Monday, 8 December 2008
Sevilla Crush Madrid In Seven Goal Thriller
On a day when Ramón Calderón survived a vote of confidence in the conference hall, Real Madrid were unable to do the same in a game that either side could have won on the pitch.
The home supporters jeered their team off at half-time after Adriano, Romaric and Frédéric Kanouté had all scored to put Sevilla into a commanding lead, but then backed their side as they fought back to level.
But there was to be no heroic comeback as Robben's red card set the hosts back and Renato nodded home a dramatic winner towards the end and the supporters in the Bernabéu's jeering returned.
After failing to co-ordinate as a team in the opening 45 minutes, the hosts finally found their feet after the break but in the battle for spirit and guile it was Sevilla that showed how to scrap until the very end.
With just six days to go before the visit to Barcelona, Madrid's second half performance will give them hope, but coach Bernd Schuster will be unhappy that Robben and Marcelo, who picked up his fifth booking of the season, will be missing through suspension.
President Calderón could only look on as his side showed the fight that could save him from the boo boys, but also saw his team produce periods that have led to talk of a crisis at the club.
An incredible start to the rain-soaked encounter saw Robben test Andrés Palop at one end before Sevilla raced to the other took the lead when Jesús Navas' deep cross was tipped on by Iker Casillas and Adriano prodded the ball through Michel Salgado's legs at the far post.
There had been a hint of offside as the shot appeared to clip Kanouté's shin and go in, but the visitors were not complaining.
Frustrations were evident in the stands and nerves were in evidence on occasion among the Real Madrid players as several mis-placed passes allowed the fans to let their feelings be known, but there were only cheers in the 19th minute as the hosts levelled.
Guti flicked a free-kick in to the area from the right flank and Raúl nodded home his sixth goal of the season and the 211th of his career to give Los Merengues a lift.
Any thoughts that Madrid had of being able to build on that leveller lasted just three minutes however, as Sevilla continue the incredible opening the game by regaining the advantage.
Romaric was bizarrely being marked by Robben and the giant midfielder, who had an outstanding first half, rose to nod home from eight yards out.
Sevilla were looking comfortable as Madrid sat to deep and did not commit enough players forward, meaning that Raúl looked isolate far too often.
Rafael Van der Vaart came to into the game midway through the opening period and after registering his first shot, which Palop tipped over, the Dutchman then tested the visitors keeper twice more before the break with good drives.
Calls for Calderón to go at the break ensured that the players knew who the supporters feel is to blame for the current problems that are afflicting Madrid, but those same jeers were silenced as the second half produced a quite different performance from the hosts.
It took a while for the home team to find their stride but once they did, around the hour mark, Sevilla looked to be on the ropes.
There was a moment of controversy in the 62nd minute when Higuaín went over in the area after Julien Escudé appeared to catch him with an arm, but the referee did not have the best game as Marcelo could have gone for a second tackle on Navas.
In the 67th minute Gonzalo Higuaín proved why he had earned praise from Kanouté in the build up with a superb low drive that flew into the far corner of the net from 25 yards out and reduced the arrears and a minute later Madrid were level.
Gago, who had drawn the ire of the crowd in the opening period, rose to meet Guti's free-kick from the wing to nod home and the game appeared to be set up for the hosts to record a morale-boosting victory.
Robben was also coming into his own as he teased the Sevilla defence with his runs and turns as well as a rasping shot that Palop turned over the bar in an impressive few minutes for the keeper.
Moments later the custodian showed incredible reflexes to deny Raúl, but was then helpless to prevent Robben from careering down the right of the area before sending the ball cannoning back off the near post.
Then the game was turned on its head as Higuaín hit the bar after a superb block by Fernando Navarro, but the move saw Sevilla players call for handball before Robben ran at the referee because he evidently saw something that he did not like.
It was what the referee did not like that was to prove to be more important as he booked the Dutchman and, it appeared after consulting notes, realised that he already had taken his name and produced a red card.
Madrid did not give up despite being a man less but they were always more vulnerable on the break and Sevilla finally found a way through as Kanouté sauntered down the right flank before his cross was headed home by Renato with five minutes remaining.
It was a blow for Madrid after their come back, but now Schuster will have to juggle his side and lift them with the build-up to el Clásico bound to be ensure they are not allowed a calming few days to rebuild
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