Spanish Primera Division - First half review: Hercules versus Real Madrid
The Spanish league encounter between Real Madrid and the newly promoted Hercules side began with the bang in the first half as Hercules struck first blood in the very first minute of the match. David Trezeguet combined with David
Cortes down the right hand side of the attack to climb above Ricardo Carvalho and plant his header into the bottom corner of Real Madrid’s net. It was quite a shocking start for Jose Mourinho’s side who found themselves a goal down within the very first minute
of the first half.
Real Madrid found it hard in the opening five minutes to really get a grip on the match as they were stunned by the early goal. Nonetheless, it was Marcelo who was the first Real Madrid player to try his luck on the opposition’s
goal but the Brazilian’s effort in the 7th minute of the match was way wide of the target as the referee pointed towards a goal kick for Hercules F.C. Hercules defeated Barcelona earlier on in the season at the Nou Camp, therefore their approach
to the match was not a surprising one for anyone in the ground.
Interestingly enough Real found it tough to get going in the midfield area as Hercules didn’t give up an inch of the grass in the center of the park without a fight during the first half. Trezeguet was the scourge of Real’s defense
earlier on in the first half; his aerial ability really provided an avenue for Hercules to build their attacks on. In the 25th minute Real had another hiccup as Trezeguet was played in from his midfield yet again but this time Iker Casillas was
at hand to deny Hercules another goal.
Ronaldo had a chance to bring Real back into the match in the 27th minute but the Portuguese winger volleyed his shot wide. The ball fell to the ex-Manchester United man after Higuain had collected a cross from Angel
Di Maria from the right hand side of the Madrid attack. Real Madrid’s front line which consisted of Mesut Ozil, Cristiano Ronaldo, Di Maria and Higuain looked frustrated in attack throughout the first half as they were denied time and space on the ball by
the Hercules players.
In the 33rd minute, Ronaldo had another chance to pull his team level when Higuain’s shot was parried right into the winger’s path by the Hercules goalkeeper. However, Ronaldo’s shot was blocked by the opposition’s defense
as the attack broke down once again for the Los Blancos. In the 38th minute, Real’s defense was again thrown into chaos due to a cross from the right hand side of Hercules’s attack. But the ball in found no one as Carvalho cleared up for Jose’s
team. The half eventually ended with Hercules in the lead by a goal to nil as Mourinho’s men looked dejected and disappointed after a blunt first half from their side.
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