adminMADRID. — Real Madrid’s long wait to be back on top of the Spanish soccer league is finally over. And it wasn’t all due to Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Spanish giants are in tremendous form, sitting alone atop the La Liga standings for the first time since the 2011-12 season, when they won the title.
Madrid are unbeaten in 26 games — their best run since 1988-89 when they went a record 34 games unbeaten — before tonight’s Champions League match at Schalke, when Ronaldo returns after serving a three-game domestic ban.
Madrid’s attack hasn’t dipped despite the Ballon d’Or winner’s absence, with Gareth Bale shining in a 3-0 win over Elche on Saturday.
Madrid were in lethal form compared with erratic efforts by their closest challengers, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, who both trail the Spanish leaders by three points. Madrid haven’t been alone on top of the standings since closing out their record 32nd league trophy in May 2012. They took the lead over Barcelona that season for good in October, after the ninth round of games.
Confidence is high in the Spanish capital with Barcelona and Atletico following up impressive Champions League victories with poor domestic results. “We want to win every game,” Bale was quoted as saying on Madrid’s website. “It’s very important to win and put pressure on our title rivals.” — AFP.
Online Reporter