Real Madrid to establish sports schools for underserved in Pakistan

By Shehzad Owaisi

KARACHI, Pakistan (TheSportsNEXT) November 15, 2012: The Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid will set up sports schools in Pakistan as it has joined hands with Aman Foundation for the cause of sports in the terrorism-hit South Asian country.

The Real Madrid Foundation (FRM) inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Aman Foundation at Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid on Thursday, according to which, the FRM will provide expertise for the Aman Foundation’s sports initiative named AMAN SPORTS.

As per the agreement, the Aman Foundation will serve as the local implementation partner to establish their social sports school model in Pakistan.

Together the organizations are piloting the establishment of two schools aiming at impacting 400 boys and girls from ages 6 to 17.

The model promotes integrated development of children through sport and offers social activities to complement sporting activities thereby inculcating in the children a sense of belonging and security.

The objectives of setting up such schools is to foster sports, sports education, sports professional training while removing social barriers and driving social integration.

The agreement provides a framework of cooperation and collaboration between the Real Madrid Foundation and Aman Foundation in their efforts to establish social sports schools in Pakistan targeting the underprivileged.

The agreement was signed by Ahsan Jamil, CEO Aman Foundation and Miguel Pardeza, Sporting Director Real Madrid.

The Aman Foundation CEO told TheSportsNEXT.com, “With the support of Real Madrid AMANSPORTS will be enabled to sustainably reach, impact and empower countless children in Pakistan through sport.”

Miguel Pardeza said on the occasion, “We are excited to collaborate with Aman Foundation to implement our FRM model in Pakistan for the betterment of children through the power of sport.”

The Real Madrid Foundation was established in 1997 as an NGO by Real Madrid F.C., which is the largest football club in the world, to service the disadvantaged through the power of sport.

The Aman Foundation is in the business of transforming the lives of the underserved in Pakistan.

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UEFA Champions League: Ozil rescues Real Madird at home

Monitoring Desk

LONDON, England (TheSportsNEXT) November 7, 2012: Mesut Ozil saved Madrid with a brilliant late free-kick to earn a UEFA Champions League point in an entertaining 2-2 draw with Borussia Dortmund in the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday, FIFA’s official website reported.

Borussia were ahead until the 89th minutes thanks to a Marco Reus strike and an Alvaro Arbeloa own-goal in the first period. Pepe had earlier levelled for the home side.

The result means, with two games remaining, the Germans still lead Group D with 8 points, one more than Madrid, with Ajax three points behind after a 2-2 draw away at Manchester City. It could have been worse for Madrid as it seemed for long periods the Germans would repeat the 2-1 result from the first game between the sides a fortnight ago in Dortmund.

"In the first-half we were not good and our crowd told us so, but we were better in the second," said Real coach Jose Mourinho. "I am not unhappy with the draw, but yes with not winning when we scored 3 goals, because (Jose) Callejon should have had a goal allowed."

Borussia's coach Jurgen Klopp was happy with the result. "We are still top so a draw was a good result for us." he said. "If we had won I think we would have deserved it, I'm proud of our performance but a little sad as we were so close to direct qualification."

For Madrid, Luka Modric was chosen to partner Xabi Alonso in the centre of midfield with Raphael Varane again called upon into the centre of defence to allow Sergio Ramos to cover at right-back.

Borussia captain Sebastian Kehl was able to play with a protective mask, despite picking up a facial injury on Saturday against Stuttgart.

The German keeper Roman Weidenfaller had to be quick of his line on two minutes to deny Higuain after Angel Di Maria had played a long through ball. However, backed by around 10,000 noisy travelling fans, the Germans settled quickly into the game.

First Lewandowski burst down the left on four minutes and fired over a dangerous cross that had to be expertly dealt with by Madrid's defence Then, on ten minutes, Iker Casillas was quick to stop a Marcel Schmelzer effort with his feet and Lewandowski fired over the rebound. Next it was Kevin Grosskreutz's turn to test Casillas after a quick counter-attack and mazy run down the left from Gotze.

Cristiano Ronaldo should have done better when heading wide an Higuain cross from a good position on 22 minutes, but it was a sign of life from the home team and it lifted their support.

Both sides were now jostling for control of midfield and the opening goal, that eventually fell to the Germans on 28 minutes. Right-back Lukasz Piszczek was deep in his own half when he played a searching ball that Lewandowski headed into the path of Reus, who powerfully volleyed home with his first touch.

The Germans seemed momentarily on top and comfortable until Pepe powered home a Mesut Ozil cross with his head on 34 minutes.

Borussia regained the lead right at the death of an exciting half. Lewandowski was again prominent, heading a long ball from Weidenfeller into the path of Grosskreutz, who burst into the area and laid on a pass for Gotze, who bundled the ball past Casillas. A desperate lunge from Madrid defender Arbeloa provided the decisive touch, but it was a well-worked goal from the Germans.

