Real Madrid put six past Valencia
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Real Madrid's Higuain celebrates after he scored a goal against Valencia during their Spanish first division soccer match at the Mestalla Stadium in Valencia April 23, 2011. Real Madrid won 6-3. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) |
Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho made nine changes from his side which won the Copa del Rey against Barcelona in midweek, but still saw his 'reserve' team cruise to a comfortable 6-3 win over Valencia in the BBVA Primera Liga.
Gonzalo Higuain confirmed his return to fitness following an operation on his back last November, with a hat-trick in a match Madrid never looked in danger of losing despite a late fightback from the home side.
The side Madrid put on the pitch at the Mestalla stadium may have been filled with fringe players, but it still contained Kaka, Karim Benzema, Gonzalo Higuain and Lassana Diarra.
Although Cristiano Ronaldo and Xabi Alonso were among the players rested, Madrid always looked in control from the moment Valencia keeper Vicente Guaita gifted Benzema the opening goal of the game after 22 minutes. Guaita misjudged an Higuain cross to leave the Frenchman a simple finish.
Jeremy Matthieu then made a terrible mistake to gift Higuain Madrid's second as he left the ball for the striker to stab it past Guaita before Kaka finished off a team move to make it 3-0 after 38 minutes.
Valencia were playing with their defense high up the field and Madrid picked them off on the break with Higuain scoring his side's fourth three minutes before halftime.
Any words Valencia coach Unai Emery had with his players at the break looked to fall on deaf ears when Higuain completed his hat-trick with another tap-in early in the second half.
Roberto Soldado pulled a goal back for Valencia with a smart finish, but that only seemed to annoy Madrid as Kaka scored his side's sixth a minute later. Once again Madrid caught Valencia out on the break to produce another simple finish.
Jonas Goncalvez and Jordi Alba scored late goals for the home side but they did little to hide the face that Valencia had been totally outplayed for almost the entire game.
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