Date:19/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/19/stories/2008081956181900.htm

Sport - Football

Valencia beats Real Madrid

VALENCIA: Cup winner Valencia produced a bristling display of neat passing football to beat league champion Real Madrid 3-2 in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup at the Mestalla on Sunday.

With former Almeria coach Unai Emery now at the helm, Valencia looked a far more confident and assured outfit than the team that diced with relegation last season and out-played Real for much of the match.

Well-worked goals from Juanma Mata, David Villa and Vicente gave the home side a deserved advantage ahead of next Sunday’s second leg at the Bernabeu.

Valencia started strongly with Villa denied a goal in the opening minutes when Real keeper Iker Casillas made a sharp save down to his left to stop a firmly hit volley.

Real took the lead against the run of play thanks to a clinical finish from Van Nistelrooy just before a quarter of an hour was up.

The Dutchman fired home from the right side of the area after Spain international Ruben de la Red picked him out with a fine pass from the centre of midfield.

Counter-attack

Valencia responded well to the setback and midfielder David Silva almost equalised when he hit the bar after a well-worked counter-attack just before halftime.

They eventually drew level early in the second half, former Real Madrid youth team player Mata smashing a low drive past Casillas after a Joaquin cross made its way to his feet on the left of the area.

Three minutes later Mata turned provider, curling in a fine cross to the near post where Villa was on hand to steer a firm header past the helpless Casillas.

Robben sped down the right before cutting the ball back into the area where fellow Dutchman van Nistelrooy finished off with a perfectly struck first-time shot to make it 2-2.

Substitute Vicente restored Valencia’s lead nine minutes from the end when he stabbed home from close range after exchanging a neat one-two with Silva on the edge of the area.

No to Robinho

Robinho will not be allowed to leave Real Madrid this season, club president Ramon Calderon said in Madrid on Sunday.

Robinho reportedly wants to join Chelsea, which had a $47 million bid for the Brazil international rejected by Madrid last week. — AP