Jose Mourinho looked for a reaction from his side, making two changes at the interval by bringing on Jose Callejon and Michael Essien to replace Modric and Gonzalo Higuain.

Immediately, Callejon had the ball in the net, but was ruled to be marginally offside before the same player shot just wide on the turn. Callejon again was denied with a block by Weidenfeller on 60 minutes, but as the half went on, the Germans became increasingly comfortable as Madrid's goal opportunities became rare.

Mourinho's last throw of the dice was to introduce Kaka with 13 minutes remaining, and he quickly instigated a move that Ronaldo should have finished. Callejon had a weak shot cleared off the line by Grosskreutz before Ozil's late escape act, a curling a free-kick over the wall and just inside a post, saved Madrid at the last.

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Real Madrid rise to third with 4-0 rout of Zaragoza

Angel di Maria celebrates goal with mates in first half

Monitoring Desk

MADRID, Spain (TheSportsNEXT) November 4, 2012: Real Madrid moved into third place and handed Jose Mourinho his 100th win in charge of Los Blancos with a 4-0 victory over Real Zaragoza.

Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria put the hosts in a commanding position with a goal apiece in a two-minute spell midway through the first half, and Real wrapped things up in the final two minutes as both Michael Essien and Luka Modric scored their first goals since swapping the Premier League for the Spanish capital.

Gonzalo Higuain

The hosts were slow to get going but came to life in the 15th minute as Cristiano Ronaldo headed just wide from Di Maria's teasing ball in. And the Portugal captain should have done better moments later with another header that this time sailed over from Alvaro Arbeloa's cross.

Iker Casillas was then called into action for the first time to save his side from going behind as he got down well to parry Helder Postiga's effort from just inside the area.

But within three minutes the champions were ahead as Roberto could only parry Raul Albiol's header from Modric's corner back into the middle of the six-yard box, where Higuain was lurking to smash in his seventh goal of the season.

Two minutes later, Real doubled their lead as again a decent first save from Roberto went unrewarded, as Di Maria latched onto the rebound after his initial effort was parried to brilliantly stroke the ball into the roof of the net.

Ronaldo then came within inches of a third with a drive across goal that whistled past the far post, however after that spurt from the hosts Zaragoza came back into the match in the period either side of the break and came close on numerous occasions in the second half.

Luka Modric

Victor was the first man to be denied, Casillas brilliantly turning his curling shot wide, before the Spain No1 made a more comfortable stop low to his left from Paco Montanes' long-range effort. And Jose Mari went even closer moments later with a thundering effort that crashed back off the crossbar.

Postiga did eventually have the ball in the Real net on 68 minutes but he was flagged offside and Abraham summed up a frustrating night for the visitors nine minutes from time as he waltzed past Jose Maria Callejon, Sergio Ramos and Pepe only to blaze his shot over when faced with Casillas.

Ronaldo also fired a free-kick off the bar and was denied from closer range by Roberto before Essien made it three with a calm finish from Karim Benzema's pass. And Modric had the last word with a low drive from outside the area after Roberto had parried another powerful effort from Ronaldo.

Michael Essien

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Broken foot forces Marcelo out of action for three weeks

By FIFA Official Website

Marcelo forced out of action for three weeks after injuring his foot

MADRID, Spain (TheSportsNEXT) October 15, 2012: Real Madrid defender Marcelo is facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a foot injury while on international duty with Brazil.

 

According to a statement on the Brazilian football federation website, Marcelo is likely to be out of action for around three months after damaging his foot during training with the national team in Poland yesterday. Marcelo has now returned to Madrid where he will undergo further tests with the Spanish champions.

A Madrid statement read: "The left-back has suffered a fracture in his right foot, the Brazilian football federation (CBF) have announced in a statement. Marcelo suffered the injury while taking part in a training session with the Brazil national team in the Polish city of Wroclaw on Sunday.

"The Brazilian underwent tests at a local hospital which revealed he had fractured the fifth metatarsal of his right foot. The player, who immediately returned to Madrid, will be placed in the hands of the club's medical staff, who will verify the extent of the injury and determine what course of treatment the player will follow."

Original Link: http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1785397.html

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UEFA Champions League: Late Ronaldo goal helps Real beat City 3-2

By Alexia Krause

MADRID, Spain (TheSportsNext) September 19, 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo once again raised his game when Real Madrid needed him the most, this time against Manchester City as the star striker broke the hearts of English fans at Bernabeu.

The Real Madrid came from behind twice before Cristiano Ronaldo came up with his magical touch right at the end of the encounter to take his side to an emphatic 3-2 home victory in their Group D match of the UEFA Champions League 2012.

Jose Mourinho couldn’t control his emotions as soon as Cristiano Ronaldo struck the third goal and he rolled himself on to the playing field, emulating what his star striker did after scoring that decisive goal.

