In an interview with BT Sport, Rafa Benitez opened up about the complications of working under the high-pressure conditions at Real Madrid. Benitez was sacked after just seven months in charge of Los Blancos, despite losing just three times while at the helm.
"You have to do everything perfect," Benitez told Gary Lineker. "As soon as something is wrong, or the chairman thinks something is wrong, then you start having problems."
The Champions League Round of 16 continued today with a number of goals between the two matches. AS Roma hosted Real Madrid at Stadio Olimpico, while VFL Wolfsburg traveled to KAA Gent.
Cristiano Ronaldo and co. defeated AS Roma 2-0 with CR7 opening the scoring in the 57th minute with a beautiful curling effort into the top left of the box. Subsititute Jesé came on for James Rodgriuez in the 82nd minute and, four minutes later, scored another crucial away goal for Los Blancos.
Lionel Messi set two more records today. Of course he did. Messi sets records every day, it seems. Today may have even been a down day, records-wise.
First, Messi continued to be the highest scorer in La Liga history, scoring his 300th goal.
.@ZiggoSport: “And here's the video. Number 300 for Lionel Messi in @LaLiga.” pic.twitter.com/ejuklSINAj
Cristiano Ronaldo has not scored a goal away from Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in over two months. His last goal in a road game was on November 29, 2015, when he scored the final goal in a Real Madrid 2-0 against Eibar in Ipurua.
Coincidentally, that was also Los Blancos' last win as a visitor until two weeks ago, when, thanks to a Luka Modric goal, Real Madrid got a 2-1 win at Granada.
Cristiano Ronaldo is pretty good at soccer. Let's not forget that. That being said, Cristiano Ronaldo's form this season has led people to whisper about a "decline" at Real Madrid, which we think is pretty ridiculous. So, we decided to take a closer look.
I was watching Barcelona vs Celta Vigo the other day when my roommate sat down next to me and eventually asked me the question, “who do you think is going to win the Champions League?”
After a couple seconds of thinking I said, “Barcelona.” Literally minutes later Barcelona scored this goal.
We’re ten years into the era when Lionel Messi does things like this, and they just never, ever age.
Poor Celta defender Jonny Gomes was hung out to dry, put in a spin cycle, or any other laundry phrase you’re inclined to turn. That’s also Ray Hudson bwaaaaaaaahh’ing his approval when the reigning La Liga Player of the Month freezes the poor guy, dangles the cheese, and then takes it away.That led to this, the ensuing penalty, where Messi . . . passed?
Today, when we think of Ronaldo scoring we think of Ronaldo’s trademark celebration, in which he jumps, spins, and goes super saiyan. He does it nearly every time he scores, and he has made it his trademark. People across the world mimic it, even professional athletes in other sports like Odell Beckham Jr. But, this was not the first original celebration that Ronaldo invented.
The admiration and mutual respect that Philippe Coutinho and Neymar have for each other’s game is no secret. They’ve been close friends for almost 10 years now, their friendship dating all the way back to the time of embarrassing bathroom selfies, a formative point for anyone in their awkward teenage years.
Trivia question: how many times has Lionel Messi won La Liga Player of the month? A hundred? Fifty? Seventy five?
Answer: one. And it was last month.
That's right, after 298 goals, making him La Liga's all-time leading scorer, Messi has finally been named Player of the Month in La Liga. The 28-year-old Argentine has won the FIFA Ballon d'Or four times, La Liga Player of the Year six times and the UEFA Best Player of the Year award twice.
And La Liga Player of the Month once.