Real Madrid's Jose Mourinho: Ponferradina can complicate things for us

The Portuguese boss has praised his team's Segunda Division B opponents in the Spanish Cup, describing them as a "quality side" who pose a potential danger

 Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is cautious ahead of his side’s Copa del Rey round of 32 second leg clash with Ponferradina at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday.
Having defeated the Segunda Division B Group 2 side 2-0 in the first leg away from home last week, Madrid will head into the encounter in the Spanish capital as favorite in the tie.
However, Mourinho has played down the Blancos' lead and warns that their two-goal advantage is not "definitive".
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the 48 year-old said: “The result we earned in the first leg is good, but not definitive.
“The tie will be left wide open if Ponferradina score first tomorrow and, if their motivation was high at their stadium, I think it will be even higher at the Bernabeu.
“They are a quality side who can complicate things for us.”
The Portuguese coach also commended his side on their season thus far and enthused: “It is very difficult to evaluate at the end of the actual year of football because the new year comes halfway through the season.
“We've done a good job so far. We are top of the league table, we've won our six games in the Champions League and also our only match so far in the Copa.
“We've had six very good months. In another league championship this Real Madrid would easily win the title."


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Real Madrid's Angel di Maria determined to maintain impressive form

The Argentine winger says he is confident again and that he hopes things continue to go well for him after scoring in his side's victory against Villarreal

Angel di Maria was delighted to score in Real Madrid's 3-0 La Liga win over Villarreal on Wednesday - and says he is hopeful of maintaining the level of performance he demonstrated in the game.
 
The Argentine winger scored his first league goal of the season, and Madrid's third of the night, on the half-hour mark after previously providing assists for his side's first two goals.

And he has stressed that he is full of confidence again following his recent impressive showings.

"I'm happy with the victory and also with my goal because I hadn't scored for a long time. I had a chance to score tonight and it was a beautiful thing for me," Di Maria was quoted as saying on the official Madrid website.

"I'm very happy because things are going well for me. I'm confident again, which is important to me. I hope things continue to go well for me."

Di Maria has already set up seven La Liga goals in the 2011-12 campaign and tops the assist chart after nine games.

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Tuesday Bet of the Day extra: Real Madrid's Karim Benzema tipped to score against Lyon

The French forward likes to rendezvous with his old club, netting in both games between the sides last season, and is a fine price to do the same at the Bernabeu tonight

Whilst a resurgent Real Madrid host Lyon in Tuesday Evening's Champions League clash on the back of three consecutive victories, the Spanish side have a surprisingly poor record against their French visitors.  
 

Having met eight times since 2005, the Madrid giants have only won once, a 3-0 victory earlier this year. Lyon have the advantage over the Merengues, with the equivalent of 13 points to the Spaniard's seven.

With this in mind, the 1.20 for a home win is far too short as an outright bet. The value, therefore, resides in the other markets, and, as a thoughtful punter, it is your duty to look elsewhere for a quality bet with profit potential.

In the goalscorer markets, there is an immediate temptation to go for the current form man in Gonzalo Higuain. His goalscoring exploits recently have taken the breath away, with three hat-tricks in four games for both club and country, making him one of the most feared marksmen on the planet.
Jose Mourinho has indicated he may now play Higuain alongside Karim Benzema, given the Argentine's impressive form only came along due to the French forward's injury. This will be a big game for the former Lyon player, and, in three games against his old club, he has found the net twice.

Having not played at the weekend it looks most likely that Mourinho (returning from a touchline ban himself) has earmarked this game for the French striker's comeback. Backing the Benz each way at 4.0 to open the scoring looks an attractive bet given that he's almost certain to start.

If you are confident in Real's ability to win, then consider backing them to win without conceding at 1.90 - and do so knowing that they've only let in one goal in their last seven home games in this competition.

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Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is even more ambitious than last season, says Iker Casillas

The club captain believes the Portuguese is keen to build on last season's Copa del Rey success as he looks to claim the big prizes at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2011-12

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has revealed that head coach Jose Mourinho is even more determined to win silverware in the 2011-12 campaign than he was last term.

The Santiago Bernabeu side triumphed in the Copa del Rey last season, but were eliminated in the Champions League semi-finals and had to settle for second spot in La Liga.

And Casillas insists that Mourinho is determined to do better in his second year in charge of Madrid.

"I still see Mourinho as the same person he was last year, but he is even more ambitious to win trophies now," Casillas was quoted as saying by AS.

"That's a good thing in my opinion. His ambition will brush off on the rest of the team. We want to improve on last year's performances.

