Real Madrid coach Benitez wants improvement after narrow win

The Gunners were very keen on signing Rodriguez from Real Madrid in 2011 and, as per The Daily Star, the youngster was close to completing the deal before changing his mind late on.

Rafael Benitez has jumped to the defence of record signing Gareth Bale after some more harsh treatment from the Real Madrid fans.

In June, eyebrows were raised when the Spaniard replaced Ancelotti – who led the Blancos to their 10th European Cup crown just 12 months previous – but a strong start to his tenure on Sunday would see the doubters pipe down. “We have to start well on Sunday now”.

There is one thing Cristiano Ronaldo guarantees us time after time and that’s scoring goals…

Despite the whistles Benitez defended Bale’s performance against the Turkish side – insisting the Welshman is an integral part of his plans and pointing out that he offers a different set of attributes to most of his team-mates.

Real edged out Turkey’s Galatasaray 2-1 in Tuesday’s Santiago Bernabeu trophy invitational match, having drawn 0-0 with Norwegian club Valerenga and lost 0-1 to Bayern Munich in their previous two friendlies.

Meanwhile new arrival Matteo Kovacic should also be on the bench as he waits to make his debut for the club.

“I think I have a great team and a great squad and as Real Madrid coach I am completely satisfied”, he said when asked if the world’s richest club by income planned any more business in the transfer market.

However, Benitez shrugged off suggestions that La Liga must be the priority over the Champions League this season because as a former player and youth coach at the club he knows the expectation is to win everything.

Series History: Rojiblancos hasn’t defeated Real Madrid at home in 21 years.

Last season, the trio scored 100 goals between them: Ronaldo stood out with 61, with Benzema getting 22 and Bale just 17. He’s a player who will add something that we don’t already have in the squad.

Reading a cross from the right wing, Antonio Sanabria, on loan from Roma, sent a powerful header beyond Real goalkeeper Keylor Navas but against the underside of the bar where it then bounced downwards onto the goal-line and out.