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| Hull City 1-3 Man Utd Hello again Seeing as I'll be rolling directly over to this game from the Arsenal v Aston Villa minute-by-minute I guess I better get in here early with a pre-preamble. Not that I'm planning to go for an actual amble at any point later on, though, you understand.Anyway, the good news for Manchester United fans is that it looks like Sir Alex Ferguson has at last stumbled across the solution to Manchester United's defensive problems: Hull. Only Stoke have scored fewer Premier League goals so far this season, and the Tigers' joint-top scorers, Geovanni and Stephen Hunt, have just three each.Hull have also gone three games now without a goal, but so far this season all four of their wins have come at home. They have also averaged - wait for it - more than one goal a game at home.All of which does bring me on to a question I asked yesterday ... but will ask again because so far I haven't had a decent answer. Why are some teams so much better at home than away? I appreciate crowd noise can be a factor - but top-flight grounds in particular aren't as noisy as they used to be and teams could surely have worked out by now how best to minimise the impact of travelling on match preparation. Some of it comes down to tactics, of course, but if that's the main factor then why do people bother changing their tactics at all?Afternoon again Right, I'm here properly now, having wrapped up the coverage of Arsenal v Aston Villa. Let's see if I can't rustle up some team news.Here they are Manchester United welcome back Rafael Da Silva, Nemanja Vicic and Wes Brown in defence, meaning Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick can both move back up into midfield. Ryan Giggs and Dimitar Berbatov both also start. Three changes for Hull, with Bernard Mendy, Seyi Olofinjana and Jozy Altidore replacing Paul McShane, Nick Barmby and Geovanni.Hull: Myhill, Mendy, Gardner, Zayatte, Dawson, Garcia, Boateng, Olofinjana, Hunt, Altidore, Fagan. Subs: Duke, Barmby, Geovanni, Kilbane, Ghilas, Vennegoor of Hesselink, Cairney.Man Utd: Kuszczak, Rafael Da Silva, Vidic, Brown, Evra, Valencia, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Berbatov, Rooney. Subs: Foster, Owen, Park, Welbeck, Fabio Da Silva, Obertan, De Laet.Referee: Alan Wiley (Staffordshire)Time for an email "Did anyone notice the picture on the wall behind Phil brown in his office," demands Anthony O Connell. "No it wasn't his family it was, yes, Phil Brown. The man is in love with himself."In case you didn't realise Today's referee is Alan Wiley. The same Alan Wiley who Sir Alex Ferguson accused of being 'not fit' during Manchester United's draw with Sunderland in October. Unless I'm very much mistaken this is the first United game Wiley has taken since then.Thoughts on home and away form "The answer to your question is that once a suitable standard has been reached, sport is 90% psychological," says David Acaster. "Teams believe they will win at home, so they win at home. If they believe they will win all the time, the probably will. The manager's job is to instill this belief."1 min We're off. Wayne Rooney has gloves on. Tsk.3 mins The two teams take turns to roll the ball about in the middle of the park but so far nobody's making any real headway. Hull's midfield are sitting very deep and very flat.5 mins Hull win the first free-kick of the game about three yards into United's half after Brown takes down Altidore. The ball is pumped long in towards the box, but Boateng nobody can get a clean touch on the ball and it eventually is scuffed behind for a goal-kick.6 mins Finally some better football from United, as Rooney feeds Valencia down the left channel and the winger eases in towards the edge of the area before chipping the ball back across the area to Giggs, whose first-time effort flies just over the bar. That would have been a very nice goal.8 mins "It's all about preparation and the psychological side," insists Russell Richardson following my earlier question about teams doing so much better at home than away. "I remember reading how Liverpool in the 70s were the first to book hotels and a training ground for their European Cup away games, and took their own chefs - arriving a day early. This gave them a huge advantage (rested, bonded, well fed) while their opposite numbers sometimes arrived off a flight on the matchday The combination of a more solid away result and huge home dominance were (according to Liverpool) the reason they did increasingly well up to the Heysel disaster."Now, maybe a close look at teams' travel arrangements would be interesting. I doubt that many teams travel a full day ahead (e.g. from London to Manchester) but it'd be intriguing to know. What, for instance, do Burnley do compared with Manchester United?"10 mins Hull win another free-kick just inside the United half, but this time Stephen Hunt's attempt to lump the ball forward is cleared at the first attempt by United. The visitors break