Almería Stun Madrid To Reignite Title Race

Mabudi · #1 (**permalink**) 3rd February 2008, 09:14 AM

Hi all.

Almería 2 - 0 Real Madrid

The race for the league title was opened up again as Almería deservedly beat a lacklustre Real Madrid side with an historic win that will be celerbated long and hard by the home fans.

With Barcelona playing on Sunday night, the gap could be reduced back to six points as Los Merengues' habit of rescuing points from poor displays deserted them.

Almería went into the game on the back of three consecutive 1-0 wins and went one better against Bernd Schuster's team with a convincing display.

Juanito put the hosts ahead in the first half and penalty after the break from the impressive Álvaro Negredo wrapped up the points for the hosts.

Madrid certainly had their chances and it took some memorable saves by the hosts keeper Diego Alves to keep them out, but Almería were the better team.

Mahamadou Diarrà returned to the visitors side after a brief sojourn to the African Cup of Nations, while Guti started alongside him in midfield.

Unai Emery kept faith with the players that have taken Almería into eighth place, despite predictions that they would make an immediate return to the second tier.

The club will do well to hang on to the likes of Negredo, Albert Crusat and the two Ortiz's when the summer comes and the big clubs start to take an interest.

In the opening minutes it was difficult to see Madrid struggling as Raúl produced a fine lob that just landed the wrong side of the bar to cap some good possession by his side.

But as the hosts began to warm to their task they looked more and more like causing the Madrid back four problems and they were able to make their first real spell count with a goal.

The ball came down in the area and Fabio Cannavaro attempted to head it clear when it was a foot off the ground, but olnly succeeded in nodding it out to Juanito.

Iker Casillas launched himself to push the ball out of the net, but failed as the linesman, and television replays later, ajudged that it had crossed the line.

Instead of sparking Madrid into life, however, the goal gave Almería a boost and the impressive Corona was heavily involved in their attacking movement.

The home team also showed that they were not afraid of a tackle with some hefty challenges going in, including one that saw Alves race from his goal before bringing down Sergio Ramos on the edge of the area.

Before the break Guti curled a free-kick wide at one end and Negredo hooked a shot wide at the other.

Whatever Bernd Schuster said at the break was forgotten when almost as soon as the game had restarted, Almería were handed the chance to go two goals ahead.

Crusat beat Sergio Ramos to a low pass down the left flank and his low cross was heading towards Negredo when the forward was pushed in the back by Cannavaro.

Negredo picked himself up, brushed himself down and stroked Almería's second goal past Casillas and into the net from 12 yards.

Now the visitors sparked into life and, while the home team continued to cause problems on the break, Alves took centre stage for a while with two superb saves.

The first came as Raúl connected with a cross from the left and looked certain to score with a header before the keeper made a superb stop.

That was followed up as the custodian kept his composure and tipped Gonzalo Higuaín's effort over the bar from close range.

As well as making the saves, Alves commanded his area and came for every cross to punch clear with great success, taking anyone and anything with him.

Madrid's last two clear chances saw Raúl head over and Guti fire wide in an off-night for the league leaders and a famous one for Emery's team.

Kind Regards