Fans get Casillas back as stand-in sees red

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho shrugged off jeers aimed at him from his side’s fans prior to last night’s 4-3 win over Real Sociedad following his decision to again omit Iker Casillas in favour of Antonio Adan.

The Madrid supporters made their feelings known with widespread booing when Mourinho’s name was read out following the announcement of the teamsheets, soon after the fans cheered the name of substitute Casillas.

Mourinho is not bothered by the reaction from the supporters towards him and said he understood why they did it.

“If they whistle my name before the game and then support the team during the game as they have done, then perfect. That seems perfect to me,” he said.

“If they whistle me for the decision to leave out Iker, okay. And if they whistle me for the negative performances in the league, I accept it. I don’t always like to be in a comfortable situation or to be a hero forever.”

As events transpired Casillas was only on the bench for six minutes as Adan was sent off for bringing down Sociedad striker Carlos Vela.

Madrid still managed to record a 4-3 victory, with Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half brace and goals from Karim Benzema and Sami Khedira cancelling out Xabi Prieto’s hat-trick for the visitors.

Elsewhere, Tito Vilanova returned to the Barcelona bench with the minimum of fuss last night as his side got all of their work done inside the first 30 minutes of the Catalan derby.

Manager Vilanova, back at the helm after a brief spell out for cancer surgery, was given the easiest of nights as his stellar cast of players made life comfortable for him.

Xavi opened the scoring before Pedro’s brace made it 3-0. Lionel Messi made it 4-0 after 29 minutes.

Atletico Madrid lost ground on Barca as Kevin Garcia popped up with an equaliser three minutes from time to snatch a point for Real Mallorca in a feisty encounter. Raul Garcia had fired the Madrid side ahead 18 minutes from time.

In Italy, title hopefuls Juventus started the new year in a less than convincing fashion as they were beaten 2-1 at home by 10-man Sampdoria.

Knowing a win would restore their eight-point cushion over Lazio, the Old Lady were undone by a brace from Mauro Icardi.

Sebastian Giovinco’s early penalty had put the home side ahead, and when Gaetano Berardi was sent off, it looked to be a stroll for Juve, but Icardi had other ideas.

Napoli are third, seven points behind Juve, after their 4-1 drubbing of Roma.