quickly with Rooney racing down the left before checking back inside and threading a pass through too far ahead of Valencia on the far side. Or at least I think it was a pass. It may have been a bad shot.12 mins Craig Fagan receives treatment after an overenthusiastic leap takes him right over the back of Da Silva and ends with the Hull player landing on his own shoulders. He seems to be alright, mind.14 mins Boateng arrives late and chops down Carrick about 35 yards from the Hull goal. Giggs stands over the free-kick for United ...15 mins ... but fails to clear the first man with his eventual delivery.17 mins United win another free-kick inside the D after Zayatte brings down Rooney - and it was nearly a penalty actually, with the striker having one leg inside and one outside the box - and this time Giggs is so close to giving United the lead, whipping the ball up over the wall and just inches wide of the left-hand post.18 mins That Giggs free-kick seems to have scared Hull into life, as Fagan exchanges passes with Hull down the left before the latter thumps in a cross with the outside of his boot that Vidic has to react sharply to head clear.19 mins Fantastic challenge from Bernard Mendy to deny Rooney what would surely have been the opening goal. United got lucky twice in the build-up - the ball ricocheting back to Fletcher after a loose touch and then into the path of Rooney after his team-mate attempted a shot from 18 yards, but just as the striker put his foot through the ball Mendy was able to dive in front and block.20 mins Mendy actually had to receive treatment after that block, but he's back on his feet now and seems OK.21 mins Big penalty shout for Hull, as Wes Brown brings down Garcia as the Hull players chases onto a throughball from Fagan in the United area. Wiley waves the appeals away, and the first two replays suggest he got the call right, but a third angle clearly shows Garcia himself had nudged the ball away to the left before Brown came in and failed to reach it. That should have been a penalty.23 mins And now Kuszczak has to get down sharply to block an effort from Garcia.24 mins Hull appeal in vain for an infringement that I'm just not seeing after Berbatov lifts a neat ball into Rooney behind the home defence, but the latter sees his shot parried over the bar by Myhill. This game's beginning to open up a little.27 mins Now Mendy sends the ball in towards Altidore with a meaty swing of his right boot but this time Vidic clears.28 mins Nobody managed to cut out the cross that time and United again have Kuszczak to thank after he shows sharp reflexes to block Olofinjana's volleyed effort from 10 yards out. It was a really nice run from deep by the midfielder, but to be fair the shot was close to the keeper in the end.31 mins Sir Alex Ferguson prowls the touchline looking grumpy as Rooney attempts another speculative effort across goal from some 25-yards out. The shot bounces gently into the hands of Myhill.32 mins Patrice Evra picks up the first booking of the game after appearing to hold back Garcia as the winger sought to break free down the right. Actually the replay makes it look like he tried to grab Garcia's shirt but failed, though there may still have been a tangle of legs.34 mins What a mess! Myhill sliced a backpass horribly off the outside of his boot and it looked for all the world as if Rooney was going to end up putting the ball into an open goal, but the ball sat up in the air long enough for the keeper to recover and force the striker into passing the ball back to Fletcher. That gave Myhill time to recover and the defence then blocked Fletcher's shot anyway, but the ball still seemed to ricochet around the Hull area for an age before eventually being hacked clear.37 mins So far Man Utd have had five shots, but only two on target, while Hull have had three shots, all of which have been on target. Or at least that's what Sky tell me.38 mins The cameras have just picked up Steve Bruce sat in the stands. I'm not going to lie, he looks bored.39 mins Absolutely calamitous miss from Hunt. Olofinjana won possession in midfield and came striding forward to feed a totally unmarked Hunt racing into the left-hand side of the area. From 10 yards out Hunt opted for a simple side-footed finish but somehow managed to roll it right across the goal and wide of the far post by a good few yards.40 mins United almost makes Hull pay for that miss, Berbatov racing onto a ball down the right channel but finding only the side netting from close range.42 mins Stunning save from Myhill! Hull's players all stood and appealed for offside as Carric threaded the ball into Rafael, but the United full-back was in fact being played on by both Hull full-backs and his smartly-taken shot was arrowing right into the bottom corner before Myhill shot down to get a firm hand on it. United wanted a corner afterwards, but Berbatov clearly got the last touch as he attempted to stop Myhill from claiming the ball at the second attempt.45 mins Hull win