can you believe this? the galacticos are upstood by moreira. and fans of the galacticos can't help but applaud. :)
Madrid bewitched by Ronaldinho
By Sid Lowe in Madrid
(Filed: 21/11/2005)
An hour into the 151st Real Madrid versus Barcelona 'derbi', the Santiago Bernabeu rose to applaud a moment of genius from a footballer in gold-encrusted boots. Eighteen minutes later they were on their feet again, lauding another sumptuously executed goal from the same man.
Nothing unusual there, of course - only the man they twice treated to an ovation plays his football for Madrid's bitter rivals and had just secured a 3-0 demolition of the galacticos, a historic hammering that could bring drastic consequences.
It is a measure of Ronaldinho's brilliance that even Madridistas felt compelled to applaud, even though he had tormented and humiliated their defence, shattering their illusions. Not since Diego Maradona walked the ball into the net over 20 years ago had the Bernabeu been so wonderfully charmed into submission; sometimes football conquers all.
Ronaldinho, who will be officially named European Footballer of the Year this week, said he would "never forget" the occasion, and nor will those who witnessed a breathtaking display and two stunning goals.
Handed possession inside his own half, the Brazilian raced down the left, the ball never leaving his nimble toes, and skipped effortlessly beyond Sergio Ramos. Ivan Helguera came to meet him, but Ronaldinho simply glided across him. Inside the area now, a quick look to the far post, a dummy with his eyes, and the ball was nestling in the net at the near post, Iker Casillas statuesque.
Out came the toothy grin and at the north end mouths hung open and fans began applauding - timidly at first, then more and more until about a quarter of the 80,000 crowd were clapping; the rest sat in stunned silence.
A little over quarter of an hour later and he collected on the same wing, chose the same victim and got the same result. Surging forward and pulling past Ramos, Ronaldinho slotted a neat finish into the far corner. "Those weren't two goals," team-mate Samuel Eto'o insisted, "they were two wonders, museum pieces."
The contrast to Real Madrid could hardly have been starker. Galacticism is dying a painful death. Barcelona, all quick passing and neat exchanges, were just too good.
Madrid offered nothing - their first shot came on 75 minutes - and Eto'o, the former Real Madrid player subjected to sporadic racist chants, gave Barcelona a flying start, pouncing to poke them one-up.
Only 14 minutes had passed, but Madrid were already beaten. All that remained was Barca to add a suitably classy finish - and Ronaldinho provided it. Just ask the Bernabeu fans who, with a heavy heart, succumbed to his genius.
Match details
Real Madrid (4-4-2): Casillas; Salgado, Helguera, Ramos, Roberto Carlos; Robinho, Beckham, Garcia (Baptista 67), Zidane; Ronaldo, Raul (Guti 58).
Subs: Lopez (g), Bravo, Mejia, Pavon, Diogo.
Booked: Salgado, Robinho, Garcia.
Barcelona (4-3-3): Valdes; Oleguer, Puyol, Marquez, Van Bronckhorst; Edmilson, Xavi, Deco; Messi (Iniesta 70), Eto'o, Ronaldinho.
Subs: Jorquera (g), Silvinho, Gabri, Motta, Giuly, Larsson.
Goals: Eto'o (15), Ronaldinho (59, 77).
Booked: Deco, Ronaldinho.
Referee: I Gonzalez.
Win in Madrid puts Barca top
By Guy Hedgecoe
(Filed: 20/11/2005)
Real Madrid (0) 0 Barcelona (1) 3
Barcelona went top of the Spanish league last night, after humbling arch-rivals Real Madrid 3-0 at the Bernabeu, inspired by Ronaldinho.
Samuel Eto'o gave the visitors the lead after 14 minutes when he spun through a cluster of defenders and placed the ball past goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
In the first half, Barcelona's three-pronged attack of Eto'o, Lionel Messi and Ronaldinho tormented Real repeatedly.
David Beckham, sporting a cut on his nose where Ronaldo had accidently elbowed him in training, sprayed a number of long accurate passes, but Barcelona's defence, policing Ronaldo and Robinho tightly, snuffed out any danger. Real were further frustrated when Robinho received a yellow card for diving in the penalty box.
Ronaldinho repeatedly baffled Real's defenders and almost set up Eto'o up for two further goals, but Casillas denied the Cameroonian both times.
