Friendly match (5): Leicester 1 - 2 Real Madrid

Real Madrid ended its fifth preseason match and last in Europe with a comfortable victory over Leicester City. The Mourinho's team will travel to China, where will play two games to close a preseason that is showing the depth bench that will have the white team this season. Real Madrid has shown itself in five games as a serious team, with much football despite the youth of the roster, a clear game idea with lots of options in all positions of the field.

Leicester vs Real Madrid: Benzema scored the 0-2

Mourinho played with a starting line-up full of news, faithful to his policy of distributing minutes this preseason. Varane, Albiol, Granero or Adan took part of the starting team and Cristinao, Özil, Casillas or Xabi started the game from the bench. With Callejon and Coentrão close to the wings and Kaka as playmaker, Real Madrid dominated the ball. Leicester tried to fight against the quality of Real Madrid players with a considerable physical power and pressure, trying to steal the ball and look for a counter-attack.

During the first 45 minutes, Real Madrid had three clear chances to score but was close to the final of the first half, when everyone was thinking in the 0-0, when white team scored the 0-1. The play emerged from a mistake by Mills, Leicester's central defender, in a failed clearing with his head, left the ball at the feet of Benzema, who with all the calm of the world, haggled Schmeichel and served the goal for the Callejon, who returned to score for Real Madrid this season. It was 43 minutes of game and Mourinho's team went ahead on the scoreboard without time to more. The goal did justice to the merits of the white set, which was the only team that created danger. Adan just had to intervene in a couple of dangerous free-kicks of the English team.

The second half began with a carousel of substitutions on both teams. Mourinho put on the team Casillas, Özil, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Xabi Alonso, leaving on the bench Kaka, Adan, Granero and Callejon. Furthermore, both Real Madrid and the Leicester changed the color of their equipments. The British team, encouraged by its fans, looked for a goal with more intensely. Thus, in the 48' minute Bamba had a great opportunity, alone at the small area, but Casillas stopped the ball.

Whites owned the game and the team raised the pace looking to close the match early. In the 61' came the 0-2. Fast counter-attack guided Xabi Alonso, who pass to Marcelo, the Brazilian throws the ball at the post but Benzema, attentive, sends it to the back of the net. After the second goal, Mourinho returned to move the bench. Higuain enjoyed his first minutes of the season in substitution for Karim. Pepe and Arbeloa gave rest to Marcelo and Khedira.

Gradually the match was losing intensity. Real Madrid managed the ball and missed the minutes waiting for the final whistle. The British sought a goal to makeup the result, but with more faith than football. And in the 88' came the goal. Dyer scored the 1-2 after a powerful shot from inside the area, that caused the delight of the home crowd. So came the final of the game. Now it's time to travel to China for a brilliant climax to the season. On August 14 the official season starts with the running of the Super Cup against Barcelona.

Summary

Stadium: Walkers Stadium
Attendance: N.A.
Goals:  0-1 Callejon min.43 , 0-2 Benzema min.61 , 1-2 Dyer min.88.

Squad: Ricardo Carvalho (2)

Ricardo Carvalho

Ricardo Carvalho is best known for his perfect positioning, his foresight and his ability to advance the ball out of the first third. The Portuguese defender is a regular in Mourinho´s lineups, starting in 46 of his 48 appearances with Real Madrid.

His career began with Leça prior to signing his professional papers with Porto in 1997. He immediately played on loan for what was his first team and continued gaining experience over the next two seasons with Vitoria de Setubal and Alverca before returning to Porto. It was during his second stint with the Portuguese powerhouse that he won the 2002/03 UEFA Cup and the 2003/04 Champions League. Carvalho packed his bags for Chelsea in 2004 and went on to earn three Premier League titles among a host of many others.

In recent years the center-back has played an integral role on the Portuguese national team, with whom he reached the final of the 2004 European Championship and the semis of the 2006 World Cup.

