Madrid turns on four-wheel drive to crush Zaragoza

MARCA.COM

A typically clinical display from Real Madrid going forward sealed a 4-0 win over Zaragoza at the Santiago Bernabéu. Higuaín and Di María put Madrid on the front foot in the first half, and two new boys added the gloss to the scoreline towards the end of the encounter, with Essien and Modric opening their accounts for the club.
Madrid neither faltered nor stuttered in the absence of Xabi Alonso and Sami Khedira. Álvaro Arbeloa slotted back into the team on his return from injury, shoring up the shaky left side of defence, allowing Essien to move back into midfield, while Luka Modric oozed class and vision in the Alonso role.
Zaragoza proved a stubborn opponent and set out a solid stall, before falling to two strikes 'made in Argentina' in the space of two minutes. Goals from Higuaín and Di María midway through the first half quickly settled any nerves amongst the home ranks.
The deadlock was broken when Roberto made a splendid save from an Albiol header from a corner after 23 minutes, only for the ball to fall kindly for Higuaín to poke home. Two minutes later, a double-whammy from Di María doubled the lead. The Argentine's first shot proved too hot for the Zaragoza 'keeper to handle, allowing the Argentine to fire into the empty net.
The home fans made their feelings known as Real Madrid began to coast, with minds drifting to the upcoming Champions League test against Borussia Dortmund. Only some brilliant reflexes from Casillas and a dodgy offside call against Postiga kept out the Zaragoza comeback.
Essien ('89), after some fine work from Benzema on the break, and Modric ('92), with a measured left-foot finish, capped off the victory, although there was no place on the scoresheet for Cristiano, for all his huffing and puffing.