by Luc Ciotkowski

Real Madrid have won their 31st Spanish Football League Championship after a compelling finish in the Kingdom of Navarra.

Down to 10 men and staring defeat in the face, Real Madrid made an astonishing comeback to score two goals in the 87th and 89th minute and seal the title in extraordinary fashion.

A header by Robben cancelled out Puñal’s penalty, before Higuain sent Los Blancos into delirium with a lashed diagonal strike in the last minute of the match.

Knowing that a win in Pamplona or a false move by Villareal against Getafe would crown them champions, El Madrid had prepared their celebration party in Madrid’s famous Plaza de Cibeles before the action started.

However, Villareal had not read the script and kept the pressure on Madrid with a 2-0 victory against Getafe earlier on Sunday evening. Real knew at kick off that only a win would be good enough to tie up the league title with three games still to play. Their opposition, Osasuna, remain embroiled in a scrap to avoid relegation and they knew going into the game that a defeat would leave them third bottom.

After a goalless first half, Madrid’s chances of settling the league were dealt a huge blow as Fabio Cannavaro was dismissed for a second bookable offence at the beginning of the second period. Osasuna didn’t make their numerical advantage tell and Real hit the bar through a Sneijder lob, but no goals came.

The champagne looked certain to stay on ice and the party, rumoured to have cost 400,000€, was set to be postponed at least until the match against Barcelona on 7th May, when Puñal converted a penalty for Osasuna in the 83rd minute. The eagle-eyed referee had seen Heinze’s inexplicable handball of an Osasuna corner. Many Real Madrid fans in the capital’s bars emptied their glasses and got ready to shuffle home and kick the dog, when 10-man-Madrid levelled through Robbens’ glancing header. With just three minutes on the clock, Madrid’s blushes appeared to be saved, but they couldn’t dream of more than that, could they?

The answer was an unbelievable, roaring, ecstatic ‘yes’. Argentine forward Higuain found himself unattended in the Osasuna area and buried a powerful half-volley after chesting the ball down. The party began and thousands of fans flocked to Plaza de Cibeles to celebrate Schuster’s first championship as manager and Madrid’s new record 31st. Madrid’s holiday weekend just got extended until Monday morning.

By Khilen Mehta

As Barcelona stumbled again this weekend, Real Madrid took advantage of this slip up to move ten points clear at the top of the table. With just five games left this season, Real could mathematically seal the title next weekend if results go their way.Real sealed a 2-0 victory at Racing Santander at the weekend with goals coming in each half from Raul and Gonzalo Higuain in the final minute. Reports say that the home team threatened the Real goal many times but were thwarted on each occasion by the impressive Iker Casillas. In the end, Real’s class showed through and few can now bet against them clinching the title before the end of the season.This was a far cry from events in the Nou Camp, where Barcelona could only manage a 0-0 draw at home to Espanyol. At the end of the game, a group of 30 violent Barcelona supporters attacked the presidential box after the game and demanded changes to be made for next season. It seems time could be up for Frank Rijkaard and a host of players as the supporters brought out the white handkerchiefs at the end of the game, signifying their disapproval at the performance. Samuel Eto’o came out publicly and threatened to leave the club if the club experience another season like this one. He told RAC1 radio station, “in Spain my cycle has finished. I have touched the ceiling in Barcelona, so if I leave I will go abroad. I will go to whoever pays the most.”With a massive Champions League double header to come against Manchester United, it seems not even victory in the European Cup will be enough to convince some of the major players that this is not a club in turmoil.

by Chris Read

Real Madrid have confirmed their interest Steven Fletcher of Hibs and are linked to a £4-5 million pound summer move for the 20 year old.Fletcher is one product of a Hibernian youth academy that is widely perceived to be one of the best in the country and he only recently signed an improved six year contract that made him the highest paid player at the club.
Real Madrid have been drawing up a their short-list of some of the continent’s most exciting young talent as they seek to cement a departure away from the much derided ‘galacticos’ policy that saw established stars brought to the club for huge transfer fees all of whom leave for little or no money. The transfer fee’s paid for the likes of Sergio Ramos, Drenthe, Fernando Gago, Sneijder, Robinho, Gonzalo Higuaín not too mention Robben’s move from Chelsea have been high but Real Madrid have invested in a group of players who all have good resale values and are on long term deals.

Real chief scout Julen Lopetegui said of Fletcher: “He is now one of 10 young players we are watching across Europe. It’s a complicated process and we know it will be a hard choice.”

Fletcher is highly regarded both within Scotland and by clubs in the Premier League, with Bolton, Aston Villa and Everton already having sent scouts to watch him.

However, Real’s interest places them at the front of the growing queue to sign the youngster.

Fletcher has excelled for Scotland at every age group level and was one of the stars of the country’s run to the final of the Under-19 European Championships two years ago.

Scotland were beaten 2-1 by Spain in the final with Under-21 coach Inaki Saez confirming that observers in Spain had been impressed with Fletcher’s contribution.

“During the last couple of years the level of young players in Scotland has increased,” said Saez.

“Fletcher is proof of that. He has a big future and I can’t understand why he isn’t playing for Celtic or Rangers.”

I am not sure I agree 100% with Inaki Saez Rangers / Celtic comment as I think its better for a 20 year old to develop in a smaller team with the ability to play week in week out.  There are countless examples where so called wonder-kids move to early and don’t make the grade. Lets hope the kid get his move out here to give us Madrid based ex-pats a home nations player to support (and European Vibe Magazine a chance to interview!)