another free-kick just the right side of half-way - they've had a few of those today - but Mendy's long-ball forward is dealt with effectively enough by United.45 mins (+1) We're going to have two minutes of injury time and United have just won a corner ... but it's headed clearGOAL! Hull City 0-1 Manchester United (Rooney 45 mins (+2)) With just under a minute left in the first half Rooney breaks the deadlock, sliding the ball home from close range after Giggs had helped on Fletcher's cross from the right with a tidy little flick of the heel.45 mins (+2) Almost immediately Hull pump a long ball forward to Altidore, who heads it down for himself before turning and letting fly with a volley from a good 25-yards out, but it's not quite clean enough and Kuszczak gets down to save.Peepety-peeeep! That's half-time, and it's hard not to feel at least a little sorry for Hull. They gave as good as they got in that first half, but neither team looked entirely convincing at the back and you always suspected United were that little bit more likely to take their chances when they came. Back in a tick with some half-time thoughts and emails.On home and away performances "I've heard it said in several US sporting contexts that star performers tend not to be influenced by venue but less talented players are," ponders Greg Crawford, a US ex-pat and self-professed 'football novice'. "If true (and it seems plausible), perhaps this is felt more keenly in football, where coordination of effort is presumably most important to good play (i.e. a team is only as strong as its weakest players)? Baseball is most dependent on individual performances and therefore has the weakest home-field advantage, although the same predictions for American football (some home-field advantage) and basketball (strong home-field advantage) don't exactly line up …"On dressing rooms "Re your question as to why some teams play much better at home: if you've ever looked round the inside of a stadium you'll have noticed the blatant difference between the home dressing room (spacious, luxurious, well-equipped) and the away one (cramped, dark, claustrophobic). I went on a tour of one football team's ground where the guide claimed with an absolutely straight face that the away teams' lockers, which were tiny and awkwardly low down, had been deliberately placed to maximise the risk of injury to the opposition."On a small box in Dartmoor "I am in the middle of nowhere on Dartmoor in Devon, standing as close as I can to the wireless internet box so I can follow this minute by minute, as so far this Christmas holiday I have been entirely deprived of any football-related action," whimpers Maudie Spurrier. "Hopefully Manchester United will make it worth the effort as I write this balancing in the most awkward of positions to get a stronger connection."46 mins An ominous thought for Hull to start the half with: United have won every game this season in which they have had the lead at any point. No subs for either team at half-time.48 mins Wiley gives Fagan a talking to after Fagan attempts to give Wiley a talking to. "I think Manchester United should only turn up to play added times," ho-hums Stephen in Brussels.49 mins Altidore shows off a deft touch to create a yard of space in which to turn on the edge of the box, then a preposterously heavy one to pass the ball straight to the attendant United defender. From the sublime to the subpar in, quite literally, two easy steps.51 mins Scrappy start to the second half so far, as both teams take turns to give the ball away. Hull's fans let out a loud ironic cheer as the flag goes up against Rooney for offside, then harangue Berbatov with a round of "what a waste of money".53 mins Fletcher feigns his own death after Olofinjana treads on his foot inside the centre circle.55 mins Olofinjana looks for Fagan with a direct but tidy ball forward from half-way but his team-mate can't quite get ahead of Wes Brown. The defender heads the ball back to Kuszczak, and Fagan then runs into the keeper for no good reason, which is fairly foolish for a man already on a yellow card. Wiley does not feel moved to punish him though.57 mins "That's Altidore in a nutshell," sighs Chris in Maryland, USA, following my 'sublime to subpar comment (49 mins). "One minute he shows that he could be a player, but the next he goes and gives it away carelessly. He has carried a threat today, but in a typically haphazard way."58 mins Penalty to Hull! Wayne Rooney's woeful backpass was seized on by Fagan, whose cross into the middle had hardly presented Altidore with the easiest of headers but Da Silva ran into the back of him and the striker goes down. Da Silva picks up a yellow card for the foul.GOAL! Hull City 1-1 Manchester United (Fagan 59 mins) Geofanni's missed penalty was arguably the turning point in Hull's defeat to Arsenal, but Fagan makes no mistake, slotting the ball calmly into the bottom right corner after the keeper had already committed himself the other way.62 mins Manchester