Madrid v. Racing Live Blog

90': All over at the Bernabeu and Madrid come over with an unconvincing 1-0 victory, courtesy of Higuain's fine finish early in the second half. Thanks for joining me!!

88': Time is running out for Racing now and Madrid appear to have weathered the storm.

85': WHAT A CHANCE FOR ZIGIC!!! He leaps superbly to meet a right-wing cross, but can't quite keep his header down. Madrid are hanging on.

81': Racing continue to press Madrid. Nikola Zigic wins a near-post header and steers an effort just wide. Far from convincing from Madrid in the second half.

77': Ramos makes his third and final change. Van der Vaart is replaced by Marcelo.

74': SO CLOSE TO AN EQUALISER FOR RACING!!! Jonathan bursts through, but Casillas is just quick enough to block his initial attempt. Fabio Cannavaro clears the danger.

71': Javi Garcia is introduced by Ramos. Wesley Sneijder makes way.

69': Racing are enjoying a good spell, with Jonathan in particular looking dangerous. Madrid have to be careful here, this game is far from won.

62': Racing make a couple of quick changes. Moral and Peter Luccin enter the fray at the expense of Mohamed Tchite and Mahdi Racen.

61': Robben's return to action is cut short on the hour mark. Replacing the Dutchman is Julien Faubert.

54': Fine save from Tono! Higuain is released on the right and shoots low on the angle...Tono gets down to save with his feet.

53': Corner to Madrid on their right. Raul swings it over, Tono flaps...but the referee sees a foul on the keeper and Racing have a free-kick.

49': GOOOAAAALLLLL!!!!! Raul's flick header sends through HIGUAIN, who cuts inside Gonzalez and curls a fine right-foot shot past Tono to put Madrid ahead. Lovely finish.

49': Nice jinking run from Robben, but once again the end product is poor.

46': Away we go with the second half! No changes to report from either side.

Half Time: The half-time whistle blows in Madrid and we enter the break goalless. Madrid have been the better side, but they failed to take their chances so far. Back in 15.

45': Higuain twists and turns inside the box, before shooting left-footed from 15 yards...his effort is blocked but Madrid win a corner. Racing clear.

42': Lassana Diarra goes in the book for a tug on Jonathan's shirt.

39': Jonathan lets fly for Racing and Iker Casillas is forced to tip his swerving left-foot drive over the bar.

36':

I know that this is totally not related to this match, but I was looking on the match commentary for the AC Milan match and the one comment read the following:

3' There is a female linesman running along Milan's right flank next to David Beckham. The TV cameras keep focussing on her, presumably expecting her to swoon at the great man's very presence.

ROFL! :D

30': Rafael Van der Vaart has two chances in a minute. The first sees him clean through against Tono...he attempts to lob the keeper but Tono blocks. Seconds later he meets a near-post cross, but Tono saves again.

27': Robben cuts in from the left, shoots right-footed from 20 yards and draws a sharp save from Antonio Tono...Madrid are getting closer.

25': Oscar Serrano bursts down the left for Racing, but Pepe comes across to make a fine saving tackle.

21': Robben launches on a raid down the left, he beats one and offloads to continue his run...Ramos concedes possession however.

17': Not much to report in the last five or six minutes I'm afraid. Madrid are moving the ball around nicely, but they are yet to find the final ball.

12': Raul slinks his way past a defender, cuts in from the left and shoots...but his effort is blocked.

10': First real chance for Madrid, as Ramos stretches to meet a free-kick in the Racing box and puts his volley just wide from 10 yards.

5': Sergio Ramos bizarrely slices out to concede a corner. Racing whip it in early, but Madrid clear easily at the near post.

3': The pitch looks in immaculate condition at the Bernabeu - perfect for flowing, attacking football.

1': Away we go with the first half and Madrid are straight on the attack. The home side are of course in their famous all-white strip. Racing are in green and black.

Before Kick Off: Arjen Robben is back in the Madrid starting line-up after another in a long line of injury setbacks. Elsewhere there is a familiar look to Juande Ramos's team, with Raul and Gonzalo Higuain likely to float about and get forward whenever possible.

Before Kick Off:

Starting XI (according to numerous sources)

Real Madrid

• Casillas
• Pepe
• Cannavaro
• Heinze
• Ramos
• van der Vaart
• Sneijder
• Diarra
• Robben
• Higuain
• Raul

Racing

• Tono
• Valera
• Lozarano
• Navas
• Marcano
• Pereira
• Colsa
• Lacen
• Serrano
• Tchite
• Zigic

Before Kick Off:

Suspended

Real Madrid

• Fernando Gago

Racing

• Munitis

Before Kick Off:

Injuries

Real Madrid

• Guti
• Christoph Metzelder

Racing

• none

Before Kick Off:

Hey everyone! Kristen here for Kristen's Realmadrid Talk. I will be your source today for the live blogging goodness. :) From now on, for all of your Madrid goodness, please visit Ultra Sur Madrid and Kristen's Real Madrid talk. Today's match is proving to be pretty good. Racing have what the British press call, "the Spanish Peter Crouch." His name is Nikola Zigic. He stands at about 6'7". He will be a very tough player to beat.