Eurozone: Pellegrini shrugs off Ronaldo's temper tantrum
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Your support makes all the difference.Real Madrid coach Manuel Pellegrini played down Cristiano Ronaldo's petulant reaction to being taken off 10 minutes from time as his side strolled to a 3-0 victory over Tenerife on Saturday. Ronaldo refused to acknowledge Pellegrini, walking straight past him when he was subbed but the Chilean coach said: "I don't attach any importance to it. There is not a player in the world who likes being taken off."
In truth the game was already up for plucky Tenerife who held out until half-time but were beaten by a Karim Benzema double and a sublime third from Kaka.
It was Ronaldo's (right) first league match without scoring although he almost got the goal of the season so far, running from the halfway line only to see his shot saved by Sergio in the visitors' goal.
His fellow new galacticos ensured five straight wins for Real and it was Xabi Alonso returning from injury who crossed for Benzema's first. It was Real Madrid's fourth consecutive clean sheet and they maintain their lead over Barcelona by virtue of having conceded one goal less.
Once again Thierry Henry was not among the scorers as Pep Guardiola's side beat Malaga 2-0. After half an hour the Frenchman hobbled off with a groin strain to be replaced by Zlatan Ibrahimovic who put Barça ahead latching on to a Messi pass and looping a shot over Gustavo Munua. Gerard Pique claimed the second from a Xavi free-kick.
Everybody is talking about... Sampdoria
Jose Mourinho broke his silence and Sampdoria broke Internazionale's unbeaten run to move top of Serie A. Mourinho, who refused to speak to the media all week after being sent off last weekend admitted: "I have to talk, it's in my contract. If I was up to me I would still not be talking." Surprise package Sampdoria scored the only goal of the game through Giampaolo Pazzini. Mourinho added: "We played well but if you can't score then you have problems."
Player of the week... David Villa
One man who plays for neither Barça nor Real actually leads the goals charts. David Villa (above) has six goals in five games The man who got 28 goals in 33 games last season was on target again as Valencia drew 2-2 with Atletico Madrid.
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