ACTUALITE |
05.11.2001
Morientes and Figo give Real Madrid victory over Barcelona
MADRID,
Fernando Morientes and Luis Figo got the goals that gave Real Madrid a well-deserved 2-0 victory over their bitter rivals Barcelona on Sunday.
Morientes headed home his first goal this season after 23 minutes, connecting with a cross from the left wing by Steve McManaman, after the English midfielder picked up the ball from a move initiated by Zinedine Zidane.
Zidane was also instrumental in the second goal by Figo, three minutes into injury time.
The world`s most expensive player played a neat one-two down the right side of the box with his French compatriot Claude Makelele, before Makelele passed square across the face of the penalty area to where the Portuguese international was waiting unmarked.
Real Madrid raised their game after their disappointing start to the season and were well-deserved winners of a match which lived up to all the pre-match hype that accompanies of one of the world`s most famous derbies.
"The players played with heart and a love for this team. Overall, we were the better side and I am proud of the team," commented Real Madrid coach Del Bosque.
Del Bosque had admitted before the game that if they lost, retaining their Spanish championship title would be all but impossible.
Real Madrid moved up to seventh in the Spanish first division with 16 points from 11 games, while Barcelona stay in third with 19 points.
Deportivo La Coruna lead the league with 23 points after beating Osasuna 5-1 on Sunday.
The Catalan visitors were far from gracious in defeat, their 47th loss in 72 league visits to the Spanish capital.
"We had the play, they had the goals," said Barcelona coach Charly Rexach, who lost his share of games in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium during his 16 years as a Barcelona player, although it was his first visit as a coach.
"They had the luck, otherwise it was a fairly even game," said Barcelona`s Dutch international striker Patrick Kluivert.
The match was a typical derby between the two sides, with both teams playing at an unrelenting pace straight from the kick off.
Zidane himself could have got on the scoresheet but missed an open goal just after the hour after dodging around the Barcelona defender Carles Puyol.
However, the crucial difference between the two sides was that Real Madrid`s defence rose to the occasion and showed a resistance that has not always been evident this season.
Reserve team defenders Fernando Pavon and Raul Bravo more than justified their inclusion in the Real Madrid side, over more experienced players.
"The most important thing was that we won after all the problems we experienced earlier in the season. But, yes, it was a dream come true," admitted Pavon.
Barcelona`s best opportunity fell midway through the second half to Gabri Garcia but Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas showed outstanding reflexes to save his header from point-blank range.
Gabri though was more willing to acknowledge the Madrid`s superiority than some of his team mates.
"To be fair they were superior in the first half although I thought the second half was evenly poised," commented Gabri, one of three Catalans to play for Barcelona on Sunday.
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