Valencia vs. Real Madrid Copa del Rey QF - Return LegFirst Leg: RM 2-0 Valencia20:30 GMT Mestalla Stadium Valencia News: Soldado out with a thigh injury. Parejo and Albelda also out. Canales might see some action as he returns from his long term layoff. Real Madrid News: Marcelo not called up for the second straight game, which is sure to raise some concern. Nothing official from the club yet. Rotations are likely. Benzema in for Gonzalo and Carvalho in for one of the CBs are expected changes. Squad: Goalkeepers: Casillas, Adán, and Tomás Mejías. Defenders: Varane, Coentrão, Carvalho, Arbeloa, Albiol, and Nacho Midfielders: Khedira, Özil, Alonso, Essien, Modric, Callejón, and Di María. Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Higuaín, and Morata
Well, without Soldado you'd think we might have it fairly easy. But that's exactly why I think it'll be a slugfest, especially after the whoopin we threw on them over the weekend. I think we will prevail and move on, but I'm just worried about them taking their pound of flesh with them on the way out.
Hopefully we can keep the clean sheet streak going, our defense looks to be in very good shape for the UCL.
Yeah, I'm just hoping we get out of this without any major injury because these scums decided to take their dirty play to the next level.
I didn't want to be the pessimistic one but I am not optimistic about this game. It wouldn't surprise me if the team suffered a huge let down after their last two games. Valencia will be motivated like never before but they will also be without confidence. An away goal should do the trick.
I can see this turning out to be a scrappy game. Valverde implied pretty clearly that they won't be playing a head-on, open style against us anymore after that hiding we gave them. They'll look to sit back, close spaces, and try and get a goal on the counter or off a set piece. The longer it stays without us scoring, the more frustrated we're likely to get, and leave spaces for Valencia to come at us. An early goal from us would kill them off.
I'd be hoping for a win, but most likely i'd predict a 1-1 draw or a 1-0 loss. Most likely we won't be able to recreate what we did on Sunday because Valencia are going to change their style. hope we win.
If we score one, they will need to score four to eliminate us. I'm confident of progressing. Would like to see Canales get some minutes later on as well, had such high hopes for the guy.
We should be able to win this game again... I predict a 3-1 for Real of course. They will come out stronger and more physical but it will lead to their demise and probably get one of their players sent off. Ronaldo and Di Maria to cause havoc on the wings and hoping to see Ozil continue his recent good form for our team
I didn't get a chance to post about the last game, but man was I impressed. Di Maria being effective really opened things up for us. Ozil was very good as well. He may not have had assists but he was the instigator is the moves prior to the assist. Without scoring or assisting he had a perfect game. How about Albiol? What a game by him and Varane. I couldn't remember one ball lost in the air. Coentrao had another good game as well. Casillas also looks to be much improved during the series against Valencia.
Casillas; Arbeloa, Varane, Albiol, Coentrao; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Özil, Cristiano; y Benzema
Finishing off this tie should be pretty straightforward but "straightforward" hasn't really been one of our strengths this season. Fingers crossed for this one
winning this match and playing well all around would go a long way in convincing me that the team has finally turned the page on the first half of the season
Not me I've been burned too many times this season by these impudent sons-of-bitches thinking they "turned a page" after certain games, Man City, Athetic, Mallorca, Barcelona to name a few... These moothafookas need to win something of merit now
Real Madrid XI : Casillas; Arbeloa, Varane, Albiol, Coentrao; Khedira, Alonso, Cristiano, Di María, Ozil; Benzema Real Madrid Bench: Adán, Carvalho, Modric, Higuaín, Callejón, Nacho, Morata