Real Madrid denied Barcelona the chance to go 5 points clear with a routine win against Almeria. Chelsea came back from a goal down to win 3-1 at Leicester City.
Photo: Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno
With 4 games to play, Real are still in the hunt for the La Liga title after a comprehensive yet unconvincing win at the Santiago Bernabeu. Carlo Ancelotti was missing many first team-regulars like Benzema, Bale and Modric and Norwegian wonderkid Martin Odegaard grabbed all the headlines, as he was named as a substitute. Javier Hernandez was handed yet another start but failed to create any major chances in the first-half. In the 3rd minute, James Rodriguez sent his header inches wide of the post when he was unmarked while Ronaldo also sent his left-footed shot straight at the keeper. A dull period of play ensued and it was only in the dying stages of the first-half that Real scored. Kroos sent a hopeful lob over the Almeria defence and the visitors were quick to react but the headed clearance was fluffed right into the path of James, who dismissed the ball with a venomous left-footed volley. The Columbian’s swerving shot, made up for a wretched first-half display by the hosts, as the players trudged back to the dressing rooms at half-time.
Photo: Michael Regan
The two full-backs Arbeloa and Coentrao were on top-form, especially the former, as the duo made menacing and purposeful runs down the flanks. In the 48th minute, Jese supplied Kroos at the right flank and the German supplied an inch-perfect cross to Ronaldo but the ball was clipped by into his own net by Mauro Dos Santos, much to the frustration of Ronaldo, lurking behind. Odegaard began warming up at the sidelines after the 50 minute mark and collective roar rang through the Bernabeu as the Real faithful were desperate to see the teenage sensation in action. Real took it easy after the second and Almeria could’ve have exploited the lethargic marking but were incredibly wasteful in the final third. In the 85th minute, substitute Isco zipped in a pass to Hernandez in the box and the Mexican crossed in a low ball at the back-post and it seemed Ronaldo was destined to get his goal, but Arbeloa arrived before the Portuguese and poked home to make it 3-0. Ronaldo was visibly frustrated but in all fairness, Arbeloa thoroughly deserved it after a dictating all-round performance. Odegaard remained an unused substitute but is still likely be Real’s youngest ever player, at the age of 16. Real did their job but will pray that Barcelona slip up, as the gap was reduced once again to two seemingly miniscule yet massive points.
Photo: Micheal Regan
Leicester City were desperate to escape relegation and following a good run of form, the home side had readied all the ingredients to upset leaders Chelsea. The home side dominated proceedings and Chelsea were caught off guard with their opponents’ relentless and fast-paced gameplay. But two injuries for Leicester ruined the momentum and Chelsea seemed to have regained their composure. Drogba, the lone striker for Chelsea, looked like a shadow of his old-self and failed to threaten the Leicester defence, looking clumsy with the ball at his feet and repeatedly losing possession. And at the stroke of half-time, Leicester deservedly got their goal. Substitute Matthew James, slipped the ball at the left-flank to the dogged Vardy, who sent a low cross into the area and when it seemed that Azpilicueta had it covered, the Spaniard slipped and Marc Albrighton was the quickest to react and tucked the ball into the bottom-corner, to send the home supporters into a state of mass hysteria. Chelsea looked listless through the entirety of the first-half and paid the price for some lackluster play.
Photo: Laurence Griffiths
Jose Mourinho seemed to have given his team quite an earful at the break as the Blues came out of the tunnel as a rejuvenated side and just three minutes into the second-half, Chelsea equalized. Hazard scooped a ball at the far-right and Ivanovic fended off his markers and from the edge of the box, slipped in a pass to Drogba who nudged the ball into the back of the net from 8 yards. Chelsea regained their confidence and Jose Mourinho harsh words at the interval seemed to have injected a new belief in his side. Both sides attacked persistently but Chelsea got their second, when Cahill’s header was met with a fine one-handed save by Schmeichel at his left, but Terry was the first to react and stabbed the ball from close-range. Leicester had a less than 10 minutes to save the game but Ramires killed it off in the 83rd minute, when he smashed Fabregas’ pull-back from the edge of the penalty box into the top-right corner. 3-1 to a side which showed what champions are made of. Leicester were promising but in the end Chelsea’s armor couldn’t be tinkered and a victory at home against Crystal Palace will seal the deal for the Blues.
In the second semifinal of the DFB Pokal, Wolfsburg brushed third-tier Arminia Bielefeld away with a comprehensive 4-0 win. Wolfsburg will now meet Borussia Dortmund in the final, a game which will culminate Jurgen Klopp’s reign as Dortmund manager.
Tags: Almeria Barcelona Jose Mourinho Chelsea DFB Pokal Leicester Real Madrid Wolfsburg
