Real Madrid in Champions League Quarterfinals

Real Madrid (26' Higuaín, 55', 90'+4' Cristiano, 70' Benzema) 4 – 1 (77' Tosic) CSKA Moscow

Tonight los Blancos faced their Russian opponents CSKA Moscow in the return leg of Champions League.  The aggregate prior to the match read 1-1, and a win for Real Madrid would take them one step closer to Munich.  However, the same could be said for CSKA.  Either way, both teams faced a lot of pressure, perhaps more so for the men in White, who played to full Santiago Bernabéu.

The first half was intense, CSKA Moscow's Ahmed Musaab [Musa] proving to be quite the troublemaker for Real Madrid.  The Nigerian midfielder came close to scoring, getting past our defensive line on more than one occasion.  In spite of the numerous chances the Russian side created, nothing came of it.  It would be Real Madrid who opened up the scoresheet.  Gonzalo "Pipita" Higuaín saw the back of the net at the 26' with a right-footed shot at close range to the center of goal, Kaká at the assist.  This would be the Argentine's 21^st goal this season, his third in the Champions League.  ¡Felicidades, Pipa!  The goal brought the aggregate up 2-1.

 

Marcelo had a golden opportunity of scoring Madrid's second with a beautiful pass from Xabi Alonso.  However, the Brasilian fell flat on his face.  Whether he was psyched out from CSKA's goalkeeper Chepchugov coming his way or whether he lost footing, he missed a great chance.  Nothing more came out of the first half other than some fancy footwork – putting it lightly – from Mesut Özil, who brilliantly got through three defenders and kept the ball in play.

The second half flew by quicker than the first, even with the four minutes tacked on at the end.  It seemed that whatever Mourinho had to say to his side during descanso lit a fire.  Cristiano scored at the 55' with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner, Sergio Ramos at the assist.  The Portuguese international seemed hungry for a second, making multiple attempts, only to have them blocked, saved, or go wide.

Karim Benzema subbed Pipita, who played very well this evening, in my opinion, out at the 70' minute mark.  The Bernabéu thanked the Argentine appropriately with a standing ovation.  Not even thirty seconds after having come on for Pipita, Benzema scored Madrid's third.  The Frenchman scored with a right-footed shot to the bottom left corner with great ease.  Another substitution was made for Real Madrid at the 76', with Esteban Granero coming on for Kaká, who, like Pipita, received a standing ovation.

My hopes of seeing Iker Casillas leaving this match with a cleansheet were dashed a minute later at the 77' when CSKA Moscow's Zoran Tosic sent the ball sailing into the top left corner.  The goalkeeper looked displeased in his yellow kit.  My heart – along with those of my fellow Madridistas – could not take it as our Russian opponents upped their possession and managed to give our defense more trouble than they bargained for.  But in all fairness, Madrid's defensive line was all over the place and lacked focus tonight.

I also shouldn't have spoken too soon.  Sergio Ramos, for the third time tonight, made a blatant foul at the 89'.  However, for the third time, he walked away scot-free.  It certainly was a wonder how the Spanish defender avoided his daily yellow.  (Speaking of yellows, Xabi Alonso was booked and will miss the next CL match.)  Four minutes were added and I prayed things did not turn out how they did in the first leg, with CSKA scoring at the very last second.  It was not CSKA who would score at the very last second, but Real Madrid.

Cristiano finally got that second goal, a few seconds before final whistle.  He sealed Madrid's pass into the quarterfinals with a right-footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner, Benzema at the assist.  Benzema was wide open and could have easily made the shot, but the unselfish player that he is, passed it to Cristiano.  Thus concluded the match with Real Madrid winning 4-1 over CSKA, aggregate 5-2.

The men play Málaga next in La Liga at the Santiago Bernabéu, Sunday, March 18.  Until then, ¡Hala Madrid!

written by Gail Hidalgo