Madrid win again to stay ahead of the pack.

Cristiano Ronaldo scores twice and Gareth Bale also got on the scoresheet as Real Madrid beat Getafe 3-0 on Sunday morning to stay one point clear of Barcelona in Liga BBVA. The game was decided in the second half of the game after a goalless first half but it was not a case of the match lacking opportunities. 

Team Selection:
Getafe: Codina; Valera, Naldo, Velázquez, Alexis, Lago; Juan Rodríguez, Sammir (Álex Felip 83); Pedro León (Yoda 73), Sarabia (Hinestroza 56) and Álvaro Vázquez. Subs: Jonathan, A.Arroyo, Escudero, Valera.

Real Madrid: Casillas, Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Marcelo (Nacho 82), Kroos (Illarramendi 82), James, Isco (Khedira 78), Bale, Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo. Subs: Keylor Navas, Chicharito, Jesé, Álvaro Medrán.
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Match overview:

The Whites had various chances to score but failed to due to a shortage of luck and Getafe's tremendous work at the back. The latter happened one minute before the 30' of play. It was good individual play from Karim Benzema, who feinted on the back line, left the defender on the ground and crossed back in. James' free shot from the penalty spot was cleared for a corner by Lago. The last move of the first half was even clearer. Toni Kroos' shot, a free ball hit from the edge of the area with his left foot, hit the bar. The crossbar prevented Madrid from breaking the deadlock at the end of the first half but at the start of the second it was Codina who did well to keep them out the play was brilliant Isco got away from an opponent, he combined with James in the 53rd minute who passed through the defence but Benzema was unable to take advantage in the one-on-one. Four minutes later, the Colombian had the chance, but the home goalkeeper twice stopped his shots from the edge of the area.

The leaders' siege grew more intense as the minutes ticked on and it was only a question of time before the Madrid scored. And that is how it was. The goal was scored by Cristiano Ronaldo, but the amazing move was created by Benzema. The French player's move in the 65' was reminiscent of the masterpiece that Butragueño left for posterity against Cádiz. Benzema got the ball as he was leaning over, he pretended to cross to get away from the first opponent, and without losing sight of the fact the Portuguese player was unmarked, he managed to keep control of the ball on the by-line in order to trick the second home defender by stepping on the ball with his right foot before assisting with his left. 1-0 RM.

Madrid had done the most difficult part, but they didn't sit back, and four minutes later they killed off the game as Bale finished off a textbook counter-attacking move following a measured James assist coming from the left wing. 2-0 RM. It wasn't the last goal from Madrid as Cristiano Ronaldo finished off the thrashing in the 79th. Once again, James provided the assist and the Portuguese player headed the ball into the net from the penalty spot. 3-0 RM. Real Madrid, who kept a clean sheet, are top of Liga BBVA with a game in hand.

Next game up for Real Madrid is against Córdoba away on Saturday kick-off 16:00 Local Time (15:00 GMT). Getafe face Celta Vigo at home on Monday kick-off 20:45 Local Time (19:45 GMT).

Russ Vernon on the Road: Sunderland 1-0 Leeds United

On Sunday 4th January 2015 i headed to the Stadium of Light to see Sunderland and Leeds United go head to head in the FA Cup Third Round Clash. We set off from Cross Key's Pub, Wath, Rotherham at 7.15am and arrived at Ralph Fitz Randal, Richmond at about 9am to eat breakfast ahead of the game. We left Richmond shortly after 11am and arrived at the Stadium of Light 12.36am ahead of the 1pm kick-off. Due to 5,000 Leeds fans trying to get into the Stadium i missed the first 10 minutes of the match.

Once inside the stadium and at my seat Sunderland were the looking the more likely to open the scoring and Steven Fletcher wasted a good chance to put them infront when Patrick van Aanholt's left wing cross came in the striker hit over the bar from close range.

Casper Sloth who came back into the side after not playing since November when he came off the bench v Charlton had to block a header from Santiago Vergini’s on the line. Moments after that and it was van Aanholt who opened the scoring after he drilled a ball cross the box into the bottom corner past Marco Silvestri in the United goal to give the EPL side the lead on 33 minutes. SAFC 1-0 United.

After the goal United started to see more of the ball inside the Sunderland half, but Rudy Austin just found his path blocked off inside the area following a brilliant move on the stroke of half-time.

HALF TIME: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.

Into the Second half and United almost got off to the perfect start when on loan Brazilian Adryan, found away past the Sunderland defence and saw his shot saved by the legs of goalkeeper Costel Pantilimon after being played through by Mirco Antenucci. Brian Montenegro forced another good save from Pantilimon as he looked to score at the near post. United were denied a penalty when Charlie Taylor went down under the challenge of Sebastien Larsson but referee Mike Dean said the challenege was outside the box but replays showed it was inside the area.

United then started to push forward to try and get back into the game and Sunderland thought they had a second goal of the afternoon but it was disallowed for offside after Fletcher was in a offside position but he put the ball into the back of the net. Silvestri then had to make a save from Giaccherini after his low effort and he made a good save on 69 minutes to keep it at 1-0 after he had to dive low to save Fletcher's goalbounded effort with both hands, before saving from Jordi Gomez.

At the other end Montenegro was found unmarked at the back post but he blazed over the bar and Austin dragged one wide from distance, while Fletcher drilled well wide of the far post as Sunderland threatened again. Cooper hit over with 10 minutes to go as Leeds remained within a shout of earning a deserved replay. Leeds had to be alert to Sunderland's counter attacks as Cooper slid in to deny Fletcher before ex loanee Connor Wickham saw a header saved by Silvestri. 

With moments remaining Liam Cooper saw a header come back of the post with Pantilimon rooted to the spot after after a brilliant cross from United midfielder Luke Murphy. That proved to be the final action of the game and United bowed out of the FA Cup with a brilliant second half display against the EPL side.

Full Time: SAFC 1-0 LUFC.

Sunderland: Pantilimon, Vergini, van Aanholt, Coates, O'Shea, Bridcutt, Rodwell (Larsson 37), Gomez, Alvarez (Wickham 46), Giaccherini (Johnson 74), Fletcher. Subs. Stryjek, Buckley, Beadling, Robson.

United: Silvestri, Berardi, Cooper, Del Fabro, C Taylor, Austin, Murphy, Sloth, Adryan (Sharp 62), Montenegro (Doukara 84), Antenucci. Subs. S Taylor, Killock, Thompson, Phillips, Dawson, Doukara.