Real Madrid kept pace with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in what promises to be an enthralling La Liga title race with a 3-0 win over Villarreal on Wednesday.
Karim Benzema opened the scoring late in the first half, netting for the fourth league game in a row, before further strikes from Lucas Vazquez and Luka Modric made it a comfortable victory in the second period.
Cristiano Ronaldo left the field in stoppage time in apparent discomfort to spark injury fears on an otherwise positive evening for Madrid.
Barca s stunning loss of form in recent weeks allowed Zinedine Zidane s side to close to within one point of the summit, but the pressure was asserted back onto Madrid as the defending champions demolished Deportivo La Coruna 8-0 before kick-off at the San…
Udinese forward Antonio Di Natale said on Saturday he has put June s costly Euro 2008 penalty miss against Spain well and truly behind him.
Di Natale was one of two Italy players to miss penalties in the quarter-final shoot-out wich Spain won before going on to lift the trophy in Vienna.
But Di Natale, whose only start in the competition came in Italy s embarrassing opening 3-0 drubbing at the hands of the Netherlands, says he is not letting that affect him ahead of the new season.
I feel calm and collected. I realise I can t live off memories, obviously I look back at the good ones but like everyone I have to start from scratch again, he said.
Di Natale has been at the centre of transfer speculation during the close season with some of Italy s top t…