United come sweeping forward with a predictably renewed energy, but here are still plenty of errors. Carrick chances his arm with a left-footed drive from just outside the D and though it was probably going wide, Myhill threw himself at it and pushed it behind to be safe.63 mins The corner is met by a United player and seems to be looping it's way towards goal before Myhill, under pressure from Rooney just gets a finger to it and pushes it back over the bar.64 mins And now Hull manage to clear Giggs's delivery from the far side.65 mins Ji-Sung Park is on for Antonio Valencia. "Greg Crawford has clearly been an ex-pat for a long time," chortles Allan Castle as Altidore receives treatment following an aerial collision. "Basketball has not been played on a field since the mid 1980s."66 mins So nearly a second goal for Hull, as Hunt's outswinging corner from the left is headed just wide of the far post by Garcia.68 mins Evra risks a second yellow by kicking the ball away after United give away a free-kick inside their own half, but Wiley is obviously in a generous mood.69 mins And Evra is even luckier to escape a second caution there after wrestling Fagan down as the Hull player tries to control a clearance on the half-way line. Wiley calls over Evra and Giggs and gives them both a talking to, but really he would have been welll within his rights to send the United player off.GOAL! Hull City 1-2 Manchester United (Dawson og 73 mins) A lightning-fast break from United after the corner provides them with their second goal. It will go down as a Dawson own goal but in reality it's harsh on the defender, who had little hope of cutting out Wayne Rooney's square ball across the face of goal but equally will have known that Park was waiting behind him if he failed to cut it out.76 mins Hull will once again feel hard done-by after controlling much of the play here in the second half, but once again it must be acknowledged that this is one of the key differences between the two teams: United have the sorts of players who only need one chance to score, whereas Hull have had plenty of opportunities yet only managed to find the net from the penalty spot.78 mins Hull withdraw Garcia in favour of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink, while United bring on Gabriel Obertan for Ryan Giggs.79 mins An impressively optimistic shout for a penalty goes up from the home support as Vennegoor of Hesselink goes up for a ball in the area. I'd say it's going to have to be fairly clear-cut before Wiley considers giving another.GOAL! Hull City 1-3 Manchester United (Berbatov 82 mins) That's just a wonderful pass from Rooney, who looks for a way past Zayatte, realises there isn't one and so instead just checks back and rolls slides an inch-perfect ball across to Berbatov on the far side of the box. The Bulgarian, who hadn't really done much in the game so far, makes no mistake from five yards out.83 mins Hull were preparing a double substitution before that goal and now they've made it anyway - Geovanni and Kamel Ghilas coming on for Boateng and Altidore.85 mins Fine chance for Mendy to reduce the arrears as Vennegoor of Hesselink gives him a clean run on goal with a neat backheel inside the area, but the Hull midfielder's shot finds only the side netting.87 mins Carrick's attempted clearance cannons off Gardner and loops all the way over to Fagan on the far side of the box, but his first-time volley fizzes just wide.89 mins Ghilas sees another effort deflect away over the bar and you certainly couldn't accuse Hull of a lack of effort in in this game. They've kept coming at United and if they were a bit more clinical in front of goal it might have been a very different result.90 mins We'll have four minutes of added time.90 mins (+2) Obertan thrashes the ball wide and high after from an acute angle - not sure if that was meant to be a cross or a shot to be honest.Peep! Peep! Peeeeep! Hull win a pair of corners right at the death but United deal with both and tie up a win that takes them back to second in the Premier League - now just two points behind Chelsea at the top. The scoreline is harsh on Hull, and they might reasonably point out both that they should have had another penalty and that Evra could easily have been sent off with the score level at 1-1, but they also must take stock of their own failure to convert chances into more goals. For now they remain 19th. Thanks for all your emails, sorry I couldn't use more.Premier LeagueHull CityManchester UnitedPaolo Bandiniguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Roman Pavlyuchenko claims Harry Redknapp is 'mocking' him • Striker says he has become a joke in London• Speculation mounts over move from White Hart LaneRoman Pavlyuchenko looks as though he could be on his way out of Tottenham in the January transfer window after reportedly claiming in the Russian press that manager Harry Redknapp is "mocking" him by leaving him out of the team.Speaking to the Russian press, Pavlyuchenko said: "You cannot