Football Update: Real Madrid hoping for another win in the clash of the titans with Barcelona
Jose Mourinho was under immense pressure in his early days at Real Madrid but now things have changed immensely after guiding his side to an exceptional start to the season.
He is bidding to keep his side on top of the Spanish table in order to remain on a high so that his team can go positively in the season's first 'Clasico' against Barcelona.
Real is currently a point ahead of champions Barcelona after registering nine victories and two draws in the league -- which has made Mourinho the most successful debutant as a manager in the history of Spanish La Liga -- and Real Madrid will be hoping
to snatch another three points when they host Athletic Bilbao on Saturday (today).
Real are enjoying a superb spell at home and they have won all five of their league matches at the Santiago Bernabeu under Mourinho but this fine run has been due to the courtesy of world’s most expensive player Cristiano Ronaldo, who has been in sublime
form scoring twelve goals.
Ronaldo has been standing up for Mourinho through out his short career. He said that everyone hates Jose Mourinho because he is arguably the best manager around and it is normal both for him and his side. He added that he loves working with Jose Mourinho
as his philosophy is pretty simple and he keeps the things easy for his squad.
Mourinho was suspended last time around when Real edged out Sporting Gijon one nil in a nervy encounter. He saw the whole match from stands and would be hoping that his side will show on a brighter performance this time against Atletico Bilbao.
Fernando Llorente inspired Bilbao are on eight position and the star striker would be looking to build on his reputation even more as he would come up against the best side of the world. Llorente has been monitored by Real and their arch rivals Barcelona
as he has been in great form netting eight goals in the present campaign.
Atletico Bilbao’s coach Joaquin Caparros admitted that it would not be an easy game at all, as their opponent are enjoying a high flying start. But he is not pouring water and is keeping his fingers crossed for a victory. He believes if his team rises up
to the occasion and put on some fight against the might of Real than they can take out something from this game.
Meanwhile, defending champions Barcelona will travel to third-from-bottom Almeria and they couldn’t ask for an easy game than this in order to prepare for their mouth watering clash with Real Madrid in few days time.
FIFA player of the year, Lionel Messi has been the key man for them after notching up goals in last seven consecutive games in all competitions and to further bolster his morale he has 10 league goals to his credit already.
In spite being only twenty three years old, Messi is already fourth on the list of all time goal scorers for Catalans with ninety eight goals in 153 appearances. If he continues to play like this than he will certainly go on to break all the goal scoring
records of the club.
There is more good news for Barcelona fans as their top summer signing has finally started to find his feet scoring four goals in his last three outings in the league.
In the other match, third-placed Villarreal will play against Valencia who are one place below them. The encounter is off immense importance for both sides as they are chasing the league leaders and would not want to lack far behind in the race for the championship.
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