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Real Madrid continue to pressure Barcelona for La Liga title after winning 3-0 against UD Almeria on Wednesday night at the Santiago Bernabeu. They were able to acquire another three points and are now two points behind FC Barcelona with 82 points and seven points ahead of third place Atletico Madrid. Although both teams continue to be in great form, Real Madrid are hoping that Barcelona drops three points in order for them to take the lead in La Liga.
James Rodriguez and Alvaro Arbeloa each netted one goal for Real Madrid while Mauro dos Santos gave an own goal to Real Madrid to give them the 2-0 lead early in the second half. James provided Real Madrid with the lead before the end of the first half with a nice volley and got his 12th goal of the season. Alvaro Arbeloa got his first goal of the season when he netted the third goal of the game for Real Madrid.
The starting XI was not the usual team for Real Madrid. Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are out due to injuries while Sergio Ramos was out due to a suspension. Javier Hernandez got his third start this month to replace Benzema and saw Fabio Coentrao, Asier Illaramendi and Jese Rodriguez all start along with Kaylor Navas in the goal. Cristiano Ronaldo had an off day as well and was not much of a team player when Arbeoloa got his goal to put Real Madrid up 3-0 in the second half. He was not rewarded the second goal of the match as well as it was recorded as an own goal. Ronaldo has not been able to score for Real Madrid in La Liga since their game versus Malaga last weekend and is allowing Lionel Messi to get closer to him to win the pichichi title.
James was able to put his team up in the scoreboard just a minute before the first half ended. Toni Kroos was able to cross it just outside the box only to see Angel Trujillo clear it but instead it landed in front of James and with one touch and not letting the ball hit the ground, he was able to volley it in and leave the crowd and the announcers in shock as the ball went past goalkeeper Ruben to make it 1-0.
Just four minutes into the second half, an own goal by Dos Santos got Real Madrid up 2-0. Jese found Toni Kroos in front of him on the right side of the field and passed it to him as he slipped. Kroos then saw Ronaldo open inside the box and as he was clearly offsides, the ball instead rebounded off the Almeria defender and went past his own goalkeeper to mark an own goal in the record book.
It took seven minutes left in the match for Real Madrid to make it a 3-0 lead and secure the three points. Isco found Chicharito open on the left side of the field and allowed Chicharito to make a small run inside the box before seeing Arbeloa and Ronaldo open. He crossed it to the danger zone and gave Arbeloa a chance to slide and kiss the ball into the net as Ronaldo kicked it in again out of frustration that Arbeloa did not leave that ball for him to put it in.
With this win, Real Madrid face a strong Sevilla team on Saturday night and hope to continue their undefeated streak and the pressure on Barcelona for La Liga title. They will then head to Turin, Italy to face Juventus for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League.
Man of the match goes out to James Rodriguez who got his team up in the first half with a beautiful volley.