an upset against the home side, who briefly
levelled in first half and missed a second half
penalty
Real Madrid extended their winning streak to 20
games in all competitions with a 4-1 away to
Almeria in La Liga, but they didn’t have it all
their own way on Friday night.
Iker Casillas produced an excellent stop to keep
out Verza’s second-half spot-kick at the Estadio
de los Juegos Mediterraneos as the hosts passed
up the chance to make it 2-2.
That miss was made to look even more
costly when Cristiano Ronaldo’s amazing season
continued with a late brace to give the final
scoreline a flattering gloss for Real.
Verza had earlier shown his finishing prowess
when his stunning long-range strike in the 39th
minute cancelled out Isco’s well-taken opener.
The European champions were ahead by the
break, though, as Gareth Bale headed home Toni
Kroos’ cross.
Ronaldo’s goals then proved enough for Real to
extend the longest winning streak by a Spanish
team and the Liga leaders will travel to Morocco
to contest the Club World Cup with a five-point
gap over rivals Barcelona, who play Getafe on
Saturday.
By contrast, Almeria are still searching for a first
league win since September and they will hope
that Juan Ignacio Martinez – who now takes over
as head coach – can reverse their fortunes.
After initially struggling to assert themselves, Real
grew into the game and in the 13th minute
Kroos’ excellently controlled volley cannoned off
the crossbar via a deflection.
Ronaldo showed the first glimpse of his talent
soon after with a marauding run down the left
and his cross forced Almeria goalkeeper Ruben to
come out quickly to smother Karim Benzema’s
shot.
Real were largely frustrated in the attacking
third by a stern Almeria defence, but the hosts’
resistance was broken in the 34th minute.
Benzema’s cross from the right picked out Isco at
the back post and the Spain international
dummied to shoot before cutting inside Michel
and curling his effort past the despairing Ruben.
The visitors were caught off guard just five
minutes later, though, as Almeria levelled from
Verza’s expert 30-yard volley that nestled in the
bottom right-hand corner.
However, Almeria were not level long as slack
defending allowed Bale to head home Kroos’
excellent centre four minutes before the break.
The Welshman should have done better when he
burst clear in the 55th minute, only to hold the
ball too long and overhit his side-foot pass to the
wide open Ronaldo.
Ronaldo then saw a drilled shot from the edge of
the box saved low by Ruben, before Almeria were
handed a lifeline in the 62nd minute.
Referee Alfonso Alvarez harshly adjudged that
Marcelo had fouled Edgar Mendez in the penalty
area, but the underdogs could not capitalise as
Casillas produced a fine save low to his left from
Verza’s effort.
Ronaldo, who had endured a frustrating evening
to that point, rubbed salt in the wound nine
minutes from time when he played a one-two
with Benzema and slid the ball into the
unguarded goal.
The Portuguese then bagged his 25th league goal
of the season in the 89th minute when he drilled
home Dani Carvajal’s cross from close range.
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