Real look to hit back
Madrid, March 23: Real Madrid insist they have not been paralysed by stage-fright despite seeing their 10-point leadin La Liga slashed to six by bitter rivals Barcelona.
Jose Mourinho’s side, who tackle Real Sociedad on Saturday, have dropped four points in the past week after two 1-1 draws at home to Malaga and away to Villarreal, where they also had two players sent off. Defending champions Barcelona, meanwhile, go to in-form Mallorca, unbeaten in four games.
Madrid were surprised by a last minute leveller from a free-kick by Malaga’s Santi Cazorla last Sunday, before losing Sergio Ramos and Mesut Ozil to red cards against Villarreal on Wednesday after Marcos Senna had equalised with another late free-kick.
Mourinho and assistant Rui Farias were sent from the bench in a sign that nerves may be creeping in as Madrid get closer to breaking Barca’s dominance of the last three La Liga titles. Having lost only once in 22 league games — 2-1 at home to Barcelona in December — it was a major shock for ‘Los blancos’ to drop points twice in a matter of days. But Madrid president Florentino Perez sent out a message of defiance in the wake of Wednesday’s setback. “Madrid and their fans never give up,” he said at the presentation of a Real Madrid theme park set to open in the United Arab Emirates in 2015.
Real Sociedad lost 1-3 at home to Levante in midweek, having to play the second-half with 10 men after midfielder Gorka Elustondo was sent off. Centre-half Mikel Gonzalez believes the feeling of injustice will spur them on in the Santiago Bernabeu.
“There is no point in complaining about referee decisions, both teams have a lot at stake on Saturday but if we can survive to the last period of the game alive, we have a chance of getting something from Madrid,” he said. — AFP