Arriving in Santander

Racing Santander vs. Real Madrid

Goalkeepers: Casillas & Dudek;

Defenders: Sergio Ramos, Salgado, Pepe, Marcelo, Cannavaro & Heinze;

Midfielders: Diarra, Balboa, Gago, Robinho, Robben, Baptista & Sneijder;

Forwards: Higuaín, Raúl & Saviola.

Real Madrid 2 - Racing Santander 0; Raul & Gonzalo! :hell yea!:

Racing Santander: Tono; Pinillos, Moraton, Cesar Navas, Ayoze; Jorge Lopez, Duscher, Colsa (Orteman, min.81), Serrano (Smolarek, min.57); Munitis (Pablo Alvarez, min.65) and Tchite.

Real Madrid: Iker Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro, Heinze; Gago, Diarra, Sneijder (Baptista, min.89), Robinho (Higuain, min.75); Robben (Balboa, min.86) and Raul.

Referee: Cesar Muniz Fernandez. Booked Serrano (min.17), Moraton (min.34), Tchite (min.49), Pinillos (min.51), Cannavaro (min. 80).

Goals:

0-1 (min.13): Raul

0-2 (min.90): Higuain

Player Ratings: Racing Santander 0-2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid produced a clinical display to keep their second clean sheet in eleven and first back-to-back wins since January as La Liga is now all but theirs...

Casillas - 6: Made some decent stops, but also a couple of uncharacteristic fumbles. It was a Real Madrid clean sheet, but for once, it wasn't down to Casillas.

Ramos - 7: A strong defensive performance. With Real Madrid actually fielding two wingers, he was not required going forward as much as usual, but he battled well all game.

Cannavaro - 5.5: A little shaky. Was beaten more times than he would have liked and was lacking a little composure at times. Made some good challenges and provided good cover at times as well. Overall, an average performance.

Pepe - 7: Solid. Stood his ground well, was strong in the challenge and didn't look like being beaten, shone in the second half when he was needed the most; quietly went about his job to good effect.

Heinze - 9: Man of the Match, and his best performance for Real Madrid yet, as he has had a brilliant April so far. He was rarely required going forward, but that's not his strength anyway. He stayed tight to his man at all times and made things as difficult as possible for Racing, sweeping around on the cover a number of times and made sure that, irrespective of Racing's movement and pace up front, they would get no joy.

Gago - 6.5: Put in a great performance in the first half. Put in the hard, defensive graft and also put together good passes and rarely gave away possession. In the second, he got a little wayward with some stray passes and late challenges. Possibly caught by surprise when Racing's energy levels remained high until the end; could maybe do with a rest, but looks a class act in the making.

Diarra - 8: A rock-solid showing from the Malian, most definitely doing his claim for a first team spot no harm at all. He was absolutely unbeatable and dominated the middle of the park. He put himself about wherever he was needed and showed he's no mug on the ball either. Often forced Racing wide, as they knew they could not get through him in the middle.

Robben - 7: As usual, his running was a joy to watch but he did not release the ball quickly enough. Too many times he hindered the team by choosing not to pass. Missed a great chance to kill the game with what would have been one for the highlight reel when he crashed a half-volley wide of the target.

Sneijder - 7.5: Was all over the park, relishing the free role. Involved in almost every move, and his energy was a real asset to Real Madrid going forward.

Robinho - 6.5: Slowly getting back to his usual self. His rise to prominence has come at a cost, as he is the most tightly marked man in Real Madrid's team now. Nevertheless, a beautiful assist for the goal and a decent showing.

Raul - 7: In the right place at the right time to get a slight touch on Robinho's cross. Showed great energy, put in work all over the park and his technique was exceptional at times.

Substitutes: Higuain - 7 (good energy, well taken goal), Balboa - 6, Baptista - n/a.

"We haven't taken care of business just yet" Gonzalo Higuaín

Gonzalo Higuaín scored the second of Real Madrid's two goals on Sunday to clinch the crucial victory.

“I am very pleased with the victory. All we can do is have fun but with caution. There's still a lot to play. We have to continue working hard. These three points were very important, but so was the team's attitude."

