Rayo Vallecano 0 - 1 Real Madrid (Spanish League Day 25)

Real Madrid suffered to take three points in Vallecas against Rayo, who always fought hard and proved to be a worthy opponent. A brilliant heel shot goal by Cristiano Ronaldo gave the team a victory that could very well prove to be key in the outcome of the championship.

Cristiano Ronaldo beat Rayo Vallecano with a superb goal

Kaka, Marcelo and Higuain made Mourinho's starting lineup and the game had an intense start, with both sides looking for their strikers with long passes. Rayo were very motivated and complicated things for Real in set pieces. Mourinho's men didn't have possession as much as they're used to and weren't able to play their usual football, but they had the first chance to score nonetheless through Higuain, who was unable to dribble past Joel (17'). Ronaldo also tried seven minutes later with a distance shot that missed the mark, while Diego Costa proved threatening and a pain for Real's centre backs, and Piti sent the ball to one of the posts close to half-time (38').

Both sides continued to use long passes in the second half and the Whites soon scored from an Ozil corner-kick that was amazingly finished off by Ronaldo with a heel shot with his back to goal (54'). The locals suffered from this and the Madridistas started to dominate the encounter, with Mourinho looking to dominate more in midfield by replacing Kaka with Coentrao (60').

Rayo brought their lines further forward in pursuit of a goal, leaving spaces for Real Madrid to counterattack in. Higuain nearly tallied another strike in a one-on-one with Joel, but the keeper won the day. Michu sent the ball off target as he faced Casillas alone (72'), and the goalie was forced to make an amazing save a couple of minutes later to clear a spectacular distance shot by Casado (74'). Callejon came on for Higuian one minute later.

The locals put more pressure on the Madridistas, who suffered and kept counterattacking on occasion. Callejon missed the goal on the 81-minute mark and the final minutes became crazy, with either looking the winning part. The locals had an amazing chance in the 90th minute when Armenteros found himself alone facing Real's goal, but he missed the ball. Ronaldo nearly finished the match in the ensuing counterattack, but the ball went over the crossbar. Moments later, when Rayo were besieging Real's goal, the ref ended the match.

Summary

Stadium: Estadio de Vallecas
Attendance: 12,400
Goals: 0-1, m.54: Cristiano Ronaldo

CSKA Moscow 1 - 1 Real Madrid (UCL Last 16 1st Leg)

Only bad luck and the strange things that sometimes happen in football prevented Real Madrid from winning tonight in Moscow. The Whites perfectly adapted to the stadium's synthetic grass and to the city's low temparature, dominating the match from the start, but unfortunatley leaving without a much deserved victory due to a defensive mistake in injury time. The tie will be decided at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo after scored against CSKA Moscow

Mourinho decided to use Callejon, Khedira, Arbeloa and Coentrao in his starting lineup, ready to play a more tactical game against CSKA. Real Madrid found it a little hard to adapt in the opening minutes and the Russians used this to their advantage. Bad luck struck the Whites when Benzema injured himself attempting a long strike and had to be replaced by Higuain (13'), who had the first chance in the game with a shot that was cleared by Chepchugov. The ball fell at Khedira's feet, but the keepr saved the day again for the local side.

CSKA hardly reached Casillas' goal, but they were well positioned throughout the match. They also fouled whenever they had a chance, but Real scored their goal after Higuain stole the ball, crossed it and Ronaldo netted it with a crossed shot (27'). Only Doumbia troubled the Madrid defence occasionally with his speed after the strike, but no real danger came from CSKA.

The Madridistas tried to seal the match as soon as the second half began, and Callejon missed a couple of good chances (50', 51'). The locals started to look for a goal of their own and left room for Madrid to attack in. Musa shot on target in the 61st minute, but Casillas grabbed the ball easily as it lacked force. Real Madrid continued to dominate the encounter and looked for a chance to counterattack.

Mourinho made Kaka come on for Callejon on the 74-minute mark and a Ramos header was saved by the keeper one minute later. Ronaldo nearly scored again the minute after that, but Chepchugov cleared the shot by an inch. Honda led his side in reaching Casillas' goal more often and Mourinho decided to strengthen the defence by replacing Ozil with Albiol (84'). CSKA tried hard for a draw that would ease things for them in the return leg and eventually found it through Wernbloom in a messy effort in injury time.

Summary

Stadium: Luzhniki Stadium
Attendance: 70,000
Goals: 0-1 Min.27 Cristiano Ronaldo; 1-1 Min.92 Wernbloom.

Real Madrid 4 - 0 Racing (Spanish League Day 24)

Real Madrid earned an efficient 4-0 win over Racing Santander at the Bernabeu that keeps them comfortably in the lead on the league table. Di Maria played his first game following his injury, gave a brilliant performance and netted one goal. Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema (2) also scored.

Di Maria played his first game following his injury

Varane, Marcelo and Kaka made the lineup. The team looked to resolve the match quickly and Ronaldo had the first chance only four minutes into the game. Kaka shot on target two minutes later, forcing goalkeeper Toño to clear the ball towards him again. The midfielder then headed it towards Ronaldo, who sent it into the net with a hedaer of his own. Real slowed down after the goal, but Racing continued to wait for them close to their box.

