Real Madrid

Real Madrid continued their fine start to the Primera Division season with a steady if unspectacular home win over Racing Santander.

Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal of the game in the 22nd minute as Real made it 28 points from a possible 33 from their 11 games so far. It was not the most convincing of performances, but the three points will be what concerns coach Manuel Pellegrini most ahead of an important week that sees them play Zurich in the Champions League and then travel to the Nou Camp to face Barça next weekend.

Cristiano Ronaldo may be back for those two games, but he was missing again as Real Madrid failed to build on a good start that could have seen them lead 4-0 inside the opening half-hour. Xabi Alonso's low drive hit the far post before Kaka saw a curling effort that was destined for the top corner superbly tipped over by Tono. Alvaro Arbeloa was also denied by the woodwork when his attempted cross cleared Tono but rebounded back off the crossbar, and from the loose ball Royston Drenthe stung the palms of the Racing Santander custodian.

That was in the 21st minute but Madrid only had to wait 60 seconds more to take the lead.

Tono could only push Kaka's low cross out as far as Ezequiel Garay, whose header back into the six-yard box was volleyed into the roof of the net by Higuain.

Far from hammering home their superiority, Madrid seemed to then take their foot off the gas. And they might have paid for that if Racing had made the most of two half-chances just before the break, with Pedro Munitis and Luis Garcia both blazing high over the crossbar from decent positions.

Madrid still held their narrow lead going into the interval though, and they thought they had made their second breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half. A good move involving Alonso, Marcelo and Kaka resulted in Karim Benzema turning home Esteban Granero's low cross via the crossbar. But while Benzema and some of his team-mates celebrated in front of the fans, nobody seemed to have noticed the lineman's flag had gone up. Television replays suggested it was a marginal decision, but the strike was ruled out and Madrid's search for that important second goal continued.

Kaka came close but his header was saved by Tono, who then produced a brilliant stop to deny Higuain in the 70th minute. While they only held a one-goal lead, Real could never be comfortable and they had a brief scare with 15 minutes to go when Racing teenager Sergio Canales fired past Iker Casillas, but that effort was also ruled out for offside.

This is not a news report and may contain views expressed by the author which are not supported by GNM.

Real Madrid continued their fine start to the Primera Division season with a steady if unspectacular home win over Racing Santander.

Gonzalo Higuain scored the only goal of the game in the 22nd minute as Real made it 28 points from a possible 33 from their 11 games so far. It was not the most convincing of performances, but the three points will be what concerns coach Manuel Pellegrini most ahead of an important week that sees them play Zurich in the Champions League and then travel to the Nou Camp to face Barça next weekend.

Cristiano Ronaldo may be back for those two games, but he was missing again as Real Madrid failed to build on a good start that could have seen them lead 4-0 inside the opening half-hour. Xabi Alonso's low drive hit the far post before Kaka saw a curling effort that was destined for the top corner superbly tipped over by Tono. Alvaro Arbeloa was also denied by the woodwork when his attempted cross cleared Tono but rebounded back off the crossbar, and from the loose ball Royston Drenthe stung the palms of the Racing Santander custodian.

That was in the 21st minute but Madrid only had to wait 60 seconds more to take the lead.

Tono could only push Kaka's low cross out as far as Ezequiel Garay, whose header back into the six-yard box was volleyed into the roof of the net by Higuain.

Far from hammering home their superiority, Madrid seemed to then take their foot off the gas. And they might have paid for that if Racing had made the most of two half-chances just before the break, with Pedro Munitis and Luis Garcia both blazing high over the crossbar from decent positions.

Madrid still held their narrow lead going into the interval though, and they thought they had made their second breakthrough 10 minutes into the second half. A good move involving Alonso, Marcelo and Kaka resulted in Karim Benzema turning home Esteban Granero's low cross via the crossbar. But while Benzema and some of his team-mates celebrated in front of the fans, nobody seemed to have noticed the lineman's flag had gone up. Television replays suggested it was a marginal decision, but the strike was ruled out and Madrid's search for that important second goal continued.

Kaka came close but his header was saved by Tono, who then produced a brilliant stop to deny Higuain in the 70th minute. While they only held a one-goal lead, Real could never be comfortable and they had a brief scare with 15 minutes to go when Racing teenager Sergio Canales fired past Iker Casillas, but that effort was also ruled out for offside.

This is not a news report and may contain views expressed by the author which are not supported by GNM.