Real Madrid posessing new power upfront
November 11th 2008 21:29
Although it seems that nearly everyone is either limping or losing the plot in Real Madrid's wacky world, there is one player who is single-handedly holding the side together - Gonzalo Higuaín.
When the 20-year-old striker arrived from River Plate in the winter window of 2006, there was a mass shrug of indifference from Madrid fans for a player who was unknown and unwanted.
But then, during the remarkable title run-in of that season, the French born forward scored one of the most famous goals in recent times to clinch a 4-3 win over Espanyol - a win that helped deliver the league title.
A year later and Higuaín was at it again.
When all seemed lost in the rain of Osasuna, it was the Argentinean who slammed the ball home to kick off a Primera party in Pamplona.
Higuaín is very much the anti-Thierry Henry. In a recent run-of-mill outing against Espanyol in October, the poacher was merrily slamming balls into the stands.
It's only when the pressure is piled high that Higuaín seems able to score.
Against Atlético Madrid, he wrestled the ball off Rafael Van de Vaart to take the winning penalty. When things looked a little tricky against Athletic Bilbao, Higuaín's two goals brought the home side victory.
But on Saturday night, Higuaín became Madrid's 'new idol' according to Marca with four against a Málaga side who made life very uncomfortable indeed for the home team.
Higuaín does not possess the tank-like tendencies of Tevez or the magic of Messi, but what he does have is pace and an eye for goal that is good as anyone's when he is on form.
He was referred to as the new Van Nistelrooy by the Dutch striker's mum herself.
And with Ruud suffering knee-knack, Raúl in one of his periodic slumps and Robben out for the count - again - Madrid are reliant on Higuaín to build on his nine goals scored so far this season to drag them through the stickiest of patches.
A lacklustre display in the Copa del Rey, a disaster against Juve in the Champions League and stumbles and fumbles in the league have piled the pressure on Madrid with the press licking their lips and on the hunt for a Bernd Schuster-shaped scapegoat to bury.
But the golden goals of Gonzalo are single-handedly keeping the maddening crowd away. For the moment, at least.
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