Benzema had a double shot in the 26th minute that Toño managed to clear on both counts. A few minutes later, Cisma was sent off with a double booking (38'), which inspired Madrid to speed things up. Marcelo and Benzema came close to scoring goals, but Toño saved the day again. The French striker tallied the second for his team in injury time with a subtle shot.

Real Madrid dominated the game completely after half-time. Kaka nearly netted a third from a shot that was marginally off target (47') and Racing started to attack more through Acosta and Babacar without posing much of a threat. Mourinho made Di Maria come on for Ozil amidst a standing ovation (62') and the change was soon followed by Khedira coming on for Granero (70').

The match lacked thrills for a while until Di Maria scored an amazing goal from a distance on the 72-minute mark. The Bernabeu roared in celebration and Mourinho decided to make Carvalho come on for Pepe, who also received a standing ovation.

Ronaldo nearly scored from a beautiful combined effort with Benzema, who eventually tallied the fourth from inside the box after the ball was deflected by Bernardo.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 76,000
Goals: 1-0 m.6: Ronaldo; 2-0 m.45: Benzema; 3-0 m.72: Di María; 4-0 m.90: Benzema.

Real Madrid 4 - 2 Levante (Spanish League Day 23)

Cristiano Ronaldo used all his weaponry tonight against Levante, tallying a hat-trick that, with another Benzema strike, gave Real Madrid a victory that keeps them ten points ahead from Barcelona on the league table.

Cristiano Ronaldo has scored six hat-tricks this season

Granero and Higuain made the starting lineup, but the Whites conceded a Cabral header following a free-kick by Farinos on the 4-minute mark. Mourinho's men had to try to turn the score around and Higuain ended up hitting a post just a few minutes later (11'). Munua was forced to make a solid save by a spectacular Cristiano Ronaldo free-kick and Real Madrid continued having many opportunities to score. Levante's goalkeeper kept them at bay, making impressive saves again in the 25th and 37th minutes.

An aerial play that initially seemed inconsequential became decisive when Iborra concentrated more on pushing Higuain than on clearing the ball and ended up hitting it with his hands in the box. The penalty was taken and converted by Ronaldo just before half-time.

Real looked to finish things off quickly in the second half and Ronaldo scored again by heading in a great Higuain assist. The Portuguese striker wanted more and ended up tallying another with an amazing 23 metre shot, one of his best since he arrived in Spain. This spectacular goal made the crowd go wild and sing his name, while the player went straight to the coaching area to hug Mourinho and celebrate it with the rest of the bench.

Levante never gave up and, despite being down to ten men, tallied a second strike through a Kone header. Benzema pulled rank and enlarged the cushion with an impressive crossed shot from inside the box.

Callejon, Khedira and Kaka came on for Higuain, Granero and Ozil, and Real continued looking for more goals: Ozil hit the post in the 69th minute and Ronaldo came close to netting a free-kick in the final minutes.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 67,000
Goals: 0-1, m.4: Cabral. 1-1, m.44: Cristiano Ronaldo (pen). 2-1, m.50: Cristiano Ronaldo. 3-1, m.57: Cristiano Ronaldo. 3-2, m.63: Koné. 4-2, m.66: Benzema.

Getafe 0 - 1 Real Madrid (Spanish League Day 22)

Real Madrid took three very important points at Getafe's Coliseum thanks to giving an efficient performance in which Sergio Ramos scored a header. The match was marked by an intense cold that marred spectacle, but Real had chances to score more goals, while Getafe hardly ventured close to Casillas' goal.

Real Madrid don't stop

Sergio Ramos made the starting lineup after being suspended in last week's match. Lass also made the cut taking Granero's spot in midfield. Mourinho's men controlled the match from the start with Getafe waiting in their half of the pitch. The Whites didn't have too many chances to score in the opening minutes, but they netted their only strike through Ramos, who heahed in an Ozil corner-kick on the 17-minute mark.

Getafe stayed back and didn't change their game one bit, while the Madridistas controlled the match without much effort. Kaka nearly scored a few minutes later, but his shot on the penalty spot went over the crossbar (26'). Moya cleared a Ronaldo free-kick in the 37th minute, while Getafe's only dengerous effort came from a set piece header from Miku (37').

The locals still didn't create much danger after half-time. Moya made another save of a Benzema shot on the 61-minute mark and was proving to be his team's best player. Mourinho then made Callejon and Higuain come on for Kaka and Benzema, and the Argentine had a good chance but Moya saved the day yet again. Getafe started attacking more and left spaces Real used to counterattack. Casillas nevertheless had nothing to do because the locals still lacked danger in attack and Masilela was injured in the 72nd minute, when they had already used all their substitutions.

Granero came on for Ozil in the final minutes and Real kept attacking. A Ronaldo goal was justly disallowed for being offside in the 89th minute and nothing much happened in the game after that.

Summary

Stadium: Alfonso Perez
Attendance: 18,000
Goal:0-1, m.18: Sergio Ramos.