“It was a very important triumph. The team played great, managed to win on a tricky pitch, and extended the lead. Now we have to maintain it, but we're going to be prudent because we haven't taken care of business just yet. This was, however, an important step towards the league."

Higuain Refuses To Devalue La Liga Crown

Real Madrid forward Gonzalo Higuain has dismissed suggestions that if they win this year's La Liga title, Madrid will do so as the best of a bad bunch, indicating that the title would be fully deserved because of the effort they have put in throughout the campaign.

The number of points dropped by Madrid and Barcelona in the second half of the campaign, along with Villarreal failing to deliver from their promising position three weeks ago has prompted many to suggest that this year's title race has been a poor anticlimax and an indication as to the lack of strength in the Spanish league.

Higuain does not follow this line of thought and believes that Madrid's potential title success will be as important as it would be in any other year.

"Sincerely, I do not give importance to such suggestions. The league is won by the team with the most desire, the one that is the most consistent over the season, and Real Madrid are leading by their own merits, nobody is giving points away," he told Marca.

Depending on results elsewhere, Madrid could have the opportunity to wrap up the title against Athletic Bilbao on Sunday and although Higuain admitted that the squad would like to seal their win as soon as possible, they are aware that there will be more chances to come.

"The squad is excited about the prospect of being champions on Sunday, although we do not want to think about that, because it depends on other results. There is no anxiety, just determination to go and win the next match," he affirmed.

"The title will come in due course, it is necessary to be calm and to concentrate on obtaining the three points because [Athletic] will also come to win. We will go into the game with the intention of scoring an early goal, but we will be patient if not, because the game lasts ninety minutes."

Osasuna

1- OSASUNA: Ricardo; Javier Flano (Pandiani, 62’), Cruchaga, Miguel Flano, Monreal; Azpilicueta, Punal, Astudillo, Vela; Portillo (Sola, 62’).

2- REAL MADRID: Casillas; Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Heinze; Raul (Higuain, 64’), Diarra, gago, Robben; Sneijder (Baptista, 84’); Saviola (Torres, 52’).

GOALS:

1-0, m.83: Punal.

1-1, m.87: Robben.

1-2, m.89: Higuaín.

REFEREE: Luis Medina Cantalejo. Booked Azpilicueta (14’), Heinze (37’), Cruchaga (37’), Sneijder (51’), Diarra (53’), Miguel Flaño (54’), Torres (66’), Punal (74’), and sent off Cannavaro (11’ & 46’).

More than 200 pics here; (sth. about 24 MB)

http://rapidshare.com/files/112822399/real_camp.rar

Higuaín: I Knew My Day Would Come

Gonzalo Higuaín believes that all the adulation he is receiving for scoring the goal that won Real Madrid the title is reward for all his hard work and maintaining a level head.

The Argentinian forward became Los Merengues' hero on Sunday night when he scored the winning goal against Osasuna to spark wild title celebrations in the Reyno de Navarra.

"I knew this moment would come. I have worked very hard and I have never thrown in the towel. It is a team triumph and was one of the happiest days of my life," he explained.

"Now I have to continue to improve and to win more trophies. The party that we had at La Cibeles and to see the fans line the streets was amazing. I am delighted.

Higuaín has had his critics in Spain since joining Madrid from River Plate, but thinks that the fact that he has not let them affect him has helped him overcome them.

"People can think what they like. I know that I am going to give everything that I have in every game whether things turn out well or badly for me. There will always be criticism and praise too," he continued.

"Just as long as you never believe that you are the best or the worst it will be fine. You have to maintain a balance.

"I am really pleased to have won two leagues with Real Madrid. It is something incredible. I still cannot believe that we were losing with five minutes to go and turned it around."

There were suggestions that Madrid would ideally like to win the title against Barcelona on Wednesday evening, but Higuaín rejects that idea and is now looking forward to playing the Blaugrana without the pressure.

"Myself and the whole team went out to win in Pamplona and we did not have some strange sense of wanting to wait for the Barcelona game. The dream was to win it as soon as possible and fortunately that was possible," he said.

"It will be my first derby in the Bernabéu and I am really looking forward to playing in it. My team-mates have all said it is a great game and I am keen to be involved."