Real Madrid: Back to Work!

 

Real Madrid's 2012/13 preseason tour began yesterday in Oviedo, Spain up against Real Oviedo at Nuevo Tartiere Stadium.  The preseason began on July 16^th for the men in white – except for the Euro 2012 internationals and Marcelo (who will be playing in the Olympics) – when they returned to Valdebebas (Real Madrid City) to undergo medical examinations and begin training.  It's quite strange to be at this point of the preseason and not have any new signings, but nevertheless, the boys are back.

July 16 – Players who did not play the Eurocopa are due at Valdebebas.

July 23 – Benzema due back.

July 24 – Friendly against Real Oviedo in Oviedo.

The team will return to Madrid after the clash and remain there until the 27^th, when the men travel to Lisbon to face Benfica in the fifth edition of the Eusébio Cup.  Benfica won the Cup of Portugal and reached the UCL quarterfinals last season.

July 27 – Friendly against Benfica in Lisbon [Eusébio Cup].

The Eusebio Cup has gathered some of the best teams in the world in the last four years.  Some of those teams include AC Milan, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur.  Real Madrid poses to be the first Spanish club to participate in the tournament.

Real Madrid Summer Tour Kicks Off with a Bang

Real Oviedo 1 - 5 Real Madrid

(52' Martins) - (8' Lucas Vázquez, 38' Denis Cheryshev, 40' Granero, 55', 74' Di Maria) 

 

Real Madrid played their first summer friendly this Tuesday night against Real Oviedo, easily triumphing over their counterparts with a 5-1 win.  With many of our first-teamers absent – whether from vacationing or representing at the Olympics – the starting lineup was filled with many a Castilla player.

Los Blancos employed a 4-3-3 formation at the start, with Alvaro Morata as center forward.  The men made it clear that they wanted to win when Lucas Vázquez found the back of net in the 8^th minute.  Oviedo pushed forward in search of an equalizer.  However, the Asturians found themselves incapable of such, having left gaps at the back, which RM took advantage of wholeheartedly.  Juanfran had an opportunity of doubling Madrid's lead with a long-range shot in the 23^rd minute.  But it proved to be too far out of range.  It was certainly a great effort on his part.

Clash of the Veterans

Real Madrid (6' Morientes, 11' Figo, 69' Redondo) 3 – 2 (9' Sharpe, 79' Sheringham)

What a special treat it was for Madridistas and football fans everywhere.  The Santiago Bernabéu hosted the third edition of the Corazón Classic match, which featured veterans from England's Manchester United.  It was a highly anticipated game, showcasing ace football and legends such as Luis Figo, Zinadine Zidane, Teddy Sheringham, and Andy Cole... just to name a few.

Fernando Morientes netted the opener from a lobbed shot on the 6' minute mark, putting Real Madrid's veterans at the lead, but Lee Sharp's header following a Cole turn and assist leveled the playing field.

Both sides had multiple chances to score and it would be Madrid that pulled ahead, with a phenomenal shot by Figo right outside the box at the 11' after receiving the ball from Zidane.  Neither side managed to score in the remainder of the first half, but spectators definitely got their money's worth of spectacular football.

Real Madrid Win 2-0 in Friendly Against Kuwait NT

Real Madrid traveled to Kuwait Tuesday morning to close out the season with a friendly against the country's national team.  José Mourinho stated in a presser that the team was "here to play, not be tourists," with Iker Casillas echoing the sentiment saying "we're here to play a great game and to win."  And win they did.  Los Blancos put an end to the '11/'12 season with a 2-0 victory against the Kuwait NT, goals from Ángel Di María and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Al-Kuwait Sports Club stadium was filled to capacity, the match starting with a lot of pomp and circumstance, with firework displays and fans blowing vuvuzelas in the stands.  Cristiano made a first goal attempt with a header following a cross from Mesut Özil, but nothing came of it.  It would be Di María who opened the score sheet at the 27' minute mark, with a left-footed shot from outside the box to the bottom right corner.  Cristiano got his goal minutes later at the 31', with a – would you guess it – a header from very close range.  The Portuguese all-star made a few more attempts throughout the half, but none resulted in goal.   Nevertheless, he received cheers from Kuwaiti fans for every move.