The Real Madrid have been finding themselves shorter on confidence this season as their La Liga campaign got off to a worst possible start and Jose Mourinho injected some bitter criticism on his main players ahead of their first UEFA Champions League game and that too against the English Premier League champions Manchester City.

Manchester City took the lead twice but failed to get hold of the advantage on both occasions as their lead was twice cut down immediately by Real Madrid and Roberto Mancini’s side looked settled for a draw before Cristiano Ronaldo came on to his own and stunned the visitors with a brilliant strike that dipped on the Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart on its way into the net.

All the hot action was recorded in the second half after both teams came back into the hut leveled at 0-0 at halftime.

Manchester City got the lead through substitutes Edin Dzeko and Aleksandar Kolarov but on both occasion Real Madrid had an instant answer with Marcelo and substitute Karim Benzema as the match looked all set for a draw after 87 minutes of hard and tough soccer.

That 90^th minute goal pumped up the whole stadium including Cristiano Ronaldo and Jose Mourinho as they showed their fists pumping before performing a celebratory kneed onto the pitch from his technical area.

A pumped up Ronalod told the broadcasters, "I celebrate when I have to celebrate. The match was very important for us and we are back in the fight”.

It is important to mention here that Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 151 goals for the Real Madrid in as many games while tonight’s goal was his 39^th goal in the UEFA Champions League and is now tied with former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba.

Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart expressed his anger and frustration with the ITV television when he said, "It's not on. You can't go 2-1 up and lose the game. We can only blame ourselves. They are a very good team and so are we. We dug deep, got a lead twice and threw it away. It's hard to come off the field after losing 3-2 and be positive."

Following are the Real Madrid and Manchester City squads for Tuesday’s encounter.

Real Madrid

1-Iker Casillas

17-Alvaro Arbeloa

3-Pepe

2-Raphael Varane

12-Marcelo

14-Xabi Alonso

6-Sami Khedira

15-Michael Essien

7-Cristiano Ronaldo

20-Gonzalo Higuain

22-Angel Di Maria

Manchester City

1-Joe Hart

3-Maicon

4-Vincent Kompany

33-Matija Nastasic

22-Gael Clichy

42-Yaya Toure

14-Javi Garcia

18-Gareth Barry

21-David Silva

32-Carlos Tevez

8-Samir Nasri

Referee: Damir Skomina (Slovenia)

Following are the results from Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League action

Dortmund 1-0 Ajax

Dinamo Zagreb 0-2 Porto

AC Milan 0-0 Anderlecht

Montpellier 1-2 Arsenal

Malaga 3-0 Zenit

Olympiakos 1-2 Schalke

Paris SG 4-1 Dynamo Kyiv

Real Madrid 3-2 Manchester City

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Real Madrid snatch Super Cup title from FC Barcelona

By Alexia Krause

MADRID (TheSportsNext) August 30, 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid took revenge of their last year’s Super Cup defeat to the hands of FC Barcelona on Wednesday night when they defeated their arch-rivals by 2-1 to claim their first Spanish Super Cup title in four years.

Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo scored the two goals for Real Madrid who enjoyed dominance over FC Barcelona who were clipped to 10 men after Adriano was sent off in the 28^th minute.

FC Barcelona looked far from their best game and missed a number of chances right throughout the match and despite of Lionel Messi pulling one back for them just at the stroke of halftime, they kept wasting seriously intriguing movements to eventually left bitter-mouth.

By winning the second leg of the Super Cup match, Real Madrid equalized the tie 4-4 after the FC Barcelona had won the first leg 3-2 at Nou Camp but Cristiano Ronaldo’s side was declared winner on the basis of away goals rule.

The victory also gave Real Madrid fans something to cheer about after a disappointing start to their La Liga campaign as they have lost all three matches this season which also included a shocking 2-1 defeat at city rivals Getafe on Sunday.

Gonzalo Higuain and Cristiano Ronaldo found the net well inside the first 20 minutes with Huguain scoring in the 11^th and Ronaldo in the 19^th minute to send a strong message to the visiting arch-foes.

However, Lionel Messi responded well with a brilliant goal off a free kick from 30 meters as the teams went into the halftime with score of 2-1 in favor of Real Madrid.

Real Madrid fielded strong defensive players in the second half and offered few chances to the Barca as their star goalkeeper Iker Casillas stood firm in the goalpost.

This victory also was mammoth in terms of breaking Barcelona’s seven-match unbeaten streak at the Bernabeu Stadium as it was Real Madrid’s first home victory in a El Clasico encounter since May 2008.

Iker Casillas lifted the Super Cup trophy and thereafter spoke to Spanish television saying, "At the Nou Camp they had a chance for a fourth goal and in the next move we scored the one that kept us in with a chance. We dominated the first half and the match in general, although we had to suffer a bit at the end. We were on a poor run and we owed this to the fans. We haven't started the season well but some days you have good luck and some you don't."

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