Real Madrid justified its offseason moves after going seven
points clear of second-place FC Barcelona ahead of the Spanish
league's two-week winter break.
Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos
(L) fights for the ball with Barcelona's Ronaldinho during their
Spanish first division soccer match at Nou Camp stadium in
Barcelona December 23, 2007.Julio Baptista scored to give Real
Madrid a 1-0 win over Barcelona on Sunday and a seven-point edge at
midseason in the Spanish La Liga.
Julio Baptista, underused and cast away by Fabio Capello last
season, continued to repay Madrid coach Bernd Schuster's confidence
on Sunday. The Brazil midfielder scored the 36th-minute winner with
a half-volley as Madrid beat bitter rival Barcelona 1-0 in the
classic derby.
"It's one of the most important goals of my life and I'll never
forget it," Baptista said.
Real has won five straight games in all competitions since
Baptista found himself in Schuster's starting 11, which is playing
the type of football Schuster was hired to bring to the Santiago
Bernabeu. "I think he simply worked hard and had faith in what he
could do," Schuster said of Baptista. "He waited for his chances
and has used them very well. He's earned them."
The former Sevilla striker spent a forgettable season at Madrid
before being loaned out to Arsenal. Baptista's back now and another
standout goal leaves Madrid in a commanding position at the top of
the league over Christmas.
The title is Real's to lose at this point, with inconsistent
Valencia and Sevilla having to make up deficits of 15 and 18
points, respectively.
Real president Ramon Calderon dismissed Capello last year - only
weeks after the now-England manager guided the club to its record
30th league title. Calderon spent 120 million euros (US$172
million) to bring in players such as Wesley Sneijder (27 million
euros) and Arjen Robben (36 million euros) in a bid for exciting -
and winning - football.
(Agencies via Shanghai Daily December 26, 2007)
