Real Madrid booked a place in the Champions League final despite their 1-2 defeat in the semi-final return leg to Atletico Madrid at the Vicente Calderon stadium here.

A close range goal from Isco on the break of half-time was vital in easing Real Madrid into the final on 4-2 aggregate after a blistering start by their rivals, who won 2-1 here on Wednesday night.

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Knowing they needed at least three goals to get back from their 3-0 first leg defeat, Atletico proposed a physical affair and Danilo and Stefan Savic were booked in the first five minutes. Before the half-time break, Diego Godin, Gabi and Sergio Ramos had joined them in the referee’s book, all for protesting as the referee let several tough challenges go unpunished.

By then Atletico were 2-0 ahead. Saul Niguez headed the home side ahead from a Koke corner in the 11th minute before Antoine Griezmann doubled Atletico’s lead six minutes later after Rafael Varene had fouled Fernando Torres in the Real Madrid penalty area.

To their credit Real Madrid remained calm and proceeded to dominate possession for the rest of the half, frustrating the home players and taking the sting out of Atletico’s attacking thrust. Isco got a vital away goal three minutes before half-time after brilliant work from Karim Benzema in twisting his way past two defenders on the goal-line before pulling the ball back for Tony Kroos. Although Jan Oblak saved the German’s shot, Isco was on hand to score from close range.

Real looked to continue their control of midfield in the second half and Atletico coach Diego Simeone responded with a double change replacing Torres and Gimenez with Thomas Partey and Kevin Gameiro.

Keylor Navas made a double save on 65 minutes to deny Yannick Carrasco’s low shot and Antoine Griezmann’s header from the rebound.

Luka Modric then had a goal ruled out due to a questionable positional offside from Ronaldo before Navas saved low on his near post to deny Griezmann.

As the players tired the game opened up and only a late challenge from Thomas denied Benzema, while Ramos denied Griezmann almost on the goal-line.

The game ended in the middle of a tremendous thunderstorm and despite their side’s exit, the home fans cheered their players off the pitch. They knew Atletico had tried everything possible, but the damage had been done eight days before in the Bernabeu stadium.

IANS

Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo was named here as the winner of the 2016 Ballon d’Or for the fourth time, second only to five-time recipient Lionel Messi.

The Portuguese international’s first golden ball came in 2008, before Manchester United sold him to the Blancos for $132 million, EFE news reported.

Ronaldo scored 51 goals in 54 games this year while leading Real Madrid to their record 11th Champions League trophy and Portugal to its first European Championship.

The 31-year-old striker was not on hand for the ceremony in Paris, as Real Madrid are in Japan this week for the semifinals of the Club World Cup.

“This has been the best year of my career from both a team and individual level,” Ronaldo said in an interview recorded earlier at the Santiago Bernabeu. “To win the title for Portugal was what was left to achieve on my resume and it was one of the most important moments.”

“But to win Champions League as well with Real Madrid was huge,” he said, surrounded by the 11 trophies the team has won in Europe’s elite club competition.

“This is a dream come true and it is the fourth time. I feel very proud. This win is for my teammates in both the club and the national team. It is incredible to earn this trophy again,” Ronaldo said.

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Presented by the magazine France Football, the Ballon d’Or has been awarded every year since 1956.

Messi, whose Barça squad won La Liga and the Copa del Rey came second in the voting for the Ballon d’Or, followed by Antoine Griezmann of Champions League finalist Atletico Madrid.

IANS

Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo said on Monday that he hopes to carry on playing football for another 10 years when he will be 41 years old.

The Portugal captain made his comments at the press conference held after he extended his current contract with Real Madrid until the summer of 2021, when he will be 36 years old, reports Xinhua.

After thanking the club and the fans, Ronaldo said it was a “very important” day for him.

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“I have renewed my contract for the next five years, but it will not be my last contract. I want to play on until I am 41,” he said, adding he intended “to carry on making history with Real Madrid”.

“Five years is a long time and I am going to give my best… I want to continue winning and I want to carry on learning,” commented the forward.

“I have a long time ahead of me to enjoy at a professional level. I have 10 years left to play,” insisted Ronaldo, who also didn’t rule out remaining at the club when he finally hangs up his boots.

“You never know; I am very happy in Madrid, my son is also happy seeing his father here, so are my family and friends… I don’t know if I will still be here because the present is what matters, but I am always going to be connected to and identify with the club,” he assured.

IANS

Real Madrid chief coach Zinedine Zidane has admitted that at times he loses his temper with the footballers at the Spanish capital club, but he works alongside some “great professionals”. Real Madrid lost the top spot of the La Liga on Sunday after being held to a 1-1 draw by top-flight minnows Eibar. It is the third consecutive league draw for Madrid and it came after perhaps their worst performance of the season, reports Xinhua.

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“There are ups and downs in life and you have to try and find balance,” explained Zidane in an event held in Switzerland. “It is important to have good manners, but I have my moments when I lose my temper and I can get angry. Sometimes there are even a few shouts at halftime and they get results,” he commented.

“Players are like big children, although they all have a passion for the game. They are great professionals and the best players in the world. I know this is a complicated moment after three draws, but they always want to improve,” said Zidane, who defended his squad.

“My players have values and that has not surprised me after the eight months I have spent with them. I am very happy with what I say every day,” he explained.
Zidane also discussed the issue of signings after a summer in which Real Madrid’s only transfer activity was to regain striker Alvaro Morata from Juventus.

“It is my choice who we sign and if the President (Florentino Perez) wants to sign someone, he does it with my approval. We didn’t need signings this summer as the only position which doesn’ t have cover is Casimiro’s, everywhere else we have two players for each position,” said the French legend.

First he was mobbed at the Mumbai airport then the Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane was given a grand welcome at the promotional event organised by Kanakia.

One of the best footballers ever to take the field, Zidane is visiting India with his wife Veronique Zidane.

The thunderous welcome at the event, filled with firecrackers, had Zidane overwhelmed. To the pleasant surprise of his fans the iconic footballer also did a ramp walk and promised to visit India again.

Zidane said, “This is my first time here (in India) and the idea is to come back, definitely.” Actor Bipasha Basu and cricketer Zaheer Khan also attended the event.

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