2-1:The Whites Beat R.C.D. Espanyol



It was a matter of time. After 51 minutes of play Real finally managed to break through the sound defensive wall deployed by Clemente. Despite their great endurance during the first half, Espanyol could do nothing about the wonderful actions of the white midfielders, probably the ones with the best technique in the world. Then there was Ronaldo’s eye for the goal. An eye that worked today again one year after his debut with those decisive targets he scored that time too. The Brazilian forward was the only one that finally converted all the chances his team had on their feet. Figo missed a penalty kick and his teammates wasted more than ten clear opportunities to score. The score could have become a stuffing.
Although there was no goals scored in the first half, Madrid did a lot of good football. Everything worked just fine for them thanks to their overwhelming control of the ball. The whites rolled it very wisely and put it inches from the opposing net. But it never got to touch it on any of the ten clear chances: a free kick by Beckham brushed the post; two powerful shots by Roberto Carlo and Figo were saved by Lemmens; Zidane’s voley from the opposite end of the field forced the goalie to work hard. It would have been an awesome goal.

THE MATCH:
2 - REAL MADRID: Casillas; Salgado, Pavon, Helguera, Roberto Carlos; Beckham (Cambiasso, 87), Guti, Figo, Zidane (Solari, min. 87); Raul and Ronaldo (Portillo, min. 87).
1 - ESPANYOL: Lemmens; Tayfun (Velamazan, min. 68), Jarque, Domoraud, Carlos García, David Garcia; Bastia (Oscar, min. 78), Morales (Alex, min. 70), Wome, Maxi; Raul Molina.
REFEREE: Miguel Perez Lasa, Basque Referee Association. Yellow cards to Carlos Garcia, Raul, Zidane, Salgado and Javier Clemente, Espanyol coach. Wome was sent off.
GOALS:
1-0: Min. 51: Great pass from Salgado to Raul, who turns around in the area and sends it to Ronaldo.
2-0: Min. 82: Ronaldo, header, from Beckham’s pass
2-1: : Min. 92: Alex hit the net by a few inches.
OTHER FACTS: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, almost full. Liga Matchday 6. Mild weather and field of play in excellent conditions.