Post-match: Real Madrid vs Granada

MADRID, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 02: Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid competes for the ball with Adam Romero Nyom (L) of Granada during the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Granada at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on September 2, 2012 in Madrid, Spain.

Real Madrid coasted to a 3-0 victory last night after a brace from Cristiano Ronaldo and a goal from Gonzalo Higuain as they picked up their first La Liga win of the season. New arrival Luka Modric started his first game for the Whites as Mesut Ozil started the match from the bench. Jose Callejon started the game too, and Di Maria was left on the bench. Karim Benzema, on the other hand, started the match ahead of Argentine Higuain. Granada otherwise fielded a rather offensive-minded eleven, with Youssef El-Arabi, Juanma Ortiz, Fabian Orellana and Antonio Floro Flores all playing from the start.

The first goal of the match came in the 26th minute when Ronaldo slotted Jose Callejon’s pass between Rodriguez’s legs from a tight angle on the left side of the area. He grabbed his second just after half time from a brilliant through pass by Angel Di Maria. Although the keeper was able to save the initial effort, it didn’t stop Ronaldo scoring from the rebound.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 149th and 150th goals for Real Madrid, before being subbed due to an injury after a nasty tackle from Borja Gomez who was sent off right immediately, after a second booking.

Ronaldo in pain after being subbed off.

Real Madrid were able to find the net once again when Higuain was left unmarked and was able tap in a cross from Karim Benzema to cap off the victory. Slight suspicion of offside but the goal stood anyway.

Luka Modric had a great game and looked good in the centre of the park before being substituted for Mesut Ozil in the second half. Playing in an advanced role, the Croat was involved in the few promising attacking openings Madrid managed to create on the night. He had 86% pass accuracy with 53 touches off the ball, committing two fouls, embarking on two dribbles & entering two tackles.

What followed after the match was something of a worry for the Madrid manager and fans alike – Cristiano Ronaldo who refused to celebrate after scoring the brace was reported to have cried for 20 minutes in the dressing room amid rumours that he was depressed.

Cristiano: I’m sad – when I don’t celebrate goals it’s because I’m not happy. It’s a professional thing. Real Madrid know why I’m not happy. Iniesta? No, he doesn’t have anything to do with it. I’m not going say any more on the subject. I’m now only thinking about Portugal and that’s it. I’m not going to talk about the matter further. The club knows what’s going on with me.’

Newspapers all over Spain and the world are busy putting up stories about Cristiano wanting to leave the club after they failed to negotiate a successful contract extension, leaving him frustrated about the club’s lack of desire to retain his services, after what he has accomplished in his three years at the Bernabeu. For all we know, that he did this with purpose, but he also left a bit of mystery about it all as he refrained from getting too specific.

Real Madrid now stand the ninth position in the table, rounding off a week in which the Whites have recorded two consecutive wins and the first title of the season. Real next face Sevilla at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on Sep 16, 1.30 AM IST.

Just in case you missed the goals: