[News] Espanyol Hold Real Madrid In Thriller

[Chanchal Chirya]

Twice Real Madrid came from behind in a thrilling first half against Espanyol, but despite a brace from Raúl raising the blancos' spirits, in the end they could only manage a home point...

Real Madrid 2-2 RCD Espanyol

After a promising start to the campaign, Espanyol’s season has tailed off slightly. They have lost the last three matches, including that last-gasp derby defeat to Barcelona on match day five, and the last place they will be wishing to go to make amends is the Santiago Bernabeu, a place they haven’t won in since 1995. Despite Raul Tamudo not having scored since January, he retained his place upfront while De La Pena returned to the side after his injury.

Madrid have started the season in efficient fashion. 6 points out of 6 in their Champions’ League group, and the opening day loss at Deportivo is the only blot on their copybook so far. Raul returned to the starting line-up with Robben dropping to the bench, whilst utility midfield man Ruben De La Red started in midfield.

In the cauldron of the Bernabeu, it is important to stay as tight as possible early on – and Espanyol should have been made to pay for not heeding this advice as Van Nistelrooy played in Higuain, who rushed his volley and blazed wildly over. The Argentine has been in good form of late, but had he shown more composure he could have gave Los Merengues a dream start. Espanyol survived this first-minute fright and limited Madrid to dominance of possession and half chances. Raul had a flick header wide and Van der Vaart curled an effort over the top from twenty yards, but nothing substantial as Madrid struggled to get in behind in the opening exchanges.

It was Espanyol who took a shock lead on the twenty minute mark. A hopeful ball forward saw Tamudo beat a dreadful Real offside trap and run in on goal. As he cut inside Heinze caught his trailing leg, and the referee was left with no option but to award the penalty kick. Tamudo himself stepped up, and for a man who has had such a poor scoring record recently, and who has never scored before at the Bernabeu, slotted the kick home with aplomb. In almost their first foray forward, the visitors had grabbed the advantage.

All they had to do was keep their defensive discipline. They only lasted four minutes.

Sergio Ramos swung in a cross from the right, and the mercurial Raul headed sweetly past Kameni’s left hand to bring his side level. It was classic Raul, but Espanyol really should have been able to clear the danger.25 minutes in, and we were back to all-square at 1-1.

But no sooner had the champions drawn level than they were behind once more. Roman Martinez drilled a fantastic cross low across goal and the former Madrid player Luis Garcia slid in at the back post behind a static back line to put his side back in front. Madrid were left with it all to do again, but it was no more than their awful defending deserved. Schuster had said during the week he believes he has the best back four in the world. Individually maybe, but on this showing, as a unit they are all at sea. Pepe continually stepped up to play offside, and continually got it wrong. De La Pena was pulling the strings and Madrid couldn’t get near him- they were in trouble.

It almost, almost, got distinctly worse. After the suspect Pepe brought down Nene, Luis Garcia tricked Casillas by expertly swerving the ball towards his near post, only to crash off the upright, and then Sergio Ramos almost sliced the ball into his own net. Garcia then swung the ball back in, and Moises managed to head wide from six yards when it looked easier to score. What on Earth were Madrid playing at? Defensively they were truly dreadful, and incredibly fortunate not to be further behind.

Madrid rallied before half-time, with Raul striking inches wide, and then in injury time we saw the captain at his very best. The ball dropped in the box, and after a lightning-quick shuffle of feet he guided the ball beautifully into the far corner with his right foot. Class truly is permanent, as the Spanish legend proved once more. But on the balance of play, Madrid could count themselves lucky to be heading in level at half-time.

Pass-marks probably only reserved for the extraordinary Raul in the first-half. To grab their historic seventh win in a row in all competition, their own number seven would need some inspiration from his teammates. Espanyol deserved credit for exploiting their opponents’ defensive woes. But how would they react to surrendering their lead not once, but twice?

Schuster introduced Robben for the second half, replacing Van der Vaart, presumably due to injury. Espanyol also changed things around, La Cruz replacing Pareja on defence.

The half began at the first had ended – open, exciting and free-flowing. Van Nistelrooy and Higuain both had early efforts, while Espanyol still looked able to cause Madrid significant concern. Indeed, they had legitimate shouts for another penalty as Nene burst in on goal, Pepe appeared to clip his heels, but the referee remained motionless. Moments later Casillas ran from his line, Tamudo skipped past him but Cannavaro covered in behind. This game was in the balance, with both defences looking susceptible to conceding more goals, sometimes even from their own defenders – Robben rifled in a shot that cannoned off the shin of Jarque, and Kameni threw himself to his right to make an excellent save.

The goalkeeper then displayed his supreme reflexes to deny Van Nistelrooy from a mere six yards, saving with his legs. The Dutchman however should have scored from his area of dominance.

Schuster gave Sneijder the last twenty-five minutes, a sign that things just weren’t working in Madrid’s offensive play. He replaced De La Red, and Drenthe came on to replace Robben, who once again limped off with a hamstring injury.

Madrid raised the urgency, starting from the back. Ramos strode forward, and cut inside only to balloon his effort over from a favourable position. Espanyol fell deeper and deeper into their own territory, but luckily for them the prolific Van Nistelrooy’s radar appeared to be off tonight, as once again he headed wide from inside the box. Time was running out to for either side to find that elusive winner.

As the match drew to a conclusion, the home side could not manage to put together a period of concerted pressure to break down their opponents. Espanyol looked comfortable, and when Drenthe managed to hammer a cross high into the stand, the crowds’ displeasure echoed the frustration Madrid felt for the majority of the second half.

In injury time, Sneijder swung a free-kick into the wall, appearing to strike Moises on the arm, but it would have cruel and undeserved if Espanyol had left with nothing. Diarra’s petulant kick at Angel in the final minute epitomised how irritated he had become at his side’s inability to break down a well-drilled Espanyol team. 2-2 it finished and definitely two points dropped for the champions, who suffered a particularly nasty European hangover here.

REAL MADRID 2-2 ESPANYOL
0-1 Tamudo (pen.) 20'
1-1 Raúl 24'
1-2 Luis García 28'
2-2 Raúl 45'

Madrid (4-2-3-1) Casillas; Pepe, Canavarro, Heinze; Diarra, De La Red(Sneijder 65’), Van der Vaart (Robben 45’)(Drenthe 67’), Higuain, Raul (c); Van Nistelrooy

Espanyol (4-2-3-1) Kameni; Sergio Sanchez, Jarque, Pareja (La Cruz 45’), Beranger; Moises, Roman Martinez (Angel 64’), Nene, De L a Pena (Coro 75’), Luis Garcia; Tamudo (c)

Yellow Cards: Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Diarra - De La Pena
Referee: Pérez Burrull