Real Madrid re-wrote the La Liga history books on matchday 16 against Rayo Vallecano. Not in 55 years has a team in the Spanish topflight scored 10
ADVERTISEMENTReal Madrid re-wrote the La Liga history books on matchday 16 against Rayo Vallecano.
Not in 55 years has a team in the Spanish topflight scored 10 goals in a single match.
Meanwhile, in Italy, Serie A leaders Inter stumbled at the San Siro to offer a chance for their principle rivals to close the gap.
A Real hammering
Gareth Bale scored four times as Real hammered a nine-man Rayo Vallecano at the Bernabeu.
Real were trailing 2-1 before Tito and Raul Baena were given their marching orders.
It was a one way street after that.
Ronaldo hit a brace while Karim Benzema netted a hat-trick – including number 10.
It remains to be seen however if the 10-2 stuffing of the club’s neighbours will take some of the pressure off under-fire boss Rafael Benitez with Jose Mourinho’s waiting in the wings as a possible replacement for the Spaniard.
San Siro slip up
Over in Italy, Inter missed the chance to stretch their lead to four points at the top of the Serie A table following a 2-1 defeat by struggling Lazio at the San Siro.
A brace of goals from Antonio Candreva cancelled out Mauro Icardi’s strike on the hour mark to make sure all three points went south.
Roberto Mancini and his men have a one point lead over closest challengers Fiorentina while Lazio move up to 10th, 13 points off the pace.
Up and down
Making our up list this week are Barcelona, who won the Club World Cup for a third time time.
The Catalans beat Argentine side River Plate 3-0 in Japan for the club’s fifth title of 2015.
The three goals also broke their record goal-scoring tally for a calendar year with 176 goals.
Up, up and away are Leicester City who beat Everton 3-2 to assure themselves top spot in the English Premier League at Christmas.
ADVERTISEMENTLast year at this period the Foxes were propping up the other side of the table – they were bottom with 10 points.
Paris Saint-Germain set a new points record for the first half of the season.
Laurent Blanc’s men won at Caen to push their points tally to 51 – one point more than Lyon’s previous record mark in 2006.
PSG are currently 19 points clear of second place Monaco.
Jose Mourinho makes our down list this week following his sacking by Chelsea on Thursday.
ADVERTISEMENTWith the Portuguese out of the Bridge the Blues enjoyed a 3-1 win over Sunderland, but they remain in unfamiliar territory three points above the drop zone in 15th.
Road to Euro
After West Germany reigned supreme at Euro 1980 we move ahead four years to the tournament’s 7th edition.
France would stage the event on their second tournament appearance – 24 years after their first, when they also hosted Uefa’s flagship tournament.
Les Blues would go on to celebrate continental glory on home soil.
ADVERTISEMENTEight countries took part in the final stage of the UEFA Euro 1984.
Led by their star man Michel Platini the home nation reached the final in Paris unbeaten, Spain were waiting for them in the tournament’s showpiece match.
Juventus striker, Platini, scored the first goal (his ninth of the campaign) before Bruno Bellone added a second in the final minute. A 2-0 victory for the home nation gave them their first major international title.
We might be wrong
Whilst all the others leagues enjoy a winter break, England’s relentless Premier League continues with the next round of matches taking place on Boxing Day.
ADVERTISEMENTHere you have our predictions for games featuring the top three clubs. Send us yours forecast on social media using #TheCornerScores.
Liverpool 1-3 Leicester City
Manchester City 2-0 Sunderland
Southampton 1-2 Arsenal
With Christmas getting closer we thought we would leave you with some festive best wishes from the Juventus squad.
ADVERTISEMENTThey may have deserved a place in the Champions League final last June but judging by this performance we’re not sure they would reach the same stage of the Eurovision Song Contest. The Corner will not be taking a winter break so see you next Monday!