Optimum Sports : Asier Illarramendi

Showing posts with label Asier Illarramendi. Show all posts

Sunday, 23 February 2014

Madrid Storm Top of La Liga

Getty Images

Real Madrid stormed three points clear at the top of La Liga after they beat Elche 3-0 on Saturday and Barcelona slumped to a 3-1 defeat at Real Sociedad.

Asier Illarramendi gave Real the lead before the break but it took them until the 72nd minute to score again with a rocket of a long-range drive by Gareth Bale. Isco added a third goal with nine minutes left.

Barca were cut open again and again on the counter-attack by a Sociedad side intent on avenging their recent King’s Cup exit at the hands of the Catalans.

Sociedad went ahead through an Alex Song own goal before Lionel Messi equalised.Antoine Griezmann and David Zurutuza then struck after the break to send Barca to defeat.

It could have been worse for the champions as Carlos Vela hit the woodwork late on.

Barca, who also had coach Gerardo Martino dismissed at half-time for complaining to the referee, have 60 points from 25 matches.

Real lead the way on 63 points and Atletico Madrid can draw level with them by winning at Osasuna on Sunday.

Illarramendi, replacing suspended midfielder Luka Modric, broke the deadlock for Real with a shot that clipped Manu del Moral and wrong-footed goalkeeper Manu Herreraafter 34 minutes.

Real were without Cristiano Ronaldo, serving the final game of his three-match ban, and without the Portugal forward they lacked spark in front of goal against an Elche side that defended solidly.

Karim Benzema forced Herrera into an early save and the France striker, along with Angel Di Maria, looked dangerous for Real but they needed a slice of fortune with Illarramendi’s strike.

Wales winger Bale, having a quiet game on the right, exploded into life with a powerful shot that went in off the crossbar to give Real a 2-0 lead.

With 13th-placed Elche’s resistance broken, substitute Isco slotted home the third goal.

“Bale didn't have confidence before scoring his great goal and after that he was totally different,” Real coach Carlo Ancelotti told a news conference.

“I am satisfied because we didn't concede. Our play could have been better but at this stage of the season we need to be solid and we were.

“In tight games Modric gives us more options but Illarramendi did very well,” the Italian added.

Saturday, 26 October 2013

Barcelona Win Real Battle

Getty Images

Goals from Brazilian Neymar and Chilean International Alexis Sanchez at the Camp Now gave Barcelona victory over Real Madrid in the first El Clasico of this season, sending them six points clear of their fierce rivals at the top of the Primera Division.

The Brazilian opened the scoring in the 18th minute and then provided substitute Alexis with a pass which the Chilean subsequently lobbed over Diego Lopez to finish off the visitors with 12 minutes remaining.

Twenty-year-old Jese got a goal back for Madrid in stoppage time, but there was not enough time left for an equaliser.

The hosts dominated the play in the first half, up against an experimental Madrid side which included defender Sergio Ramos playing as a third holding midfielder and Cristiano Ronaldo starting as a centre-forward, with Karim Benzema and Isco left on the bench.

Gareth Bale made his second start for Real Madrid but was unable to influence the game and had a frustrating evening, only managing two long-range shots which missed the target, and then picking up a yellow card for a producing a high foot during a challenge with Gerard Pique. Before the game the home fans held aloft a huge mosaic with a supporting message for former coach Tito Vilanova, who was forced to resign in the summer to continue with cancer treatment. Barca started stronger with Andres Iniesta controlling their play but they did not create many clear chances until Neymar broke the deadlock on 18 minutes.

Sergio Busquets played in Iniesta, who marauded towards goal and then gave the ball to Neymar on the left-hand side of the penalty area. The Brazilian beat two defenders then shot, the ball deflecting off Dani Carvajal and beyond the reach of Diego Lopez.

Barca could have get a second goal a couple of minutes later, Lionel Messi racing down the right before shooting a few feet wide of the far post with his left foot. Madrid were without shape and without ideas. Their only attempts on goal were long-range efforts from Ronaldo and Bale which were never going on target, although Los Blancos thought they could have had a penalty just before the break.

Ronaldo put in a cross towards Sami Khedira from the left-hand side and Victor Valdes came out to gather but could not keep control of the ball, which may have struck the hand of Barcelona defender Adriano before the goalkeeper collected it again.

Neymar had a chance to double the lead 10 minutes after the break, half-volleying a long ball from Iniesta, but Lopez made the save. Ramos was withdrawn early in the second half after proving ineffective in his unfamiliar role in midfield and was replaced by Asier Illarramendi, who Madrid signed from Real Sociedad in the summer for 32million euros (£27 million).

Madrid's play improved considerably after the Basque player came on, and a couple of minutes later, created their best chance of the game. Khedira recovered the ball, Luka Modric played in Ronaldo and the Portuguese's early shot was turned round the post by Valdes.

From the corner, Angel Di Maria tried his luck from outside the area but Valdes was equal to it. Benzema replaced Bale with half an hour left and from then on Madrid had more shape. The Frenchman headed over minutes after coming on and then struck the bar with an effort from outside the area. Ronaldo was denied a penalty after going down following a challenge from Javier Mascherano, and the Madrid bench fiercely contested the decision. Madrid were looking much likelier to score but a moment of genius from Alexis killed off the game.

The Chilean, who had replaced Fabregas, ran onto a through ball from Neymar. Varane caught up with him but the forward turned around and then released a sublime chip which soared over the outstretched arm of Lopez and dropped into the net.

Dani Alves could have added a third with seven minutes remaining as he approached goal alone, but Lopez stuck out a foot to deny him. Khedira found himself one-on-one with Valdes late on, but shot straight into the goalkeeper's arms. Jese, who had replaced Di Maria, salvaged some pride for Madrid by scoring from a Madrid counter, receiving a low cross from Ronaldo and then striking beyond Valdes, who could have done better.

Dani Alves had one final chance to score in the dying seconds, but his shot was blocked.