Post by Bismarck on Feb 11, 2008 19:20:01 GMT
MADRID, February 10 (Primera Liga) - Real Madrid crushed Real Valladolid with a stunning first-half blitz on Sunday to open up an eight-point lead at the top of the Primera Liga standings.
The reigning champions scored five unanswered goals in a clinical opening 45 minutes before adding two more after the break to move further clear of Barcelona, who could only draw at Sevilla on Saturday.
Julio Baptista set the ball rolling with Real's opener in the eighth minute, before further strikes from Raul (two), Arjen Robben and Guti ensured the game was over as a contest before the half-time break.
Guti and Royston Drenthe then added further goals in the second half to complete the romp.
Valladolid will wonder what went wrong, as they matched Real for long periods of the first half, only to see their hosts score with virtually every attack.
It might all have been different as well if Valladolid striker Joseba Llorente had made the most of his opportunity in the opening 90 seconds.
A defensive lapse by Real centre-back Fabio Cannavaro allowed Llorente a free shot from the edge of the area, but the 12-goal marksman was unable to beat Iker Casillas.
Hosts Real, who were without their own leading scorer in Ruud van Nistelrooy, looked out-of-sorts early on as they sought to bounce back from last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Almeria.
However, with arguably their only decent chance of the opening half-hour they took the lead through Baptista.
Guti threaded the ball through to Robben, and although the Dutchman dwelt too long to take a shot himself, he fed the onrushing Baptista who raced into the area before slotting past Sergio Asenjo.
Real then lost in-form Brazilian Robinho to injury, and with Valladolid looking threatening going forward at that stage, it seemed like it could be a tough night for the reigning champions.
That proved not to be the case though, with Real scoring four times in 13 minutes in the lead-up to half-time to decide the match.
Raul made it 2-0 in the 31st minute after rounding Asenjo following a slick one-two with Guti, before another Guti pass two minutes later sent Robben away down the left and the Dutchman raced clear before beating Asenjo at his near post.
Goalscoring trio Robben, Baptista and Raul were then all involved in Real's fourth goal in the 38th minute.
Robben played Baptista through and when the Brazilian went flying under the challenge of Asenjo, Raul was able to slot home his 11th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
That was not the end of the first-half scoring though, as Guti made it 5-0 just before half-time with a cool finish following Drenthe's lofted through-ball.
It was a demoralising experience for highly-rated young Valladolid goalkeeper Asenjo, but if the 18-year-old thought he was in for a quieter second period he was mistaken.
Robben, Baptista and Sergio Ramos all had chances to increase Real's already-imposing lead in the opening 10 minutes, before Guti managed it in the 64th minute.
Robben laid the ball back to Guti on the edge of the area, and although the Real playmaker scuffed his shot it was still good enough to beat Asenjo and fly in off the right-hand post - a goal that summed up unfortunate Valladolid's evening.
Valladolid came close to pulling a consolation goal back in the 75th minute when a mistake by makeshift Real centre-back Mahamadou Diarra allowed Vivar Dorado a shooting chance, but his effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Casillas.
There was still time for Real to score a seventh through Drenthe in the 80th minute, the Dutchman latching onto Guti's header before drilling home from close range to complete the mauling.
The reigning champions scored five unanswered goals in a clinical opening 45 minutes before adding two more after the break to move further clear of Barcelona, who could only draw at Sevilla on Saturday.
Julio Baptista set the ball rolling with Real's opener in the eighth minute, before further strikes from Raul (two), Arjen Robben and Guti ensured the game was over as a contest before the half-time break.
Guti and Royston Drenthe then added further goals in the second half to complete the romp.
Valladolid will wonder what went wrong, as they matched Real for long periods of the first half, only to see their hosts score with virtually every attack.
It might all have been different as well if Valladolid striker Joseba Llorente had made the most of his opportunity in the opening 90 seconds.
A defensive lapse by Real centre-back Fabio Cannavaro allowed Llorente a free shot from the edge of the area, but the 12-goal marksman was unable to beat Iker Casillas.
Hosts Real, who were without their own leading scorer in Ruud van Nistelrooy, looked out-of-sorts early on as they sought to bounce back from last weekend's 2-0 defeat at Almeria.
However, with arguably their only decent chance of the opening half-hour they took the lead through Baptista.
Guti threaded the ball through to Robben, and although the Dutchman dwelt too long to take a shot himself, he fed the onrushing Baptista who raced into the area before slotting past Sergio Asenjo.
Real then lost in-form Brazilian Robinho to injury, and with Valladolid looking threatening going forward at that stage, it seemed like it could be a tough night for the reigning champions.
That proved not to be the case though, with Real scoring four times in 13 minutes in the lead-up to half-time to decide the match.
Raul made it 2-0 in the 31st minute after rounding Asenjo following a slick one-two with Guti, before another Guti pass two minutes later sent Robben away down the left and the Dutchman raced clear before beating Asenjo at his near post.
Goalscoring trio Robben, Baptista and Raul were then all involved in Real's fourth goal in the 38th minute.
Robben played Baptista through and when the Brazilian went flying under the challenge of Asenjo, Raul was able to slot home his 11th goal of the season from the penalty spot.
That was not the end of the first-half scoring though, as Guti made it 5-0 just before half-time with a cool finish following Drenthe's lofted through-ball.
It was a demoralising experience for highly-rated young Valladolid goalkeeper Asenjo, but if the 18-year-old thought he was in for a quieter second period he was mistaken.
Robben, Baptista and Sergio Ramos all had chances to increase Real's already-imposing lead in the opening 10 minutes, before Guti managed it in the 64th minute.
Robben laid the ball back to Guti on the edge of the area, and although the Real playmaker scuffed his shot it was still good enough to beat Asenjo and fly in off the right-hand post - a goal that summed up unfortunate Valladolid's evening.
Valladolid came close to pulling a consolation goal back in the 75th minute when a mistake by makeshift Real centre-back Mahamadou Diarra allowed Vivar Dorado a shooting chance, but his effort was tipped onto the crossbar by Casillas.
There was still time for Real to score a seventh through Drenthe in the 80th minute, the Dutchman latching onto Guti's header before drilling home from close range to complete the mauling.