Data

• Place of Birth: Amarante, Portugal
• Date of Birth: 18/05/1978
• Position: Defender
• Weight: 78 kg
• Height: 181 cm
• Nationality: Portuguese

Honours

• Copa del Rey: 2011
• Champions League: 2003/04
• UEFA Cup: 2002/03
• Premier League: 2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10
• FA Cup: 2006/07, 2008/09, 2009/10
• Community Shield: 2005, 2009
• League Cup: 2004/05, 2006/07
• Portuguese Liga: 1998/99, 2002/03, 2003/04
• Portuguese Cup: 2002/03
• Portuguese Super Cup: 1998, 2001, 2003

Mourinho: UEFA forgives him a match suspension

The Appeals Committee of UEFA has reduced the fine imposed on Mourinho. In the initial penalty, the coach of Real Madrid could not manage the team for four games, with a fifth conditional on Mourinho's behavior during a trial period of three years.

Mourinho and Dupont at Nyon

After hearing the arguments of the Portuguese and the lawyers of the Real Madrid over six hours, UEFA has decided to reduce the penalty from four to three games. As Mourinho has already met one (it was in the semifinal round of the Champions League 2010-2011) in case of good behavior he would be suspended only two. Of course, retains the imposed fine of 50,000 euros to Mourinho and the 20,000 to the white team.

The Control and Disciplinary Committee imposed the penalty on the Real coach for his controversial remarks at the press conference after the first leg semifinal of the Champions League against FC Barcelona on April 27. In that match, Mourinho was sent off for protesting the Pepe's red card and at the press conference complained of arbitration mistakes in favor of FC Barcelona and said he would feel shame winning the Champions League as they won in 2009: "The scandal of Stamford Bridge".

These words were rated as "very serious" by the Control and Disciplinary Committee of UEFA considering that Mourinho inveighed against "the fairness of the competition", so they decided to punish the Portuguese coach: Five games and 50,000 euros fine. As well UEFA punishes the club with 20,000 euros fine for "improper conduct of their fans during the game". Real Madrid announced the same day that UEFA announced the punishment, it would appeal to the Appeals Committee and UEFA summoned the Portuguese and the legal team of Real Madrid for yesterday.

The Portuguese reached the UEFA headquarters at 08:50 am, accompanied by the Belgian lawyer Jean-Louis Dupont, the director of legal services of Real Madrid, Javier Lopez Farre, and a white club's lawyer, Alvaro Garcia Alaman, to support his defense. Mourinho's arguments and their lawyers were heard by the Appeals Committee chairman, Swiss Michel Wuilleret, two members of it, the French Patricia Moyersen and German Goetz Eilers, and the UEFA disciplinary inspector, the Swiss Jean-Samuel Leuba.

After six hours of declaration, white coach and his lawyers left the UEFA headquarters in Nyon without knowing the resolution of the Committee and without making any statement to the press. If Mourinho is not satisfied with the resolution, the white coach can still appeal to TAS (Tribunal Arbitral du Sport) within ten days.

Higuain and Di Maria: To China with the team

Higuain and Di Maria deplete their holidays after the Copa America. Both have enjoyed two weeks after being eliminated in the quarter-final against Uruguay. Gago, the other Real Madrid player who participated in the tournament (Garay already went to Benfica) stays in Argentina to recover from his injury.

Higuain and Di Maria

Fernando Gago knows that has no place in Jose Mourinho's team and is looking for a way out. The club has given a deadline of August 7 to find destination. He seems to look kindly return to Boca Juniors, the club he left to join Real Madrid.

Higuain and Di Maria will meet again with his teammates who are getting in shape since July 11. The idea is to train slowly with the team and can play minutes in one of the two friendlies matches to dispute in China. Despite being disconnected, Higuain and Di Maria both have followed the evolution of their peers and are aware of the good image showed in the four games played so far.

Left midfielder has many possibilities to be starter if does not come Neymar. Callejon is looking good in the preseason, but he knows Mourinho is pleased with him and the confidence remains intact after his last good season. Meanwhile, Higuain will discuss a position with Benzema. Former River Plate player will face the best version of French. Karim seems more connected than ever and is showing with goals. There will be fighting for the '9'.

