Real Madrid

Di Stéfano celebra un gol ante el Vasas de Budapest

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• Realmadrid.com

Juan Jose Lopez Soto / Translation by Manuel Arcedillo

The first match was a 3-1 victory over Athletic Bilbao which propelled Real Madrid to the first place. However, their first leg was inconsistent, combining clear victories at home with poor results in away games. It was difficult to recognise the team which had controlled the table with such authority during the previous campaign.

The first leg ended with Barcelona on the top spot (23 points), with Real Madrid (21) and Elche (20) in second and third place, respectively. The Whites regarded themselves as the better side considering their results against other title contenders, but knew they had to improve their away performances if they wanted to win the title again. With seven games to go, Barcelona and Real Madrid shared the first spot of the table. The Whites defeated Murcia 4-1 while the Catalans lost to Oviedo, therefore leaving Real Madrid alone on top. The following week, there was a three-point distance between both sides with the Clasico still to be played. Barcelona hoped to reduce the distance to just one point but in the end it was Real Madrid who won the clash 2-1. Gento and Puskas scored the goals, leaving Barcelona five points behind with three games left.

Real Madrid didn’t waste this chance. The following week, they drew against Sevilla and clinched their fourth consecutive league title. Alfredo di Stefano, the best player in football history, left the Club at the end of the season.

SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Vicente Train, Araquistain, Betancort.
Defenders: De Felipe, Isidro, Santamaria, Pachin, Casado, Miera.
Midfielders: Lucien Muller, Zoco, Felo, Santisteban, Echarri, Pipi, Robles.
Forwards: Amancio, Felix Ruiz, Di Stefano, Puskas, Gento, Serena, Evaristo, Daucik, Suarez, Manolin Bueno.
Coach: Miguel Muñoz.

Pichichi Trophy: Puskas, 20 goals.