On the hour, Ronaldinho scored his first of the night, galloping half the length of the pitch, checking in the area and stroking calmly past Casillas. His second was almost a repeat of the first.
At 2-0 down, Real finally responded, Robinho immediately sending the ball across the goalmouth, only for Ronaldo to miskick. A minute later Zinedine Zidane drew a save from Victor Valdes.
Real replaced midfielder Pablo Garcia with striker Julio Baptista and it almost paid off, but a strike by Ronaldo was ruled out for offside.
The result was as astonishing as Ronaldinho's performance, but more remarkable was the Bernabeu's resigned applause for the opposition's Brazilian striker, in acknowledgement of a masterclass.
Roy Keane will not be replaced at Manchester United by Michael Ballack, according to his Bayern Munich manager Uli Hoeness. After Bayern won 2-1 at Aminia Bielefeld yesterday without their injured star, Hoeness said: "I know Manchester United will not buy Michael Ballack. This one match doesn't allow any conclusions about whether he is replaceable or not."
Meanwhile former Bayern manager Ottmar Hitzfeld, who took Ballack to the club, has told a German newspaper he has "had an offer" from United and that he is learning English. He has been out of management for 18 months.
and now, this man is set to vie for another award, that is after the Golden Ball award he already has in his hands.
Ronaldinho wins Golden Ball award
By JEAN-LUC COURTHIAL, Associated Press Writer
November 28, 2005
AP - Nov 28, 2:41 pm EST
PARIS (AP) -- Ronaldinho won the Golden Ball on Monday as European player of the year, another honor for the Brazilian following his FIFA player of the year award last year.
Ronaldinho, a midfielder who won the Spanish league title with Barcelona and the Confederations Cup with Brazil, is the third player from his country to win the Golden Ball following Rivaldo (1999) and Ronaldo (1997, 2002).
Ronaldinho finished ahead of Frank Lampard of Chelsea and Steven Gerrard of Liverpool. Andriy Shevchenko of AC Milan, last year's winner, placed fifth behind Thierry Henry of Arsenal.
"This is a dream come true," Ronaldinho said. "When I see all the names on the list, when I see my idols Ronaldo and Rivaldo, I realize this is a great honor."
Ronaldinho finished with 225 points, followed by Lampard (148) and Gerrard (142). The winner is chosen by France Football magazine's annual poll of 52 journalists from around the world. This is the 50th anniversary of the award, which was first won by England's Stanley Matthews.
Ronaldinho's cunning, speed, power and strength make him one of the most dangerous attacking players. He already has drawn comparisons to Diego Maradona.
"God gives gifts to everyone," Ronaldinho said. "Some can write, some can dance. He gave me the skill to play football and I am making the most of it."
The 25-year-old player joined Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003 and has scored 33 league goals in 79 games, including nine this season. He also has scored 13 times in 19 Champions League games for Barcelona.
He has played 62 times for Brazil and scored 27 times. He helped the team win its fifth World Cup title in 2002 in Japan.
Updated on Monday, Nov 28, 2005 2:51 pm EST
Ronaldinho set for another top gong?
Wed Nov 30, 1:22 PM ET
ZURICH (AFP) - Barcelona forward Ronaldinho is in line for another top accolade after football's world ruling body nominated the Brazilian among the contenders for the world player of the year.
Voted the Ballon d'Or (Golden Ball) - Europe's player of the year - in midweek, the 25-year-old silky smooth Ronaldinho is already FIFA's player of the year (2004).
However whether he can again hold of the likes of Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Barcelona teammate Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon remains to be seen.
According to a FIFA statement on Wednesday, the votes have already been counted, and all three above players are in contention for FIFA's prize, the 15th edition of which will be announced on here at the Zurich Opera house on December 19th.
Unlike the Ballon d'Or winner, who is nominated by 52 journalists - one each from UEFA's association countries - the FIFA award is chosen by the coaches and captains of national teams worldwide from a list made up by FIFA.
Women's football will also be honoured. Birgit Prinz, the winner last year, is again in contention.
FIFA's player of the year award has only been held for the past 14 years while the Ballon d'Or - considered by many on the continent as the bona fide footballer's prize - has run since 1956.
Ronaldinho joined the greats of world football on Monday when he won the prize with 225 points, 77 ahead of Lampard.
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