Hugo Sanchez: Sports Heritage of Humanity

Hugo Sanchez was yesterday elected as Sports Heritage of Humanity. The former Real Madrid player made a 40-man shortlist chosen by 327,500 people in 72 countries. The list is similar to those from the field of material, immaterial or natural cultural heritage of humainity, and was created by the International Bureau of Capital Cultures with the intention of "acknowledging the importance of preserving the reality of sport throughout the world".

The award rewards "excellence in sport and fair play" and wishes to contribute "in coming up with things to make supporters of rival teams come together, to offer ethical and charitable values, and to set an example for children and young people to follow".

Hugo Sanchez played seven years at Real Madrid, winning the Pichichi Trophy and the league title in his first season at the club. He won four other league titles and three Phichi trophies, a UEFA Cup, a Copa del Rey, two Spanish Super Cups and a Golden Boot award.

The election campaign of the players 'Sports Heritage of Humanity' in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico has lasted four months. Along with Real Madrid player, have also been elected Leo Messi (Argentina) and Edson Arantes do Nascimento 'Pele' (Brazil).

Hugo Sanchez

Benzema: "I hope to stay here for many years"

Benzemas scored two goals against Hertha Berlin

Double against Hertha and you look better...
Yes, teammates passed me many balls. I scored two goals. Everything went well. I'm very happy with the start of the preseason. I'm working very hard.

What did you make this summer to get better?

Work hard. I feel better about my body, with much more confidence.

Do you feel starter?
I work for that. Inside my head is to be one of the best strikers but we are in preseason. I feel great and I'm fighting to become Real Madrid's starting striker.

What does Mourinho talk to you?
It's a great coach for me. He always tells me to work, not stop.

And Zidane?
It's special to me to have Zidane so close because he helps me. He speaks my language and gives me confidence.

Spanish Super Cup approaches. Is it necessary to strike first to Barcelona?
We have to take things slowly and not think about the Spanish Super Cup just yet. We must only focus on our next preseason match. I don't know if this is the best squad in Real Madrid history, but we're a very good team and we hope to fight for all titles.

Were you at some point outside the club?

I have not seen myself outside of Real Madrid. The coach and the club have faith in me and that's very important to me. I will always work hard in order to play. I hope to stay here for many years.

Friendly Match (4): Hertha Berlin 1 - 3 Real Madrid

Real Madrid would have to play all the friendlies matches in the Berlin Olympic Stadium, which smells like history from a distance and having the shape of 'Lord' Stadium. In this legendary context played one of the two best teams in the world his fourth preseason game. And won. Not only because Hertha, newly promoted to the Bundesliga, offered little resistance, unable to recover a ball or to make a counterattack with efficacy after initial goal, but because Real Madrid has plenty of everything to beat almost everyone. Took the field with the best of what's left (Khedira was at the bench in the first half and the new Kaka, who still looks too much like old Kaka) and it was enough. The new signings played well, Cristiano Ronaldo scores and defends more than ever, and even Benzema seems to have a gear more.

Hertha Berlin vs Real Madrid

The match began with a pair of forgetfulness and Marcelo with Carvalho fell into the trap laid by Ramos, Ebert and Lasogga for the first goal. The central defender was removed from the goal area and Marcelo came late to shot of Ebert. But RealMadrid accelerated and three minutes later, the referee not noted a penalty on Callejon. From that moment, there was only a team on the field. Real seized the ball and with speed preseason, was creating chances and becoming too powerful for Hertha.

The team was attentive to the recovery, tactical positions and gives the impression that, with respect to last season, has become even more compact. On and off the field: solid, harmonious in the movements, with unanimous message, coordinated in the way they sit on the bench or celebrate good plays. Mourinho is happy: the club, the team and the staff, all rowing in the same direction.

