Real Madrid's march to a potential 11th European Cup got off to a good start with a 5-1 win over FC Basel at the Bernabéu. Los Blancos exploded for four first-half goals, with three coming in a seven minute stretch between the 30th and 40th minute.
Real Madrid vs. FC Basel, 2014 UEFA Champions League: Final score 5-1, Los Blancos hammer Basel
Real Madrid put four goals past Basel in the first half on their way to an easy victory at the Bernabéu.
Denis Doyle
While Real Madrid’s opening goal was hardly something worthy of the highlight reels, it was certainly deserved as Los Blancos dominated the opening 15 minutes of the match. James Rodriguez found Nacho making a run into the box with a lovely back heel pass and the defender launched a ball off a sliding Marek Suchý, deflecting it past Tomáš Vaclík for the 1-0 lead.
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Gareth Bale doubled the lead in the 30th minute with a gazelle-like run past a completely disorganized Basel back line. Luka Modrić's pass was sublime, hitting Bale in stride as the Welshman chipped the ball over Vaclík and then tapped it over the goal line.
Cristiano Ronaldo got in on the fun less than two minutes later, tapping in the ball from short range off a Bale pass from the right side of the penalty area, extending the lead to 3-0.
In the 36th minute Madrid scored their fourth goal of the first half as James Rodriguez cleaned up a rebound in front of goal. Ronaldo’s initial shot was saved well by Vaclík, but he left a massive rebound that rolled out to his right where Rodriguez was lurking. The Basel goalkeeper made a desperate attempt to scramble over, but the Colombian striker was too fast and buried the ball in the back of the net.
Basel didn't quit though. In the 38th minute they took advantage of some poor Madrid defending to pull a goal back. Luca Zuffi released Derlis González with a ball through the midfield as the Basel striker raced through three Madrid defenders. Before Sergio Ramos could recover, González sent his shot past Iker Casillas from 20 yards out to make it 4-1.
Casillas, who has been the target of heavy criticism by the fans and the media, made an excellent save in the 67th minute to keep Basel from possibly mounting a comeback. Raphaël Varane made an ill-advised blind header back towards goal, failing to see González moving past him towards the ball. The Basel striker seemed sure to score, but Casillas got a hand on the shot to deflect it wide.
Basel came close yet again in the 76th minute when Fabian Schär’s shot beat Casillas but hit off the outside of the post.
All that mattered not though in the end as Karim Benzema scored Madrid's fifth goal of the match in the 79th minute, banging a shot off the bottom of the crossbar after a series of one-touch passes got him the ball at the top of the box.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Marcelo, Ramos, Pepe, Nacho, Kroos, Modrić (Illarramendi 74’), Ronaldo,Rodriguez, Bale, Benzema (Hernández 82’)
Goals: Suchý (14’ og), Bale (30’), Ronaldo (31’), Rodriguez (36’), Benzema (79’)
FC Basel: Vaclík, Suchý, Samuel (Kakitanti 64’), Schär, Safair, Frei (Delgado 83’), Elneny, Xhaka, Zuffi, González, Streller (Embolo 73’)
Goals: González (38’)
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