Quite surprised not to see anyone post information about this match.
The mark that the first match of the Real Madrid preseason deserves is B. Zidane and Luis Figo played the flagship role in the game. The Whites got a win at David Beckham’s debut, which gave some signs of his quality. It was also Queiroz’s first time on the bench. He deployed a more advanced lineup with a rhombus scheme in the midfield. His tactics seemed to work, especially in the first half, when Figo hit the first target. Morientes (two goals) and Portillo did the rest of the scoring. Beijing Worker’s Stadium was packed and the massive audience enjoyed the moves of their idols. The high temperature and humidity did not manage to spoil the encounter. Next test is to take place in Tokyo next Tuesday.
After all the preparation for ten days it was time to play the game. The atmoshpere at Beijing Worker’s Stadium can stand alongside any European arena holding a Champions League’s game. There was a lot of good football to be staged. However, one of the main reasons for the excitement was undoubtedly Beckham’s debut. The Englishman played with the white shirt on for the first time. Queiroz was also to make his debut as Real’s coach. The innovations in the lineup was Beckham’s positioning on the right flank and Figo’s new left position. Zidane and Makelele made up the midfield rhombus.
Good impression
The players were aware of the significance of the game and the excitement it had caused. Right from kickoff, they made it clear that it was not going to be another ordinary friendly. Becks made moves to the centre while Zidane and Figo swapped positions in an attempt to link to a very ofensive Roberto Carlos. Queiroz’ orders to move the back line forward were obeyed by Helguera and Pavón who kept advancing to the midfield.
The Whites started to deserve a better grade as the game went on. It was an intense rhythm on the pitch for a preseason game. The weather conditions were not contributing to the ease in the play: the humidity rate was close to 100%, worsened by the heavy heat. The crowds bursted into a common wow!! with Roberto Carlos’s shot into the post and Ronaldo’s header, which was eventually cleared by a local defender.
Beckham, the star
David Beckham took two free kicks from the edge of the area (21’ and 32’). The first one was saved by the keeper’s great reaction. The second one brushed the post. They both were good signs for the coming season. An interplay by the French man, the Brazilian and the Portuguese ended up in the first target of the game. Figo only had to chip it into the goal from Ronie’s assist.
Same plotline
The second half began with no changes in the team. The idea was the same and the play was created mainly by two players: Zidane and Figo, who both have started off at a great level. Guti and Solari came on a few minutes later to replace these two figures. Morientes replaced Ronaldo, who was not very lucky in their shots at goal today. The intensity decreased as the game went on and Carlos Queiroz saw the right time for changes. Beckham (good debut) and Raúl left their positions to Celades and Cambiasso.
Despite the decrease in the rhythm, we could still see some nice football on the field. Morientes made it clear that he wanted to become indispensabe with his two targets. And so did Guti. The second captain keeps on proving he is one of the flagships of this season’s Real: it was him who gave the two goal assits to Morientes and Portillo. All in all, the team has given a fantastic impression at their first preseason test. The 50.000 spectators gave a great ovation to Real at the conclusion of the game.
THE MATCH:
0 – DRAGON TEAM: Li Yan; Yang Chen, Wu Chengying, Li Ming, Shen Si, Li Yi, Qi Hong, Sun Gang, Wang Xiao, Li Weifeng y Zhou Ting. También jugaron Liu Yue, Jia Jin, Shun Zi, Cheng Yong, Shen Han, Huo and Gao Feng.
2 – REAL MADRID: Casillas (César 80´); Salgado, Roberto Carlos (Raúl Bravo 80´), Helguera, Pavón; Makelele (Portillo 80´), Zidane (Guti 65´), Figo (Solari 65´), Beckham (Celades 72´); Raúl (Cambiasso 72´) and Ronaldo (Morientes 65´).
GOALS:
0-1, min. 42: Zidane set off a move, passes to Ronaldo, who sends it to Figo; the Portuguese scores nice and easy.
0-2, min. 74: Roberto Carlos’ shot cleared by the local goalie but Morientes is there to score with a cross shot.
0-3, min.86: Morientes does not waste the fantastic assist from Guti.
0-4, min.89: Antother assist from Guti, leaving Portillo all by himself facing the keeper. The Spanish forward has no mercy.
OTHER FACTS: Beijing Worker’s Stadium. 50.000 spectators turned up at Real Madrid’s first match in Asia. Right before kickoff, a group of Chinese nurses give the players some gifts. Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez watched the game from the royal box. Óscar Miñambres was the only absence at this meeting. Those Madrid players that had not been called up for the match had a training session after it.
As expected Madrid won comprehensively but that would be an understatement to say that the Chinese XI didn't give them a tough fight.
In the end Madrid won 4-0... (Figo,Morientes -2,Portillo)
Figo played on the left whereas Beckham played on the right with Zidane and Makelele in the middle... Beckham didn't socre from the 2 freekicks he took but came close...
