Real Madrid vs. Sevilla – Spanish La Liga – First Half Report (Part 2)
As both the teams featured many young players on their side, a fast paced game was expected. That is exactly what happened when the game started. There were chances flying for both the sides as both the teams relied on same strategies.
Sevilla, who were not enjoying a lower mid-table position were in Madrid to prove themselves. On the other hand Real Madrid were out there to win the game in order to close down the gap with the table topper Barcelona.
The Sevilla coach Gregorio Manzano Ballesteros was playing a defensive 5-3-2 formation. With their number 1 goalkeeper Andres Palop standing guard between the two poles, it was Martin Caceres and Julien Escude who were helping him as centre backs. Mouhamadou
Dabo was the extra man in the centre to help the team defend. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Abdoulay-Konko-c3249 played on the left.
With a three man midfield and five men already at the back, it was all about attack for Sevilla. There were no holding midfielders as Romaric and Didier Zakora featured as centre midfielders. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Diego-Capel-c11100 was the one who played as an attacking midfielder
to add an extra man up front. The two strikers featuring for Sevilla included the Brazilian man Luis Fabiano along with Negredo.
With the game starting at outstanding pace, it was difficult for the referee to give out good decisions. There were many tackles flying around and a lot of offside decisions that were incorrectly given. Real Madrid were waved offside thrice when http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Karim-Benzema-c20350
and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629 were clear on goal and were also at the correct onside position. However, the wrong decisions were made and that was the basic reason why the Los Blancos could not score a goal in the first even though they were dominant throughout the
first 45 minutes.
After the first half Real Madrid had 70% of the possession while Sevilla could only enjoy 30%. Despite the fact that Sevilla were concentrating more towards defending, they played great counter attacking football and the mid table Spanish La Liga side were
about to score a goal on over four occasions.
Sevilla were definitely missing their two important players Jesus Navas and Kanoute. There is no doubt that last season when they emerged victorious against Real Madrid it was the Spanish right winger Jesus Navas who simply out ran the Real Madrid full back
time and time again. On the other hand, Kanoute always found himself at the end of the crosses and moves as he managed to score a goal in order to help his team win games. With both these men missing this game due to injury, it was obvious that Sevilla were
to find it hard against the Los Blancos.
With the first half ending goalless, Real Madrid totally dominated the game. They took their shots on target and pressed the opponents time and time again. Even though Real Madrid were the side more dominant, Sevilla didn’t fail to take their chances on
goal either and they were good at counter attacking as they tried to out run the Real Madrid defensive walls who were being played high up for a change.
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