even imagine how tired I am of sitting on the bench. Do you want to hear a joke in London? It goes: Harry Redknapp put Roman Pavlyuchenko into the starting line-up. For me it would be funny if it was not so painful. I have a feeling that our manager is mocking me."Pavlyuchenko joined Spurs in the summer of 2008 from Spartak Moscow for £13.8m but has struggled for regular first-team football at White Hart Lane. This season he has made just four substitute appearances in the Premier League. His only starts this season have come in the Carling Cup, where he has played two games and scored once.Pavlyuchenko also claims Redknapp told him he would be involved in the Carling Cup encounter with Manchester United at Old Trafford, only to be kept on the bench again. "On the eve of the match he asked me to come to see him. He said: 'Tomorrow will be a chance to show your best in front of 75,000 spectators. We need to use it.' He used it by keeping me on the bench for 90 minutes."Tottenham HotspurHarry RedknappPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
Louise Taylor: Football League in need of a winter break A three-week January break would allow more matches in the hazy days of August and MayThought for the weekRight now loads of Football League clubs will find themselves playing twice a week for the foreseeable future. That involves fans in plenty of lengthy, chilly, sometimes hazardous, Tuesday and Wednesday night trips – so why not shut the season down in January for three weeks and then extend it at both ends?This season, for instance, the Championship campaign concludes on Sunday, 2 May – eight days before the Premier League finale – and Leagues One and Two on Saturday, 8 May. Granted, it's World Cup year but, percentage wise, very few Football League players will be going to South Africa so there is no reason why they could not keep going through May when the nights are longer and the English weather infinitely more agreeable for watching and playing football.Crowds would surely be significantly bigger – with those gates almost inevitably boosted by supporters of Premier League teams obtaining their football fix through attendance at crunch League games. Talk about a win-win situation.And think about the amount of money clubs could save in terms of heat and lighting – no small matter in these days of soaring energy bills. Meanwhile, free of the injuries associated with playing in freezing weather on hard pitches, club medical departments would, happily, be appreciably less busy. And, of course, with no need for the undersoil heating largely lacking at lower division clubs there would be none of the postponements which inevitably occur in certain areas during even the mildest of winters.But what about fitting the play-offs in? Well there is far too big a gap between semi-finals and finals at present, so they could take place over a more concentrated period in early June – another ideal time, weather-wise, for playing and watching English football.There would also still be sufficient summer holiday room left to begin the new League campaign right at the start of August, thereby guaranteeing the next season's January break.Now the flaw in this argument is that we don't know when – and if – the bad winter weather is going to come. But the last three weeks of January – after fans have enjoyed their Christmas and New Year football and the FA Cup's third round, leaving clubs to count healthy festive turnstile receipts – seems as good a time as any.It would certainly help avert the misery at places such as Cheltenham Town where the chairman, Paul Baker, is rueing the £40,000 in gate receipts lost when Saturday's home derby with Hereford United was called off. If there were more games in May, especially, and August, clubs like Cheltenham may not be so worried about weather-induced interruptions to the cash-flow possibly prompting the delayed payment of wages to staff and players.A winter break would also spare League One Carlisle United from impending marathon midwinter treks to Brentford, Exeter City and Colchester United. As Greg Abbott, Carlisle's manager, put it: "We're looking at seven match months in January and February."That's certainly not much fun – whereas football in May is invariably fabulous.Goals of the weekendSammy Clingan's spectacular – if slightly deflected – scissor kick for Coventry City in the weekend's 3-1 home win over Barnsley. Some of Clingan's team-mates told the midfielder his goal had reminded them of a similarly executed one from Paolo Di Canio for West Ham United against Wimbledon almost a decade ago.Grant Holt's two for Norwich City in the 3-1 home win over Exeter. Holt also created his side's other goal and has now scored 22 times this season.Garry Thompson's two for Scunthorpe United. The winger played a big part in his side's 4-1 dismantling of Nigel Clough's Derby County at Pride Park.Ones to watch Paul Lambert Only Leeds United now stand between the former Scotland international's side and the League One