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Osasuna pile more misery on Real Madrid
Real Madrid are heading towards a trophy-less season, an unthinkable concept this time last month when they were chasing a treble, after a disastrous home defeat in which they were made to look hopelessly ordinary by Osasuna. A bad week was made even worse as Madrid's Champions League exit was followed by this result which delighted fans of Osasuna and Valencia alike. Osasuna will cherish this thrashing, while Valencia take over at the top of the Primera Liga as a consequence. Kicking off after Valencia's 1-0 victory in Zaragoza, Madrid knew that nothing less than a victory against the side from Navarra was needed if they were to be leaders for another week. However, Madrid were always stuck in first gear and they were lucky to be only 2-0 down at half-time after possibly the worst 45 minutes football they have played this season. Needing a positive start to restore morale following this week's Champions League exit at the ruthless hands of Monaco, Madrid got just the opposite. Their defence, who struggled to defend high balls all night, made a horrible mess of a long throw-in and the loose ball fell to Valdo who side-footed gleefully home from eight yards. The fact that Valdo was a former Madrid player made the goal even more ironic. Not that anyone with Madrid affiliations saw any wry humour in the goal. If Valdo wanted to drive the point home, he had plenty of other opportunities in the first half. He volleyed over after just four minutes, headed a corner into the side-netting after 11 minutes, and headed straight at Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas four minutes later. Madrid's only response was a spectacular effort from Beckham who hit the roof of the Osasuna net from the halfway line. Valdo was unlucky again in the 22nd minute after tearing down the middle, only to ruin his effort with a weak shot. Things went from bad to worse for Madrid as Ronaldo limped off with what looked like a recurrence of the thigh injury which recently kept him out for almost three weeks. It was not a good night for Beckham, although it must be said he was one of the few Madrid players to give 100%. He paid for his efforts by picking up an elbow in the face from Osasuna midfielder Pablo Garcia and a late tackle from Moha. Osasuna could have had a penalty after 33 minutes if referee Fernando Carmona had seen a handball from Alvero Mejia in the Madrid penalty area. However, it did not matter as Pablo Garcia put Osasuna two up on 43 minutes. Goalkeeper Iker Casillas made a terrible mess of his clearance, the ball fell to Garcia 25 yards out, and the Uruguayan calmly chipped home into an empty net. Madrid began the second half trying desperately to get on level terms, but they failed to create any clear chances. They paid for that on the hour, when Ricardo Sanzol's speculative clearance found Valdo unmarked on the right. The winger advanced into space, looked up, and sent a pinpoint cross which Moha headed decisively into the net. That was a signal for a good deal of the crowd to desert the Bernabeu, while the remaining section dedicated a chorus of 'Oles' to the Osasuna players as they passed the ball around. Tuesday saw Madrid eliminated from the Champions League, this evening has seen them lose the leadership of the Primera Liga, and a season which promised so much glory and glamour is falling apart. Coach Carlos Queiroz has much work to do. |
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