Real Madrid

Everything’s changed in very little time. The official presentation of the 2009/10 Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium was spectacular, with a showcase of great football, talent, excitement, order, discipline, hard work and solidarity. Real Madrid thrashed Rosenborg 4-0 and won the Santiago Bernabeu Trophy.

Before kick-off, the fans welcomed Garay, Granero, Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso, and also gave a heartfelt farewell to Michel Salgado, who will play for Blackburn Rovers the following season. Marta Dominguez, winner of the Gold Medal in the 3,000 metre race in the Athletics World Cup had the honour of kicking-off the match.

Real Madrid dominated from the start with flow and mobility. Their first chance came on the 7-minute mark from  a shot by Cristiano Ronaldo. Four minutes later, Marcelo passed the ball between defenders to Benzema, who ran diagonally towards the goal from the left wing and scored from a crossed shot.

Pellegrini’s men clearly wanted to keep possession throughout the match. The wingers opened up the game while the strikers constantly swapped positions to despair Rosenberg’s defenders. Lass scored in the 25th minute with an amazing shot from outside the box, sending the ball through the top right corner of the goal. Just one minute later, Lass stole the ball and passed it to Ronaldo, who served it to Benzema. The Frenchman overtook his marker with step-overs and perfectly netted his second strike of the evening by grazing the near post.

Real Madrid didn’t relax in the second half. Granero and Pepe came on for Arbeloa and Xabi Alonso. Raul scored a brilliant header on the 54-minute mark from a corner kick served by Granero. A few minutes later, Pellegrini made Robben and Higuain take Benzema’s and the captain’s spots.

Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mahamadou Diarra made their long-awaited return in the 75th minute and received and incredible ovation from the stands. Real Madrid kept dominating the game with them on the pitch and eventually won the Bernabeu Trophy thanks to a 4-0 victory.