Solution Higuaín

A duel itself of everything that evokes names like Real Madrid and Athletic, but too often is from the nostalgia, especially as regards the latter, in a place that does not match what he has done for football, clung his romantic and anachronistic proposal. At the Bernabeu arrived with big ways to force anyone who has not ceased to be, by the numbers, means, rowing as nice to bring the ship to the place where quality makes the difference: Higuaín.

The intent of the Athletic had a lot of sense. Like Juve, playing in front of Madrid's defense, passed the three quarters of field. The team looked for what Caparrós with long traffic which increased his possession, with additions from Iraola and Balenziaga that multiplied the supports, but with some poverty to reach the area, with a single reference: Llorente. The situation changed when he appeared Etxeberria, but by then Real Madrid was already ahead because it had benefited from his idyll with the goal, thanks in particular to Sneijder, a footballer and shaker shotfirer.

The first thing we tested was the Dutchman from his field, seeing ahead of Iraizoz, but few centimeters deprived him of the glory that tried to Pele and savor their imitators. A second non failed, thanks to the error to throw the game away from Balenziaga. The risk was with the proposal of Athletic, daring, full of good intentions, like to draw the defense out of the cave. But Sneijder, with a little space, it's like the Tasmanian devil. Will direct.

The goal was a penance for anyone else had done before with the ball, although the difference is the quality that determines how many times it has to be done to reach the network. In the case of Madrid, few. That is what happened after that Higuaín culminating a beautiful combination, started by Gago, with the heel of Van der Vaart and threats of Raul.

A test of everything that these players are capable of doing and at what speed, something that is good to remember because Madrid has a tendency to dominate left over, as if it were not always in its intention to send in the game. He did so only when it was really needed, after the tie Athletic, and with an intensity and authority with which his players were much more comfortable than at the beginning. They are players for that.

Gago and Higuaín returned to connect both in the third, thanks to a burglary in midfield which allowed better interpret the fate that dominates the Madrid: the counterattack. Fulminant second in his wisdom, shortly after a crossbar, and ranking the first in midfield. With Guti reappeared after his injury, in part, the growth of Gago increasing competitiveness in the area neuronal.

Athletic managed to recover thanks to an action in anticipation of the crown area of the game that drew a penalty for Etxeberria and Heinze on Llorente, apparently bothered with his hands in the face of Basque and impeding his vision. Alvarez Izquierdo took the regulation to bring it to the extreme and, after both Iraola, lowered to a minimum so as not to expel by Marcelo an entry of the same caliber that it is worth the red Amorebieta.

Bad decisions that caused most of the nerves due theater to a footballer who does not need to pretend like Pepe, and cuts sleeves worst education in the dock of Madrid. Too bad, because by then the crash had recovered the football, with the initiative of Madrid, who throwing at Robben by either side, and the replica of the Athletic, persevering until the end. Even already behind on the scoreboard and inferiority, Llorente launched a last ball to stick and could be subject to penalty from Pepe.

Sergio Ramos was not invited to the feast

Such intensity seemed the perfect spot for a warrior as Sergio Ramos, but had not been invited after their statements. He has always said things the side, sometimes very true, but the good certainties of the legitimate self-criticism.

It is futile to search for alibis tactics, because when a player of his caliber is fine, there is no maze worth, and Sergio Ramos are not at their level since the European Championship, when it received notice from Luis Aragones, perhaps unfortunate, but revealing.

Being in the Madrid side means being willing to eat brown, because the post requires duplication of roles. Roberto Carlos was a good example. Ate and caused brown, always optimistic, as he had done years ago Gordillo. Sergio Ramos has the conditions to leave their mark, but has to decide what you want to use. But professionally, as Michel Salgado.

Result Primera Division 26 October 2008

Deportivo La Coruna 0 - 3 Sporting Gijon

Getafe 1 - 0 Valladolid

Mallorca 3 - 0 Espanyol

Numancia 2 - 1 Racing Santander

Recreativo Huelva 1 - 1 Valencia

Sevilla 0 - 1 Malaga

Villarreal 4 - 4 Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid 3 - 2 Athletic Bilbao