The mark that the first match of the Real Madrid preseason deserves is B. Zidane and Luis Figo played the flagship role in the game. The Whites got a win at David Beckham’s debut, which gave some signs of his quality. It was also Queiroz’s first time on the bench. He deployed a more advanced lineup with a rhombus scheme in the midfield. His tactics seemed to work, especially in the first half, when Figo hit the first target. Morientes (two goals) and Portillo did the rest of the scoring. Beijing Worker’s Stadium was packed and the massive audience enjoyed the moves of their idols. The high temperature and humidity did not manage to spoil the encounter. Next test is to take place in Tokyo next Tuesday.
After all the preparation for ten days it was time to play the game. The atmoshpere at Beijing Worker’s Stadium can stand alongside any European arena holding a Champions League’s game. There was a lot of good football to be staged. However, one of the main reasons for the excitement was undoubtedly Beckham’s debut. The Englishman played with the white shirt on for the first time. Queiroz was also to make his debut as Real’s coach. The innovations in the lineup was Beckham’s positioning on the right flank and Figo’s new left position. Zidane and Makelele made up the midfield rhombus.
Good impression
The players were aware of the significance of the game and the excitement it had caused. Right from kickoff, they made it clear that it was not going to be another ordinary friendly. Becks made moves to the centre while Zidane and Figo swapped positions in an attempt to link to a very ofensive Roberto Carlos. Queiroz’ orders to move the back line forward were obeyed by Helguera and Pavón who kept advancing to the midfield.
The Whites started to deserve a better grade as the game went on. It was an intense rhythm on the pitch for a preseason game. The weather conditions were not contributing to the ease in the play: the humidity rate was close to 100%, worsened by the heavy heat. The crowds bursted into a common wow!! with Roberto Carlos’s shot into the post and Ronaldo’s header, which was eventually cleared by a local defender.
Beckham, the star
David Beckham took two free kicks from the edge of the area (21’ and 32’). The first one was saved by the keeper’s great reaction. The second one brushed the post. They both were good signs for the coming season. An interplay by the French man, the Brazilian and the Portuguese ended up in the first target of the game. Figo only had to chip it into the goal from Ronie’s assist.
Same plotline
The second half began with no changes in the team. The idea was the same and the play was created mainly by two players: Zidane and Figo, who both have started off at a great level. Guti and Solari came on a few minutes later to replace these two figures. Morientes replaced Ronaldo, who was not very lucky in their shots at goal today. The intensity decreased as the game went on and Carlos Queiroz saw the right time for changes. Beckham (good debut) and Raúl left their positions to Celades and Cambiasso.
Despite the decrease in the rhythm, we could still see some nice football on the field. Morientes made it clear that he wanted to become indispensabe with his two targets. And so did Guti. The second captain keeps on proving he is one of the flagships of this season’s Real: it was him who gave the two goal assits to Morientes and Portillo. All in all, the team has given a fantastic impression at their first preseason test. The 50.000 spectators gave a great ovation to Real at the conclusion of the game.
THE MATCH:
0 – DRAGON TEAM: Li Yan; Yang Chen, Wu Chengying, Li Ming, Shen Si, Li Yi, Qi Hong, Sun Gang, Wang Xiao, Li Weifeng y Zhou Ting. También jugaron Liu Yue, Jia Jin, Shun Zi, Cheng Yong, Shen Han, Huo and Gao Feng.
2 – REAL MADRID: Casillas (César 80´); Salgado, Roberto Carlos (Raúl Bravo 80´), Helguera, Pavón; Makelele (Portillo 80´), Zidane (Guti 65´), Figo (Solari 65´), Beckham (Celades 72´); Raúl (Cambiasso 72´) and Ronaldo (Morientes 65´).
GOALS:
0-1, min. 42: Zidane set off a move, passes to Ronaldo, who sends it to Figo; the Portuguese scores nice and easy.
0-2, min. 74: Roberto Carlos’ shot cleared by the local goalie but Morientes is there to score with a cross shot.
0-3, min.86: Morientes does not waste the fantastic assist from Guti.
0-4, min.89: Antother assist from Guti, leaving Portillo all by himself facing the keeper. The Spanish forward has no mercy.
OTHER FACTS: Beijing Worker’s Stadium. 50.000 spectators turned up at Real Madrid’s first match in Asia. Right before kickoff, a group of Chinese nurses give the players some gifts. Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez watched the game from the royal box. Óscar Miñambres was the only absence at this meeting. Those Madrid players that had not been called up for the match had a training session after it.
As expected Madrid won comprehensively but that would be an understatement to say that the Chinese XI didn't give them a tough fight.
In the end Madrid won 4-0... (Figo,Morientes -2,Portillo)
Figo played on the left whereas Beckham played on the right with Zidane and Makelele in the middle... Beckham didn't socre from the 2 freekicks he took but came close...