"We won the Copa del Rey last term and want to retain that trophy and take it one step further in other competitions.

"The coach has said more than once that he's always more successful in his second season, and the players share his ambition."

Real Madrid currently sit third in the Primera Division table and top Group D of the Champions league. Their next game is the European match at home against Olympique Lyonnais on Tuesday. 

 

 

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Director of sport Zinedine Zidane: Real Madrid are doing well

The legendary Frenchman has confidence in the team built by Jose Mourinho at he Santiago Bernabeu, but warns that fighting for silverware in Spain will not be easy

Real Madrid director of sport Zinedine Zidane is happy with the path the team are on this season as he underlines his enthusiasm for the road ahead.

Jose Mourinho's men currently sit third in La Liga, just one point behind table toppers Barcelona.
 
They are also doing well in the Champions League with two wins from as many matches in Group D.

Zidane, who recently claimed he would be open to a future coaching job with France, volunteered his view on the progress thus far, but he warned fighting for the Spanish title would be hard.

"Real Madrid are doing well and the team is in good form," the 1998 World Cup winner was quoted as saying by Ansa.
"But, La Liga is a difficult championship and it is a very competitive league."

Madrid take on Real Betis in the domestic league following the international break.

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Real Madrid's Raul Albiol to miss Scotland clash after suffering fractured cheekbone in training with Spain

The defender has collided with a team-mate in a practice session with the national side and has picked up a facial injury that will rule him out of the Euro 2012 qualifier

Real Madrid defender Raul Albiol has suffered a fractured cheekbone after a training-ground collision on international duty with Spain on Sunday.
 
The 26-year-old, who featured in his nation's 2-0 Euro 2012 qualifying win against the Czech Republic on Friday, travelled with team doctor Oscar Celada to hospital, where the fracture was confirmed.

"[Albiol] has been given X-rays and a CT scan that have confirmed the existence of a small fracture without any displacement," the doctor told AS.

Spain have been in contact with Real Madrid's medical staff to discuss the injury. Meanwhile, the player has left the nation's training camp and will not travel to Alicante for Tuesday's Group I qualifier against Scotland.

With Albiol ruled out, Carles Puyol looks set to partner club team-mate Gerard Pique at the heart of the Spain defence as they attempt to finish the campaign with a 100 per cent record of eight wins in eight games.

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Real Madrid legend Alfredo Di Stefano inducted into Fifa Hall of Fame

The former Argentina, Spain and Real Madrid forward is the first of the game's greats to be honoured in the world governing body's new exhibition of achievement in Pachuca, Mexico

Real Madrid honorary president Alfredo Di Stefano has been named as the first inductee in the newly-created Fifa Hall of Fame by the governing body's president, Sepp Blatter.

The former Madrid, Espanyol, River Plate and Millonarios attacking midfielder twice won the Ballon d'Or and collected five European Cup titles and eight league championships with Real Madrid.

"I am very happy for this and I am very grateful for the gesture, even though you are nothing individually in football," Di Stefano told Real Madrid's official website.

"This is a collective sport and no one is better than the rest. You must have a good team in order to achieve things."

The Argentina international is considered one of Los Blancos' greatest-ever players, having scored 246 goals in 302 appearances. He is currently the fourth-highest scorer in the history of Spain's top division.

The 85-year-old has also previously managed Valencia, Boca Juniors, Real Madrid, Rayo Vallecano, Sporting Lisbon and River Plate.

The Fifa Hall of Fame, located in Pachuca, Mexico, was opened in July by Blatter, who said the facility would be a museum and interactive high-technology centre, where fans can experience what it is like to be a player.

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Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer selfish at Real Madrid - Bernd Schuster

The German believes the Portuguese forward has improved his all-round game and says his former club are benefiting from the 26-year-old's new playing style

Former Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster believes Cristiano Ronaldo is more of a balanced footballer, breaking away from selfish habits to become a team player at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The German coach was highly complimentary of Ronaldo, who is currently on Euro 2012 qualification duty with Portugal.

Ronaldo has hit seven goals in five games for Real Madrid in La Liga this term, but has set up several others, too.

And Schuster feels the former Manchester United man is shouldering more responsibility for the good of the team, unlike in previous years.

"Cristiano used to be very selfish, but he is changing," Schuster told Punto Radio.

"He is starting to learn that you don't get anywhere by playing for yourself.

"In the past he always wanted to try the spectacular, but now he is more capable of playing for his team-mates.

"However, I am happy for him because it's better late than never. He is a great player."

Ronaldo's Portugal are in action in their Group H qualifier against Iceland on Friday night.

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