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[SPAIN] Real Madrid spent a record $342 million on new players, but less than two months into its 2009-10 season, chaos already reigns at the White House.
A 4-0 loss to Second Division B (third-level) Alcorcon will do that for you. Following the defeat, the Madrid media predicted first-year coach Manuel
Pellegrini is on his way out.
Real was without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka was rested,
but there was still plenty of talent in the field Tuesday night at the estadio Santa Domingo: Raul and French signing Karin
Benzema up front, Dutch star Rafael van der Vaart in midfield, along with Spanish internationals Alvaro
Arbeloa and Raul Albiol on defense and Pole Jerzy Dudek in goal. Spaniard Esteban Granero, a $5.5 million
summer signing, was the only starter who is not a senior international.
But the match was no contest -- 1-0 on Borja's goal in the 16th minute, an
Arbeloa own goal in the 22nd, an Ernesto goal in the 40th and a second Borja goal in the 52nd.
Alcorcon-Real
Madrid Highlights:
Madrid sports daily AS called the loss "The Ridicule of the Century," and mainstream daily El Pais said Real players were
"apathetic and indolent" and that Pellegrini "seems to have lost control of them." The Barcelona sports El Mundo Deportivo took delight in the Madrid club's loss, calling it "humillante." Marca went so far as to say Argentine Jorge Valdano, a Real Madrid executive, would replace Pellegrini, who
arrived from Villarreal over the summer. Pellegrini admitted afterwards he was "ashamed" by the result.
The loss follows last week's 3-2 loss at home to AC Milan in the UEFA Champions
League and a 0-0 tie at Sporting Gijon in la Liga.
Next up for Real Madrid: Getafe at home on Saturday and AC Milan away on Tuesday. The Madrid papers are predicting Pellegrini is finished
if Real loses either of these games.
Real Madrid lineup against Alcorcon: Dudek, Arbeola, Albiol, Metzelder, Drenthe, Mahamadou Diarra, Guti (Gago, 46),
Van der Vaart, Granero (Marcelo, 63), Raul (Van Nistelrooy, 72), Benzema.