And the team is still overwhelming. Benzema had three dangerous ventures in attack that were eventually rewarded: the first was a shot that missed the mark by drifting to the right, the second was a shot from right outside the box that hit the crossbar, and the third ended up forcing the locals to bring him down 25 meters away from the goal (29'). Cristiano Ronaldo took the free-kick and sent the ball to the back of the net through the top left corner of the goal. Four minutes after the the equaliser, Benzema received the ball inside the box from Callejon and defeated Kraft with his right foot.

Khedira came on in the second half and proved to be completely recovered from his recent injury. The German midfielder pressurised Mijatovic in attack, stole the ball from him and assisted Benzema to score in an empty goal. Not content with scoring two goals, the French striker starred in the best effort of the match on the 55-minute mark after he controlled a divided ball, dribbled past a defender with a self-pass, and saw Cristiano who didn't get in time for a fourth strike.

And new ones are and play well. Callejon moved boldly and will evolve into the perfect piece of lace: a great defender when the team does not have the ball, a partner at the front, as demonstrated in assisting Benzema and pleased with his role as player number 13 or 14. Meanwhile, Coentrao plays simple, has the field in the head and is two in one: midfielder and left defender. And yesterday Varane played as right back defender. The Frenchman has played on the center, on the right, on the left and can play as midfielder. Total: everything goes according to plan.

Summary

Stadium: Berlin Olympic Stadium
Attendance: 74,000
Goals:1-0, m.18: Ebert. 1-1, m.29: Cristiano Ronaldo. 1-2, m.32: Benzema. 1-3, m.47: Benzema

Mesut Özil: "The aim is to win all the titles"

Mesut Özil at the press room

Mesut Özil adressed the media at the press room of the sports city of Valdebebas and said: "The aim this season is to win all the titles. We are stronger than last year", commented Real Madrid midfielder.

Real Madrid player stressed the importance of mate Kaka, questioned for his performances in preseason games and said: "Kaka and I have a very good personal relationship. He is a very important player to us. He helps the team considerably and he and all of us are aware of his enormous potential. I have a very good relationship with him and we need him".

He also talked about Khedira and Sahin, two good friends in the locker room: "Sahin and Khedira are important to the team. Nuri's been unlucky with his injury, but I'm sure they'll both be back on 14 August and I'll feel very happy for them".

He also referred to the situation of players like Pedro Leon and Royston Drenthe, who trained alone yesterday because the coaching staff does not want them in the template for next season: "It's sad, but personally I think we will be happy to find a solution as soon as possible. The best thing for the players and the club is to find a solution and I am convinced that they will do", he said.

In addition, he declined to talk about the first official game that Real Madrid will have to play against Barcelona in the Supercopa of Spain in the month of August: "Rather than on the Spanish Super Cup, we'd rather concentrate on the work we're doing in the preseason and on recovering all our injured players". Although he said the goals for this year: "This team is more mature. We felt strong in the games we've already played. We have the potential to defeat anyone and our objective is to win many titles. We will fight for them all".

Finally, neither spoke about the feelings that he has wearing the shirt with the number ten: "We are in the preseason. So far I have worn the number ten shirt. On that I do not want to say anything, you will see the number that I will take".

Cristiano and Özil are the attractions in Berlin

This afternoon, in a stadium full of history and stories with the maximum expectation, Real Madrid will play its fourth exhibition game this preseason 2011-2012. In the past, these matches were lost in the television programming between cartoons and Westerns. Or were not broadcasted. In the new era of closed clubs, the clubs understood as inaccessible bunkers, is presented as an opportunity to explore possibilities or find out the new players who have more chances to play in the future. As said the coach of Hertha, Babbel: "We face this match as a celebration of football". He also said he hoped his players, newly promoted to Bundesliga, "do not shit in their pants" forgetting that this is a friendly in which things are tested and the result is not important.

It will, in a full stadium, the fourth friendly match of Mourinho's team that after working yesterday in a double session, has travel to Berlin in the morning and returns home after the meeting. Ramos, Sahin and Granero are out, and the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo ensures goals (four in three games, his best preseason). Real Madrid won three so far with more lights (the trick of Coentrao as a pivot in midfield, Callejon scoring, high performance by Varane) than shadows (doubts about Kaka, who only played at high level against LA Galaxy). Özil and Khedira (already recovered) return to Germany and will play at home.

