Madrid vs Basel (Live) UEFA Champions League

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

• September 16, 2014
 
• • 19:45
 
• • Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid

• Referee: D. Skomina

REAL MADRID

• M. Suchý 14' (own goal)
, 
• G. Bale 30'
, 
• Cristiano Ronaldo 31'
, 
• J. Rodríguez 37'

4

50'

1

 

BASEL

• D. González 38'

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LIVE COMMENTARY

• 49'

  Basel are doing their best to retain possession and stop the hosts from developing any early momentum here. A lot of the passing is being done around their final third and as soon as they look to push it forward the white shirts close in to contest it. The Swiss are struggling to get out of their own half.
• 47'

  Samuel goes through the back of Bale and gifts Real Madrid a free kick 35 yards from goal. Ronaldo places the ball and shapes to try his luck at goal. However, he gets the connection all wrong and slices it wide of the far post.
• 46'

  Here we go! The second 45 minutes have begun.
• Welcome back! The second half will be underway in just a few moments.
• In their 10 previous games at home to Swiss opposition, Real Madrid have averaged 4.2 goals per game. Therefore, we can expect another goal from the reigning champions or the performance could be deemed as sub-par! Stay tuned for the second half!
• HALF TIME - Real Madrid 4-1 Basel: Los Blancos cantered into a four-goal lead at the Bernabeu with a Suchy own goal added to by Bale, Ronaldo and James. However, Gonzalez dampened the high spirits inside the stadium with a goal for the Swiss before the break. Still, the hosts possess a commanding lead at the break.
• 45' + 2'

  There is the half-time whistle!
• 45' + 1'

  WHAT A STRIKE! Xhaka whips in a great cross from the right which Gonzalez catches on the volley just behind the penalty spot. He strikes it sweetly but the effort arrows high of the target. That would have been some goal!
• 45'

  There will be just one minute of time added on to the end of this half. Streller will be OK to complete the rest of the period.
• 44'

  Streller is released on the counterattack and the veteran does his best to get the better of Pepe and Ramos. He cuts inside, out, and then back in but his lack of pace means James is able to track back and poke the ball away from him. The Colombian's momentum means he catches the striker, who hobbles off the pitch to receive some treatment on his thigh.
• 42'

  Just a few minutes to go until half time now. Madrid have been a bit complacent since their third goal and need to regain their concentration or they could ship another goal!
• 40'

  Ancelotti surely won't be happy with his side for conceding that goal. Ramos stepped out from the back and the defence immediately lost shape, enabling themselves to be carved apart in the most simple of manners.
• 38'

  Assist Luca Zuffi
• 
  38'

  
  Goal Derlis González
  GOOOOOOOOAAAAL!! BASEL PULL ONE BACK IMMEDIATELY! Two passes cut the Madrid defence apart with Zuffi releasing Gonzalez in behind. The Paraguayan has a go from the top of the box and his cross-goal shot nestles in the bottom corner! He, too, scores on his Champions League debut
  .
• 
  37'

  
  Goal James Rodríguez
  GOOOOOOOAAAAAL!! JAMES MAKES IT FOUR! The Colombian scores on his Champions League debut for los Blancos, tapping home from close range after Vaclik parried Benzema's deflected effort aside
  !
• 35'

  Following that strike, Ronaldo needs just two more strikes to equal Real Madrid icon Raul's record of 71 Champions League goals. The Portuguese has now found the net 69 times including qualifying rounds.
• 33'

  Well, Basel's formation appears to have already been undone. All three goals have in some way come from the wings, with the wing-backs being exposed far too regularly.
• 31'

  Assist Gareth Bale
• 31'

  Goal Cristiano Ronaldo
  GOOOOOOAAAL!! A THIRD FOR MADRID! Modric sends the ball out to the right for Bale and the Welshman squares it with his first touch. Vaclik is left stranded and Ronaldo is on hand to tap in at the back post! Two goals in two minutes from los Blancos!
• 30'

  Assist Luka Modric
• 30'

  Goal Gareth Bale
  GOOOOOOAAAAAL!! BALE ADDS THE SECOND! Modric plays a sublime outside-of-the-boot pass into the space behind the wing-back and Bale runs onto the end of it. He loops the ball over Vaclik with his first touch and then finishes the job when it returns to ground! A lovely goal!
• 29'

  Basel are living dangerously here. Real Madrid are starting to find their rhythm and look like creating an opportunity every time they go forward.
• 27'

  VACLIK AGAIN! A corner is bent in from the left and Pepe meets it with a powerful header at the near post. Vaclik gets down low and blocks the attempt on the line and before Ronaldo can pounce on the rebound he slaps it out of the danger area!
• 26'

  GOOD SAVE! Modric is given plenty of space in midfield and he uses it to have a go from 30 yards out. His effort has plenty of power and some late swerve forces Vaclik to leap up and tip the shot over the bar! Good reactions from the keeper.
• 25'

  MARCELO... oh no! Kroos rolls the ball into the path of the left-back as he streams forward on the left. He cuts inside before firing a wild right-footed effort both high and wide of Vaclik's goal.
• 23'

  Bale makes space for a cross on the left in impressive fashion and his delivery is just as good. Ronaldo looks to get his head on it but pushes Suchy in his attempt to make a connection and the referee awards a goal kick. He claims the centre-back dived, but that would certainly have been more than just a little bit risky!
• 22'

  Elneny has started the game well in the Bebbi's midfield, always looking to take the ball from the defence and play it forward. Here he gets up the pitch himself and lets fly from 25 yards, but his curling shot is nowhere near testing Casillas.
• 20'

