Sneijder Strikes To Save Schuster And Real Madrid

Despite his claims to the contrary, Bernd Schuster would certainly have been wary of a potential sacking should his team not pick up the three points. In an effort to achieve this, he brought Miguel Torres, Pepe, Wesley Sneijder and Royston Drenthe in to the starting line-up. Raul, of course, kept his place.

Recreativo, meanwhile, lined up in their traditional 4-4-2 formation, with Kanga Akale preferred to Marco Ruben up font.

First Half

The Bernabeu was hardly rocking as the fans voted with their feet, leaving a large amount of seats empty. Those that were there would not have been impressed with the start, as Recreativo, 19th before the game, enjoyed far too much time and space. Indeed, the visitors had the first chance of the match when Javier Camunas shot straight at Iker Casillas, which was followed a minute later by another poor miss from inside the area by the same player. This woke Real Madrid up, as they found their feet in attack.

On 12 minutes, Los Merengues finally had their first chance, as Sneijder headed over folowing a cross from Drenthe. Two minutes later, they should have taken the lead as Gonzalo Higuain rounded the keeper, but his finish was a tame one and Morris was able to clear off the line. Sneijder then thought he had scored the opener, but his goal was ruled out because Higuain had taken the ball across the goal-line before passing it back to the Dutchman.

The home side had the momentum and should have continued to apply pressure, but instead it was Recre who regained the ascendancy, with Javier Camunas having an especially lively game. Not for the first time this season, Los Blancos looked toothless and unimaginative in attack, failing to exert any serious pressure on their opponents. For a side tipped to be playing in La Segunda, Recreativo were hardly looking daunted at what used to be a fortress for Madrid.

On 33 minutes, Higuain had a decent chance to open the scoring, but he blazed wide from an acute angle. Four minutes later, Raul had a golden chance to get on the scoresheet, but his finish was a poor one. Sneijder sent an excellent cross in from the left, but from eight yards out, Raul could only head wide.

Sneijder was looking lively, and it was the Dutchman who broke the deadlock on 39 minutes. There was a touch of fortune about the goal, however, as a trademark strike from 25 yards by the Dutchman deflected off Beto's knee and over Riesgo, giving Madrid a much needed lead. Recre were demoralized but not defeated, as Akale's shot just before half-time deflected wide off Pepe. That was the last action of the first half as Real Madrid entered the break ahead, but with considerable work still to be done.

Second Half

Real Madrid needed to make sure there were no disasters in the second period, and they started brightly, threatening to add to their lead. Higuan was lacking his usual killer instinct, as he flashed a shot wide when one on one with the keeper. Minutes later, some horrendous defending from Recre gifted the ball to Raul on the edge of the box, but his shot missed the mark as well. Recre showed Madrid that they could not afford to relax, however, when a golden chance ended comically as Jesus Vazquez ran into his team-mate Camunas in the box after Casillas had been left stranded.

The brief scare alerted the home side, who continued to press for a second. On the hour mark, Pepe's long shot ended up on the wrong side of the far post, while Guti's volley following Sneijder's corner suffered the same fate. On 65 minutes, the goalscoring hero Sneijder picked up a knock, and was duly replaced by his compatriot, Rafael Van Der Vaart. Lucas Alcaraz responded with a substitution of his own, bringing on Adrian Colunga for Javi Guerrero, thus creating a new frontline with Ersen Martin, who had come on from Akale.

Real Madrid have lost no opportunity to complain about referees this season, but on 70 minutes the officials did them a massive favour when they failed to award Recre a penalty following Pepe's handball in the box. On 78 minutes, Real Madrid fans looked on in horror as Higuain went down injured and was promptly stretchered off, following the collapse of the medical jeep. Forgotten man Javier Saviola was his replacement.

With time running out, Real Madrid could not afford to lose concentration, but they suffered a lapse on 83 minutes when Camunas cut inside from the left, only to see his shot well saved by Casillas. Los Blancos immediately created a chance at the other end, but Raul could only shoot weakly at Riesgo after being set up by Guti. The Recre keeper then made a brilliant save from Guti as Madrid tried to kill the game off.

Time was running out for the visitors, and Bernd Schuster decided to send some fresh legs on, replacing Raul with the youngster Bueno. There were no additional goals forthcoming in the four minutes of added time, as Real Madrid picked up an inavluable three points.

Bernd Schuster may have earned a reprieve following this result, but the scoreline was not anywhere near as emphatic as the Madrid faithful would have hoped. Still, three points and three points, and following Villareal's shock loss, Los Merengues climb up to provisional 2nd place, pending Valencia's match against Sevilla.

Real Madrid 1-0 Recreativo de Huelva
Sneijder 38

Real Madrid:  Casillas - Torres, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo - Sneijder (Van Der Vaart), Gago, Guti - Higuain (Saviola 78), Drenthe, Raul

Recreativo de Huelva: Riesgo - Morris, Bouzon, Beto, Casado - Sisi, Vazquez, Fuego, Camunas - Akale (Ersen Martin 53), Guerrero (Colunga 68)

Yellow Cards: Casado 30, Jesus Vazquez 45, Marcelo 48, Bouzon 89

 Arjun Miglani