Copa del Rey: Ponferradina vs. Real Madrid

Enough El Clásico talk.  As vice-captain Sergio Ramos said in an interview earlier this week, "this escudo (crest) always requires you to look forward.  Tomorrow, the defense of the Copa begins.  Our hopes are intact.  Hala Madrid!"  So let's put any discussion of La Liga on hold until Saturday because tonight marked the first night Real Madrid began their defense of the Spanish Copa del Rey.  Los Blancos faced Ponferradina, a Spanish team that plays in Segunda División B – Group 2, at El Toralín.

José Mourinho called 17 men up for duty against La Ponfe, including three canteranos (Jesús and Jesé from Castilla and Fernando Pacheco from Real Madrid C).  Iker Casillas, Pepe, Fábio Coentrão, Lass, Xabi Alonso, Ángel Di María, Álvaro Arbeloa, and Karim Benzema missed the match, staying behind in Madrid.   As before, Madrid's Starting XI allowed spectators the opportunity to see big names, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, share the field with some players who rarely step foot on pitch.  It would have been a mistake on Madrid's part to underestimate their opponents, as Ponferradina is currently the runner-up in their division.

Divisions aside, Ponferradina proved to be a force to be reckoned with in the 1^st half, with 43% ball possession.  La Ponfe certainly were not going to let one of the best football clubs in the world intimidate them.  29 minutes.  29 minutes until Real Madrid scored.  Los Blancos opened the game at the 29' minute mark with a goal by José Callejón with a left-footed shot, with Sami Khedira at the assist.  The team missed an opportunity of upping the score 2-0 minutes later at the 32' with a Varane header that narrowly missed the target, Kaká at the assist.  The team went into descanso with a 1-point lead over Ponferradina.

The 2^nd half proved to be a bit more exciting than the 1^st.  It is a wonder what was said in Ponferradina's locker rooms because the team upped their defense, as seen with their collection of yellow cards.  Speaking of yellow cards, there was a little tit-for-tat between RM's Raúl Albiol and Ponferradina's Acorán, which resulted in Albiol's expulsion from the match in the 69' minute.  Acorán committed a foul by tripping Albiol, which Albiol returned the favor for.  However, unlike Acorán, Albiol received a booking, his second yellow of the evening, therefore forcing a red.  Los Blancos had to play with a man down.  But that did not seem to stop them...

The team hardly seemed fazed.  This probably has everything to do with José Mourinho training his men to play a man down at Valdebebas.  In fact, los Blancos were comfortable out on the pitch, pushing forward.  Cristiano scored with a left-footed shot, after a solo run, for Madrid minutes later at the 74'.  Gonzalo Higuain gets dangerously close to Ponferradina's coal, but is caught offside twice at the 76' and 78'.  Real Madrid won 2-0 over Ponferradina, who were unable to score, even with 3 minutes of added time.

Tonight Madridistas were blessed to see Jesé, a player for Real Madrid Castilla, come on for Cristiano at the 78'.  Tonight marked his debut.  Like the man he replaced on the pitch, he can play either as a forward or on either wing.  Doesn't hurt that he's very quick too.  Felicidades, Jesé, un abrazo.  Real Madrid prepare for their upcoming match against Sevilla this Saturday, December 17 at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán.  ¡Hala Madrid!

written by Gail Hidalgo