  Kroos is caught on the ball near the centre circle by Zuffi and Basel look to break. The Swiss passes to his left for Streller but the experienced striker is outpaced by Pepe, who knocks the ball away and then keeps it in play down at the corner so Madrid can build from the back again.
• 18'

  Streller trying to be too clever there! The striker dummied a pass in from the left by Safari, but Zuffi was not on the same wavelength and did not continue his run in order to collect the ball.
• 16'

  Basel almost get a goal back straight away as Xhaka's cross from the right finds Streller in the middle. He gets to the ball ahead of his marker and flicks it goalwards, only to see his shot ripple the side netting.
• 14'

  
  Own Goal Marek Suchy
  GOOOOOOOAAAAL!! REAL MADRID TAKE THE LEAD! James plays Nacho in behind the defence with a scintilating backheel and as the right-back squares the ball into the middle it takes a deflection off Suchy which sends it into the back of the net! An own goal from the Czech centre-back
  .
• 13'

  Bale gets one-on-one with Safari on the right and shifts the ball from side to side as he attempts to eke out space for a cross. He eventually rifles the ball across the box but it is far too powerful for any of his team-mates to get on the end of.
• 12'

  The visiting fans are in great voice this evening but their side are sitting very deep at the moment. They have plenty of bodies back and look very disciplined, which is making it difficult for los Blancos to breathrough.
• 10'

  Basel look to probe down the right but Xhaka is unable to beat his man and plays the ball backwards. The play is then attempted to be switched over to Safari on the near side but the pass is overhit and flies out of play. Throw in for Real Madrid.
• 8'

  The resultant corner is only half-cleared before being shifted to Pepe on the right side of the area. He tries his luck but completely slices his attempt wide of the target. The Portuguese looks down at the turf and tries to stamp it back into position, clearly suggesting it was at fault for his shot. Excuses, excuses!
• 7'

  Benzema gets in behind the Basel wing-back and drills a low cross in towards Bale. The Welshman tries to bring the ball under his spell but Samuel is all over him and knocks it out of play for a corner kick.
• 6'

  RONALDO! This time the Portuguese pops up on the right, beating Safari to come in from the byline but his left-footed shot sails over the top of the near post.
• 5'

  A ball in from the left is dummied by Zuffi, allowing it to run onto Elneny. The midfielder takes a touch and looks to curl a shot into the top corner from 25 yards. He sends it too close to Casillas and the keeper brings it into his chest at the first time of asking.
• 4'

  OVER THE TOP! Ronaldo shifts the ball into space and has a crack from 20 yards but the effort is blocked. He claims for a handball but nothing is given as Modric pounces on the loose ball. He controls with his chest but fails to keep his shot on goal down, sending a wild volley up into the stands.
• 2'

  Basel have shown their hand early, with both Safari and Xhaka pushing forward in the opening minutes. Neither wing-back is able to pick out a team-mate in the box with their respective crosses, though. They need to be careful not to get caught too high up the pitch tonight - they have Ronaldo and Bale looking to run in behind.
• 1'

  We are underway at the Bernabeu!
• The teams have made their way out onto the pitch and the majestic, goosebump-inducing Champions League anthem rings around one of Europe's most iconic stadiums. This is what it is all about! Kick off is just a few short moments away!
• Still, the home crowd will be expecting their team to begin their Champions League campaign with a win tonight. The expectations are always high at Real Madrid, but given their poor start to the season the pressure has certainly been cranked up a notch.
• Basel have not won away to Spanish opposition in seven attempts, but they did manage a 1-1 draw at Camp Nou when they met Barcelona in the 2008-09 Champions League group stages. Two players who featured in that game start tonight: Marco Streller and Behrang Safari.
• Los Blancos have endured a difficult start to the new season, losing three of their six competitive games so far. Hoping to add to the misery this evening is former Real Madrid star, Walter Samuel. The Argentine centre-back made 30 league appearances for the Spanish giants in the 2004-05 season.
• Basel substitutes: Vailati, Aliji, Delgado, Kakitani, Calla, Gashi, Embolo.
• Basel (3–4-3): Vaclik; Schar, Samuel, Suchy; Xhaka, Elneny, Frei, Safari; Gonzalez, Streller, Zuffi.
• Real Madrid substitutes: Navas, Arbeloa, Varane, Coentrao, Illarramendi, Isco, Hernandez.
• Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Nacho, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric; Bale, James, Ronaldo; Benzema.
• BASEL TEAM NEWS: Following their 3-1 defeat to Grasshopper Zurich at the weekend Paulo Sousa makes four changes. Matias Delgado, Davide Calla, Shkelzen Gashi and Giovanni Sio all make way for Marek Suchy, Mohamed Elneny, Marco Streller and Derlis Gonzalez. Marcelo Diaz is suspended for the Bebbi following his dismissal in the Europa League quarter-final second-leg loss to Valencia last season.
• REAL MADRID TEAM NEWS: Off the back of their derby defeat at the hands of city-rivals Atletico Madrid last weekend Carlo Ancelotti makes one change to his starting line-up. Nacho replaces Alvaro Arbeloa at right-back, while Sami Khedira and Dani Carvajal remain sidelined due to injury.
• Real Madrid won both of the previous fixtures between these two teams when a pair of 2-1 victories saw them eliminate Basel from the UEFA Cup in 1971. In fact, Real Madrid have hosted Swiss opposition on 10 occasions and have won every single time, scoring 42 goals and conceding just twice in the process.
• Less than four months ago Real Madrid finally clinched la Decima with an extra-time victory over city rivals Atletico Madrid, and tonight, with the return of the hallowed Champions League, they get their title defence underway against Basel. My name is Tom Webber, and I will be guiding you through all the action at the Santiago Bernabeu this evening!