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GOAL - Four scintillating goals from Ruud van
Nistelrooy snuffed out Osasuna's spirited challenge in Pampalona, and handed
Real Madrid a rather flattering 4-1 win.
A clinical first half hat-trick from the Dutchman - even as Osasuna were
taking the game to Real Madrid - sealed the deal, as Madrid picked up full
points in style from a match they were clearly second best in.
Osasuna came out of the blocks on fire, putting Real Madrid under tremendous
pressure. Delporte was having a huge say on the game on the left and created
the first real chance in the 10th minute, with a cross that Webo headed just
over the bar.
However, it was Real who took the lead from the resulting play, much against
the flow, as a poaching Ruud van Nistelrooy latched onto a rebound after a
Robinho stinger forced Ricardo to parry.
The goal spurred Osasuna on as they attacked with even more intensity, and
Real almost made it 2-0 just minutes later, as a Ramos header flew just
wide. Osasuna had the next chance, in the 19th minute, with Valdo forcing
Casillas into a save from a free-kick just outside the box.
Real Madrid were being put under pressure, but were stretching Osasuna on
the break themselves, making for a wonderful game of football. Sergio Ramos
and Delporte were having a very interesting tussle, as were Valdo and
Diarra, as Osasuna dominated possession.
However, effectiveness in the final third turned out to be the difference,
as Robinho found van Nistelrooy in the 27th minute, and the Dutchman beat
Ricardo to the ball and slotted it home.
A clearly stunned Osasuna tried to respond, but could only manage a couple
of frustrated bookings, and the Dutchman put the final nail in their coffin
just before the break with a superb left-footed finish from just outside the
box.
It was the second hat-trick for Real Madrid for van Nistelrooy, and pretty
much game, set and match for Real.
Osasuna were forced to throw everything into the game after the break, but
struggled for efficiency in the final third. However, they did manage to
give themselves an outside chance in the 63rd minute, as some shocking
defending from Los Merengues saw Valdo head in a corner.
That woke Real again, and they tightened up to make sure Osasuna did pull
another goal back, and Ruud van Nistelrooy wrapped it up with his fourth
with six minutes left on the clock, this time with a right-footed drive from
the edge of the box.
Osasuna: Ricardo - J. Flano, M. Flano, Josexto, Corrales - Valdo,
Nekounam, Raul Garcia, Punal, Delporte - Webo.
Real Madrid: Casillas - Ramos, Cannavaro, Helguera, Carlos - Diarra, Emerson
- Guti, Raul, Robinho - Van Nistelrooy.
Goals: Van Nistelrooy (12', 27', 45', 84'), Valdo (64')
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