Lions out after Real Madrid defeat

by Joe Short

FC Copenhagen exited the UEFA Champions League after losing 2-0 to Group B winners Real Madrid.

Goals from Luka Modric and Cristiano Ronaldo either side of half time proved the difference, although Johan Wiland saved the latter’s penalty late on.

Igor Vetokele and Youssef Toutouh both had chances for FCK while Thomas Delaney scored from a corner only to see the referee disallow the goal for a foul.

The loss means that despite Galatasaray and Juventus’ clash in Istanbul being postponed because of poor weather, Copenhagen finish bottom of Group B. 

Jørgensen limps off injured

Head coach Ståle Solbakken handed Igor Vetokele his first Champions League start in a Lions shirt in front of a packed Parken Stadium that saw the fans reveal a spectacular tifo before kick off. Unfortunately the manager’s plans were hampered just seven minutes in when Nicolai Jørgensen left the field with injury having barely touched the ball. Christian Bolaños replaced the forward.

Copenhagen began well despite the setback and on 13 minutes Rurik Gislason created the first opening of the game when he took on two Madrid defenders on the right before pulling the ball back into the box, but Youssef Toutouh was two yards late to the pass.

The Lions’ usual regimentation across midfield and defence characterised the opening 20 minutes as FCK withheld mild Real Madrid pressure and in fact looked dangerous on the break – Rurik Gislason forcing a late challenge out of Marcelo that earned the Madrid left-back a yellow card.

Modric strikes for Real

Claudemir blocked away Madrid’s first noteworthy chance, a Ronaldo free-kick, but the Lions could do nothing about the opening goal as Real took the lead in style. From the resulting corner Luka Modric received the ball on the edge of the area, turned sharply to beat two FCK players and curled a delightful shot into the near-right top corner of the net.

Madrid settled down to ball retention following the goal and Toutouh was lucky not to get booked after a late challenge on Xabi Alonso as the home side hounded for possession.

Johan Wiland tipped a low Ronaldo shot around his left post 38 minutes in and moments later there was major confusion in the Madrid penalty area when Thomas Delaney converted Pierre Bengtsson’s in-swinging corner, only for the goal to be ruled offside for a foul on goalkeeper Iker Casillas and possible handball.

Ronaldo doubles Madrid’s lead

Wiland was on call two minutes into the second half to smother Ronaldo’s one-on-one effort but the Swedish goalkeeper was helpless to prevent Ronaldo scoring moments later. The forward beat the offside trap to tap in Pepe’s header left of goal and extend Madrid’s lead to 2-0.

In reply Gislason sent a low effort a yard wide of Casillas’ left post while Toutouh managed to dribble straight through the hart of Madrid’s defence until he over-hit the ball into the keeper’s hands. At the other end Nacho had a goal ruled out for offside from a corner.

Gislason continued to excel in the centre of midfield as the Icelander breezed past Modric and Alonso on 71 minutes to play Vetokele though on the counter, only for a covering Madrid defender to deflect the resulting shot for a corner.

Wiland saves late penalty

Ronaldo hit the woodwork on 75 minutes when he picked up Angel Di Maria’s pass, turned away from Olof Mellberg and fired a low effort onto Wiland’s right post and out to safety. Christoffer Remmer and Marvin Pourie then entered the field for sub Bolaños and Toutouh, while Gareth Bale glanced a header wide of Wiland’s goal eight minutes from time.

The Lions maintained some good football in the Real half but to no avail, while Madrid proved their speed on the counter when Mellberg cleared a Di Maria effort off the FCK goal line.

Madrid had another golden opportunity to put the game beyond reach a minute before the whistle when Delaney upended Ronaldo as the away side spurred another counter attack. The Portuguese stepped up the take the spot kick but Wiland kept his nerve to save down right with his left shoulder.

The penalty came as the last piece of major action bar a Bale miss-kick before referee Felix Brych brought to a close another European dream for Copenhagen, and the end of our winter half of the season.

FC COPENHAGEN: 0 REAL MADRID: 2

FC Copenhagen: Wiland, Jacobsen (C), Mellberg, Sigurdsson, Bengtsson, Gislason, Delaney, Claudemir, Toutouh, Jørgensen, Vetokele.

Real Madrid: Casillas, Pepe, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Nacho, Bale, Alonso, Modric, Isco, Ronaldo, Benzema.

Goals: Modric, Real Madrid (25’), Ronaldo (48’).

Referee: Felix Brych (GER).