Good news for Real Madrid which won 2 - 1 their match against Juventus that keeps them top of Group B with a healthy points margin over the other Clubs with 9 points. This victory virtually gives Real Madrid a ticket to the next stage of the UEFA Champions League while it puts Juventus in dire straits after Turkish Club Galatasaray won their game.
The Italians will be quiet upset with the result after defender Chellini was harshly sent off in the 47th min with a red card after "elbowing" Cristiano Ronaldo. It made no real difference to the game, Juventus took off forward Fernando Llorente to strengthen the midfield to defend more but Real Madrid played their worst Football thereafter. The second half was a poor performance from Real Madrid which will not put aside worries on the teams Football offer with the "Clasico" coming up next Saturday.
Juventus nearly surprised Real Madrid goalie Casillas with a long range driver at the beginning of the clash, but it was Real Madrid that shook off that "surprise" & opened the scoreline when Cristiano Ronaldo converted a brilliant Di Maria precision pass into a goal in the 4th min. However, strangely enough Real Madrid failed to power on & gave the initiative to Juventus which got their reward when forward Fernando Llorente equalized in the 22nd min from a Iker Casillas earlier save that put the ball into the path of the Juventus player. Real Madrid smartened up again & won a penalty when Sergio Ramos was tackled & thrown to the ground in a corner. Cristiano Ronaldo converted the penalty into the second goal in the 28th min to put Real Madrid back ahead.
The second half was strange, Real Madrid played badly with Juventus down to 10 men. Benzema was again non-existent & unfortunately is in danger of losing his starting position to Morata & Bale did little in his 25 mins. The best player for Real Madrid was Di Maria who was given an ovation when substituted late in the match. Lots of questions without answers at Real Madrid.
The sour taste for Spanish Football was the 1 - 0 loss of Real Sociedad to Manchester United in their Group A game. The negative result for Real Sociedad virtually puts them out of the next stage of the UEFA Champions League competition barring a miracle.
They were unlucky with the winning goal that came early & was an own goal from Sociedad defender Iñigo Martinez in the 2 min. Real Sociedad bravely attempted to hold back Manchester United & hit the post twice - 42nd min Griezmann & 53rd min De La Bella - but could not find the equalizer.
Manchester United also were unlucky not the have scored more goals as they too hit the post in the 63rd min with a Valencia shot & missed numerous opportunities to shut the match.
Unlucky night for Real Sociedad but a deserved win for Manchester United which never gave the initiative away, although Real Sociedad was brave & honoured themselves in defeat.
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