Real Madrid 1-0 Murcia

It wasn't so much as parking the team bus in front of their goal, as relocating Terminal 4 in front of Carini and hoping for the best. Whispers that Javier Clemente had practised with six defenders in preparation for this game turned out to be the ghastly truth as the team sheets were passed around the Bernabeu. Not even an ultra conservative five at the back was enough for the gruff Clemente. He was going with six.
Arzu had said that Murcia would have to play against 13 at the Bernabeu - Bernd's 11 plus the fans plus the referee. How wrong he was. Miguel Torres gave Dani Aquino a welcome to the big time, keeping the foot in but not raising it enough to warrant an assault on the 17 year old's achilles, but Iturralde Gonzalez decided to make his own stamp on the game and send off Torres. 20 minutes had passed. Neither side had hit the target and it would probably have been wise to leave the stadium there and then.
Those that stayed did get to see Iturralde given a good old fashionedpanolada before the break. Pepe was booked for an elbow, as was Arzu. Neither made any contact with their opponent. Then Guti dived in the area, just like De Lucas, and neither penalty shouts were given.
Goalless at half time was a just reflection of the drivel that the unlucky sell-out crowd had witnessed. The second half offered little more, other than a brilliantly taken goal by Wesley Sneijder, coming from "our only mistake" as Clemente called it - a poor clearance which the Dutchman controlled and curled past Carini.
The final breath of the match almost provided a stunning goal from Arjen Robben after he mazed his way past three plus the Murcia keeper, but Drenthe thought his teammate had over-run his control and they both went for the ball to comical effect. The whistle went with both men writhing in pain after tackling each other.
84 minutes later Acasiete scored for Almeria to condemn Villarreal to another defeat. The Yellow Submarine have well and truly sunk out of the title race, while the cules are on their culos nine points behind the Blancos with six games to go. This is over.