Champions target Granada victory - 7M sport

Champions target Granada victory



Posted Saturday, May 05, 2012 by PA

Real Madrid will travel to Granada this weekend looking to continue the form which secured the Primera Division title in midweek.

Jose Mourinho's men beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 on Wednesday to claim their first championship in four years and a fifth successive victory in the league.

Cristiano Ronaldo was on the scoresheet in Bilbao to take his goal tally for the season to 44 and maintain his challenge for the `Pichichi' - the trophy awarded to La Liga's leading scorer each campaign.

The Portuguese forward is two goals behind Barcelona rival Lionel Messi in the race for the accolade, with two matches remaining to try and add another honour to his list.

However, Ronaldo, whose 40 goals last season saw him win both the Pichichi and the European Golden Shoe, insists that after lifting the league title, all else will pale in comparison.

"There are two games left in the championship and we've achieved our objective of winning the league," he said on www.realmadrid.com.

"This is my first Spanish league title and I'm delighted about it. I am very happy.

"I'm not too worried about not winning the Pichichi this year. We'll see what happens in the end."

Opponents Granada will be hoping Madrid are still giddy over the midweek events, allowing them the chance to take the point they need to ensure another season of Primera Division football having last summer earned promotion to the top flight for the first time in 35 years.

Abel Resino's side were 2-1 winners over Espanyol on Tuesday and now lie three places and five points above the bottom three.

Although their status is not quite assured, club president Quique Pina appears optimistic they will be playing in La Liga next campaign having already started planning ahead for the new season - starting with an extended deal for Resino and a spate of new signings.

"We suffered a lot last summer when trying to sign great players," he told AS. "Now I hope we can enter the transfer market with more guarantees for the players financially.

"The atmosphere at Los Carmenes is also an added value which surprises everyone at first and can be used in our favour.

"However, the first step is to re-sign Abel because there is no doubt he has done a great job since he arrived. I'm going to sit down with him and offer him a renewal, if he wants to renew that is."

Pina is also hoping to sign on-loan midfielder Carlos Martins on a permanent deal.

"Martins is owned by Benfica, but he wants to stay here," he said.

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