With the season almost ended and Real Madrid finish without a silverware, I take a look at the five best performances from the Whites this season.
5. BASEL-CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (5-1)
The first of Real Madrid's 22 game winning-streak was excellent. It came against Basel at home. Benzema, Bale, James and Ronaldo all got in the scoresheet along with Nacho who started the scoring with a deflected shot.
Bale got the second with a wonderful chip off from Modric's lob and Ronaldo tapped in from Bale's ball. James scored a rebound of Benzema and Benzema acored a terrific shot after a wonderful play by Ronaldo and Benzema.
Moreover, the win highlighted Real's first win in three games and a promising start to the Champions League.
Luka Modric's return to action after three dreadful months was highlighted by a sensational performance by the Merengues at Santiago.
Though just two goals, Real Madrid enjoyed 67% of possession and two crossbars. Ronaldo struck the post at the very start into the game before the Portugese struck in a beautiful bicycle kick inside the goal.
However, the goal was denied but Bale stuck in the rebound. Ronaldo scored another, but yet it was deflected off from Bale's boots.
Benzema hit a wonderful-back flip only to hit the crossbar. And the last clear chance was off from Benzema who scored an offside goal.
Like mentioned before, though their were just two goals, it created a belief in my mind that we can outclass Barcelona the next game which we lost although we were clearly the better side.
Bale got the second with a wonderful chip off from Modric's lob and Ronaldo tapped in from Bale's ball. James scored a rebound of Benzema and Benzema acored a terrific shot after a wonderful play by Ronaldo and Benzema.
Moreover, the win highlighted Real's first win in three games and a promising start to the Champions League.
4. ATHLETIC BILBAO-LA LIGA (5-0)
 |
| RONALDO SCORES A HAND GOAL AND CELEBRATES |
Another high-profile game, and Real thrashed the Copa finalists. An extremely good second half with Ronaldo scoring a hattrick.
The first goal was a header from Cristiano which was celebrated by dancing way by Cristiano, James and Marcelo. However, the second half saw four goals: two from Ronaldo and Benzema each. Benzema scored a header and Ronaldo scored a tap-in. The Frenchman scored his second with another tap-in and Ronaldo completed his hattrick with the most funniest goal this season.
Pepe headed from a corner which deflected off from the Portugese's elbow who laughed all the way after the goal. The hattrick equaled Ronaldo's recorrd with Zarra and Di Stefano for most hattricks in La Liga.
Real Madrid's counter attack and pressing and four goals in the second half made me impressed to write this as the fourth best showdown this season.
3. LEVANTE-LA LIGA (2-0)
Luka Modric's return to action after three dreadful months was highlighted by a sensational performance by the Merengues at Santiago.
Though just two goals, Real Madrid enjoyed 67% of possession and two crossbars. Ronaldo struck the post at the very start into the game before the Portugese struck in a beautiful bicycle kick inside the goal.
However, the goal was denied but Bale stuck in the rebound. Ronaldo scored another, but yet it was deflected off from Bale's boots.
Benzema hit a wonderful-back flip only to hit the crossbar. And the last clear chance was off from Benzema who scored an offside goal.
Like mentioned before, though their were just two goals, it created a belief in my mind that we can outclass Barcelona the next game which we lost although we were clearly the better side.
2.BARCELONA-LA LIGA (3-1)
The most severe game at that point of time. Trailing Barcelona by six points and the Catalans who remained zero goals conceded till October 26 evening, Real Madrid won it 3-1.
However, Neymar was the first to score. It took 20 minutes for Benzema to deliver two successive shots to the bar. But before the end of first period, the Portugese scored from the 12 yard area after Pique carelessly gave away a handball.
The second period witnessed Real Madrid's class and Barcelona's slip. The Whites could have made it 5-1 or 6-1. But they themselves were unlucky when it came to scoring goals..
Pep gave the much wanted lead through the corner and Benzema scored from a counter attack which was started by Isco who collected a poor ball from Iniesta to Mascherano before proceeding the attack.
The win meant Real lie 3 points behind the Catalans at that point of time and it was the seventh of their 22 winning run.
1.ATLETICO MADRID-CHAMPIONS LEAGUE (1-0)
Perhaps, this game remains as my favourite this season. After being unbeaten against city rivals, Atletico looked to seal the record at its last derby by advancing to the Champions League semis. However, a late winner from Chicharito helped Real ease past their rivals for the first time this season.
It is also the most confident show by the side this season with Ramos at midfield and having more than 20 shots against Atleti for the first time this season. The fans were also highly influential during the match and it was the game in Real Madrid showed what they are.
 |
| THE FANS MADE ME EMOTIONAL |
However, their best performance wasn't enough to give them the Champions League as they were dumped out in the next round by Juventus.
After a paradoxically best-and-worst season, Real Madrid end it with no major trophies. Injures of Benzema, Bale, Modric, James and Ramos at various segments affected Real's mental strength.
The season may be the last for Ancelotti at Madrid and is set to be replaced by Benitez. However, I don't want to see Carlo depart and instead let him stay and let us not boo our own players. We will prove them wrong next season.