minute. Maybe he wants to challenge Sneijder in the shots per game category.

- Negredo comes on for the slightly limping Benzema who got studs raked down his shin after another shot. He should be okay, but Negredo is in. Maybe he can score his first too!

- Better passing this half for sure, and Gago continues to be a beast. Possession is being maintained at a much calmer rhythm as well, while the defending has been pretty good for preseason.

- Another hand in the face from Quito, this time on Negredo. He is a hard ass and he wont forget that.

- Metzelder takes the with a one footed lunge. Studs were up, but all ball and the player was actually taken out by Metzelder’s large frame, not his boot. Metz gets a card for that? What about the Quito plays running around smacking Real players in the face?

- Ohh Dudek, you got lost in the shuffle there and Quito scores. Slow to react to a pin ball like play, he leaves little Marcelo to ward off three Quito players who go for the ball as it nears the line. 2-1.

- Ohhh!!! Negredo so close! He just misses with a powerful shot that he engineered off a great Granero chip over the defense. Negredo showed great skill to bring it down and fire, but he could have hit it lighter and placed it better. Great skills from Granero on the pass too! Keep it up boys!

- Granero swings one in and Metzelder crashes the ball into the net. His first for the club as well, hell yeah Metz!

- Raul on for Higuain, Lass on for Ronaldo. Higuain was piss poor. Like the USA offside trap against Mexico the other day. Awful.

- 10 or so passes completed before Granero is fouled on the left. Pepe almost reaches the cross but it goes out for another corner. Granero has looked even better today. Salgado and Marcelo have looked surprisingly solid as well.

- Raul dropped deep and looked good spraying the ball then running in to the space created. I like to see that from him, its been missing from his game for a few years now. Quick 1-2 with Guti, then Granero but Raul over cooks his last touch to set Negredo free. Nice interchange there.

- Granero cuts in and sets Gago for a stinger that is well saved. Guti has looked so much better since Granero came on. I think its opened up more space and Granero’s unpredictable drifting has allowed for an easy outlet for Guti, as well as some of the burden of the creative play being lifted. I like that Granero’s substitution was a smart tactical move because it nullified the wing centric play of Quito on the defense.

- Real have closed down Quito well today, especially in the second half. The counter attacks usually putter out not far from the half way line now.

- Drenthe on for Guti. Nice shift from Guti. Royston gets a chance to play in midfield on the left, lets see if he switches with Marcelo a few times. Granero back to the right.

- The strikers have had little service today, which could be my main complaint. The play has been midfield centric and all chances are created outside the box.

- AYYYY! Salgado steams forward turning back the clocks. But by forward I mean right up the gut and Raul execute a Raulina to get the ball over the defenders. Salgado volleys powerfully but its beaten away. Damn! would have been a spectacular goal for Michel. He probably could have deeked on the shot and then curled it near post but he is a right back.

- We still need work on set pieces. Since Capello left its been a weakness. Salgado, obviously gassed from his forward run, cant hang with his man who gets his head to a free kick for another goal. 3-2.

- Gago gets clocked in the mouth again. Ref?

- Lass came on to play, but he has done little but foul people.

- YEAHHH!!! NEGREDO GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! That was legit! Drenthe is released over the top, and he uses his face to push the ball forward and turns the jets on. Kid is fast. He slides the ball across the box where Negredo half falling down taps it in. Awesome play there from both players, and a first for Negredo. He shows he has the skills in the box, off crosses.

- Granero embraces Negredo and they whisper to each other. Great day for both of them and for all of us proponents of the cantera. Two great players showed us what they can do today. Keep our eyes on Parejo should be the theme this year me thinks.

Okay, so a much improve second half performance. Still got to work out some kinks but I liked what I saw once Robben went off and Guti and Granero started to play around. Especially when it was just Guti and Granero with Lass and Gago behind them, they were able to keep things ticking without a proper winger because Granero goes everywhere! My man of the match was Gago, he had a great game tonight, and lets hope he can play like that more often. The back line was great although the set pieces need to be worked on still. Higuain was pretty poor, while Benzema and Robben huffed and puffed, but they were not bad by any stretch. Everyone else was excellent, including Granero and Negredo. Hey, even Drenthe’s brief cameo was impressive.

Good vibes, lets carry this play into the season and build from it. Tell me what you think!

Granero Post Match:

“We are building rhythm. I was able to play and the fact that we won is all that matters. We just started, so we need to gain momentum and do things right come August.”

“Scoring at the Bernabeu and in front of the home crowd is always nice. The coach asked me to move the ball fast. He is helping me build my confidence and I am doing the best I can. Pellegrini was happy that we won.”

“The match against Juventus will help us continue gaining form. It will be a nice game.”

Negredo Post Match:

“I am proud to have played and scored in the Bernabeu, but just having put on this shirt was incredible. There is no better thing in the world than scoring here. I have been a Madridista all my life.”

“I must wait, be calm, train hard and hopefully I can stay here. I want to do my very best to earn a spot, but I know it’s hard.”

“I wore number ‘17′ today because I am superstitious. I asked the equipment managers for it and it felt better than wearing ‘26′.”

“Scoring against Juventus would be amazing, but I like scoring against any team. Juve is one of the greatest teams in the world. it will be a nice match and we hope to make it to the final.”

Pellegrini Post Match:

Benzema and Robben both were withdrawn as a precaution. Each has some bruising but nothing serious. Next up is Juventus, not sure which day, I think its Friday but I will have to check on that.