Beckham7
01-06-2002, 04:59 AM
Real Madrid's centenary celebrations got off to the perfect start as the Spanish champions leap-frogged Deportivo La Coruna to go top of La Liga after a 3-1 win at the Bernabeu. Fernando Morientes, Zinedine Zidane and Raul all scored stunning goals.
A capacity crowd at the Bernabeu were treated to a masterclass as Real brushed off the inactivity of their Christmas break to be crowned winter champions after an exhilarating performance that left supporters gasping – and the rest of the league quaking.
After the worst start to a top-flight season in their history, Real are now sitting pretty at the top, having scored more than any other side in the league. And with the creative flair shown by Zidane, Raul, and Luis Figo, it's amazing they did not score more in a game they utterly dominated.
Raul set the ball rolling, setting up Morientes with a glorious chipped pass over Donato for his strike partner to slot home a fifth-minute opener for his seventh goal of the season.
60 seconds later, Deportivo's sole striker Roy Makaay netted from the spot following Francisco Pavon's clumsy challenge on Sergio.
But then came the defining moment of the match: Zinedine Zidane's breathtaking ninth-minute solo goal.
The France midfielder received the ball inside the opposition area and first cut inside his marker and then swivelled around to the other side before holding off three defenders to smash the ball home.
But it was Raul at the centre of all Real's best moves: after seeing a shot go narrowly wide, he released Luis Figo who also missed the target. The Portugal winger pulled another shot across the face of the goal as Real dominated possession.
The masterclass continued in the second period, though Figo was guilty of going for goal after beating two men when Raul was unmarked in the area. Morientes' header was then blocked on the line from point-blank range by Molina.
Within a minute of Morientes having a goal ruled out for offside and the same player being denied a clear penalty, Raul got the goal his performance deserved. He received the ball on the edge of the area, flicked it with his left foot over the head of the retreating Naybet and thumped a right-footed volley high into the corner of the net.
Raul then somehow scooped the ball over the bar from four yards out when he had the goal at his mercy – but by then the result was safe and the year-long party was already underway.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Salgado, Hierro, Pavon, Roberto Carlos, Helguera (Celades 82), Makelele, Figo, Zidane (Guti 90), Raul, Morientes (Solari 71)
Deportivo: Molina, Hector, Donato, Naybet, Romero, Sergio, Mauro Silva, Valeron (Djalminha 62), Fran (Pandiani 80), Victor, Makaay (Tristan 62)
source:www.onefootball.com
A capacity crowd at the Bernabeu were treated to a masterclass as Real brushed off the inactivity of their Christmas break to be crowned winter champions after an exhilarating performance that left supporters gasping – and the rest of the league quaking.
After the worst start to a top-flight season in their history, Real are now sitting pretty at the top, having scored more than any other side in the league. And with the creative flair shown by Zidane, Raul, and Luis Figo, it's amazing they did not score more in a game they utterly dominated.
Raul set the ball rolling, setting up Morientes with a glorious chipped pass over Donato for his strike partner to slot home a fifth-minute opener for his seventh goal of the season.
60 seconds later, Deportivo's sole striker Roy Makaay netted from the spot following Francisco Pavon's clumsy challenge on Sergio.
But then came the defining moment of the match: Zinedine Zidane's breathtaking ninth-minute solo goal.
The France midfielder received the ball inside the opposition area and first cut inside his marker and then swivelled around to the other side before holding off three defenders to smash the ball home.
But it was Raul at the centre of all Real's best moves: after seeing a shot go narrowly wide, he released Luis Figo who also missed the target. The Portugal winger pulled another shot across the face of the goal as Real dominated possession.
The masterclass continued in the second period, though Figo was guilty of going for goal after beating two men when Raul was unmarked in the area. Morientes' header was then blocked on the line from point-blank range by Molina.
Within a minute of Morientes having a goal ruled out for offside and the same player being denied a clear penalty, Raul got the goal his performance deserved. He received the ball on the edge of the area, flicked it with his left foot over the head of the retreating Naybet and thumped a right-footed volley high into the corner of the net.
Raul then somehow scooped the ball over the bar from four yards out when he had the goal at his mercy – but by then the result was safe and the year-long party was already underway.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Salgado, Hierro, Pavon, Roberto Carlos, Helguera (Celades 82), Makelele, Figo, Zidane (Guti 90), Raul, Morientes (Solari 71)
Deportivo: Molina, Hector, Donato, Naybet, Romero, Sergio, Mauro Silva, Valeron (Djalminha 62), Fran (Pandiani 80), Victor, Makaay (Tristan 62)
source:www.onefootball.com