For Hertha Berlin, the match is like a showcase to raise a few euros, but they play on Sunday a German Cup match against the Meuselwitz, an amateur team, a one-match knockout round, his first official appointment after recovering the top category and illusion.

Indeed, the summer friendlies have become a lucrative business for intermediaries and clubs. This has been organized by TSP, which works with both teams (were responsible for other four Real Madrid's travels to Germany) and, as usual, bears all costs of the event (hotel, travel), but takes all income (box office, television). Real Madrid takes a million euros and Hertha a good piece. A well-paid holiday, then.

Danielle Bux

Lombilla: "Gago's desire is to return to Boca Juniors"

Marcelo Lombilla, the representative of Fernando Gago, Real Madrid's Argentine midfielder, has acknowledged that "the dream" of footballer, ruled out by Jose Mourinho for this season, is to return to the template of Boca Juniors, from which came five years ago to play for Real Madrid.

Marcelo Lombilla. Fernando Gago's agent

"Fernando's desire is to return to Boca. So we'll try. Look how eager is Fernando that I can not still believe that he's going to give up so much money", said to the Argentine daily 'Olé'. The agent also stressed that he called Joseph Beraldi, vice president of group 'Boca Juniors' and reiterated that "the desire of Gago is playing at least a year in Boca". "Now we have to negotiate with Real Madrid", he said.

As indicated by the sports newspaper, the player wants to stay in his homeland recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered in the Copa America against Uruguay in the quarterfinals and enjoy the honeymoon with tennis player Gisela Dulko, with who will marry this Tuesday.

The midfielder left Boca Juniors, during the winter market of the season 2006-2007, where he won five titles, to play for Real Madrid. With Fabio Capello and Bernd Schuster won two consecutive league but in the last two seasons has not played too much for Manuel Pellegrini or Jose Mourinho.

Cristiano Ronaldo: UEFA Best Player 2010/11 nominee

Cristiano Ronaldo is in the three-man nominee list for the UEFA Best Player in Europe 2010/11 award. A jury made up of 53 sports journalists will vote for the winner, who will be announced on August 25 in Monaco. Xavi Hernandez, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are in the running for the inaugural UEFA Best Player in Europe Award after the shortlist was announced today.

Cristiano Ronaldo

According to UEFA, "the award aims to recognise the best player, irrespective of his nationality, who has played for a football club within the territory of a UEFA member national association during the season to which the award relates. Players will be judged for their performance during the 2010/11 season in all competitions, both domestically and internationally, at either club or national team level".

Cristiano Ronaldo scored 53 goals with Real Madrid (40 in La Liga, 6 in the Champions League, 7 in the Copa del Rey), and three with the Portuguese national team. He won the Golden Boot award thanks to his tally in the Spanish league, with which he broke the record previously held by Zarra and Hugo Sanchez. Also, his goal in the Copa del Rey final gave the team the title.

As explained by UEFA,: "A jury of 53 sports journalists representing each of the UEFA member associations whittled down the 2010/11 long list to FC Barcelona pair Xavi and Messi and Real Madrid CF's Ronaldo. The journalists will vote live, via an electronic voting system, during the UEFA Champions League group stage draw, which takes place in Monaco, to determine the winner amongst the three nominees".

Positions four to ten are already fixed after each journalist provided a list of their three best-ranked players, with the first player receiving five points, the second three points and the third one point:

• 4 Andres Iniesta (ESP) – FC Barcelona (33 points)
• 5 Falcao (COL) – FC Porto (17)
• 6 Wayne Rooney (ENG) – Manchester United FC (15)
• 7 Nemanja Vidic (SRB) – Manchester United FC (5)
• 8 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (SWE) – AC Milan (4)
• 9 Gerard Pique (ESP) – FC Barcelona (4)
• 10 Manuel Neuer (GER) – FC Schalke 04 (3)

Torie Wilson

Ana Ivanovic.........Practicing, Playing