summit. Small wonder Burnley are so interested in spiriting Lambert away from Norwich to Turf Moor as the replacement for Owen Coyle. Lambert has repeatedly reiterated that he intends staying put at Carrow Road but, for all these protestations, it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that he could end up in east Lancashire. That, though, would be something of a shame – it would be good to see Norwich thriving, along with Leeds in the Championship next season. In Lambert and Simon Grayson, those two clubs boast two of the brightest young British managers around – but they need time to learn their trade properly. Throwing one or both into the Premier League deep end too early could destroy promising careers which have barely begun.Lee Clark The Huddersfield Town manager has also been linked – strongly – with Burnley. The former Newcastle midfielder is displaying an impressive aptitude for management after cutting his teeth as Glenn Roeder's assistant at Norwich. Young, energetic and an attack-minded purist – Clark didn't play for Kevin Keegan for so long without something rubbing off. He perfectly fits Burnley's profile as they search for "the new Owen Coyle". His departure would, however, represent an enormous loss to Huddersfield – currently looking good for the League One play-offs. Whatever the immediate future holds, Clark could yet end up thoroughly eclipsing his good pal Alan Shearer in the management game.Mido The word from Egypt is that, after only one goal and countless injury problems for Zamalek, Mido could have his intended season-long loan from Middlesbrough curtailed and be shortly dispatched to Cairo airport on a flight bound for Teesside. The problem here is that Boro do not want him and he does not want to be at Boro. The solution is apparently to sort out another loan somewhere else. The shame is that, if only the striker would get his act together, Mido would arguably be the most dangerous centre-forward in the Championship and could easily propel Gordon Strachan's side back into play-off contention.Derby County and Nigel Clough An impressive 28,106 turned out at Pride Park to watch Derby thrashed 4-1 at home by Scunthorpe After 12 months negotiating a tricky posting Clough is struggling to turn the tide at Derby and finds himself in a relegation fight. As Brian Clough's son he will be given more time than most to put things right – but the cash-strapped board's patience is not going to be infinite. Indeed the clock may already be ticking for Nigel.Games to look forward toNottingham Forest v Reading Forest have climbed to second in the Championship, stealing above West Bromwich Albion and are beginning to breath down Newcastle United's neck. Three into two won't go so the automatic promotion race is about to become engrossing.Newcastle United v West Bromwich Albion Suddenly there is a third team in what had, for some weeks, been regarded as a straightforward procession to automatic promotion. Now the race for the Championship title no longer seems a duel between Newcastle and West Brom. Nottingham Forest will, of course, not actually be playing at St James' Park on Monday night but both sides present will be acutely aware that points dropped here will increase the danger posed by the men from the City Ground. And the very last thing Chris Hughton or Roberto Di Matteo needs is the play-offs.ChampionshipLeague OneLeague TwoLouise Taylorguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
West Ham fined over crowd violence at League Cup match West Ham has been heavily fined after being found guilty of breaching Football Association rules following crowd violence at the club's League Cup match against Millwall. cbc.ca |
Ronaldo attacks 'excessive' punishment • Real Madrid star sent off for breaking opponent's nose • Ronaldo banned for two games and fined £500The Real Madrid winger Cristiano Ronaldo has voiced his anger at the two-match ban he received for his dismissal in the 2-0 win over Malaga last weekend.The Portugal international was shown a straight red card in the 70th minute of their match in La Liga after his swinging elbow caught Patrick Mtiliga in the face, leaving the Denmark defender with a broken nose. Madrid have decided to appeal the decision and the hearing has been set for tomorrow.Ronaldo believes the ban is harsh. "Obviously I don't like it," he told AS. "I think the punishment is excessive and I hope the appeals committee reduce it. I want to play every week and I'm angry."My intention was always to play. It was never my intention to deceive the referee. I just tried to get rid of the Malaga player marking me. I hit him and I asked for his forgiveness. I'm very sorry about his nose."If Madrid are unsuccessful in their appeal, Ronaldo, who also scored both goals in the 2-0 victory, will miss Saturday's testing trip to fifth-placed Deportivo La Coruña as well as the home match with Espanyol.Cristiano RonaldoReal MadridLa LigaEuropean footballguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |