Valencia vs. Real Madrid [La Liga Day 20: 01/20/13 15:00 EST] - [R]

Valencia vs. Real Madrid

Mestalla Stadium

15:00 PM EST

Valencia News: Daniel Parejo and Joao Pereira are out with a suspension. Sergio Canales& Jeremy Mathieu are out injured. Albelda and Ruiz are doubts for the game.

Madrid News: Ronaldo and Adan back from suspension. Ramos and Kaka are suspended. Pepe is out injured.

Valencia have not beaten us in the past 8 matches, losing 6 of them. Gonzalo has scored 5 goals in Mestella, which makes him the second highest scoring Real Madrid player after Di Stefano.This is the second meeting of a 3 game stretch against Valencia.

GK: Iker, Adán & Mejías

Def: Varane, Coentrão, Carvalho, Arbeloa, Albiol & Nacho

MF: Khedira, Özil, Alonso, Essien, Modric, Callejón & Di María ;

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema & Higuaín

ronaldo hat trick. 3rd in the 87' to win it.

I'd play with Albiol, purely to save Carvalho for the midweek game.

Marcelo rested ha?. Or what's the deal there?

Why isn't Marcelo included in the squad?

Yeah, it's a bit worrying that Marcelo wasn't even called up considering he got pulled off at half time last game. Hopefully it's not serious.

For the 15 points !

No Albiol and no Adan = 3 points

I'm pretty sure Marcelo isn't ready to be playing every three days, even if it's only for limited minutes, probably smart to leave him in Madrid

And you want to give Blondie a last chance to try to make an argument he shouldn't be yanked from the starting lineup the second Marcelo regains full match fitness

The team is staying in Valencia even after this game no? Atleast he should be part of the Copa squad?

Well maybe he's with the team and just not on the squad list regardless there is no reason to risk him playing today.

I think he's going to need to show a bit more than "signs of life"...we're way past that point now but I do agree he's been better. If Marcelo gains back the starting LB job Blondie has no one to blame but himself unless of course Marcelo is the mole...then Blondie will get one more chance

Good afternoon, punks! The fact that it is almost 60 mph winds outside with the temp dropping points every few minutes, I will be viewing this match.

Valencia XI: Dani Alves; R Costa, Rami, Víctor Ruiz, Guardado; Tino Costa, Banega, Gago; Piatti, Jonas & Soldado

Gago starts for them.

50 minutes to go for the game and the line up for Real Madrid is still not out

Usually not out until 30 minutes before anyway.

^ It's usually out 90 mins before the game.

Casillas, Arbeloa, Varane, Albiol, Coentrao, Alonso, Khedira, Ronaldo, Ozil, Di Maria, Higuain

It's infuriating that despite of Spain having NINE of the top ten midfielders in the world, we don't even have one.

Silva
Xavi
Iniesta
Mata
Granero
Cazorla
Busquets
Fabregas
Javi Martinez

It's mind-boggling how bad the management of this club has been in recent years.

I like Higuain up front for this match. First match I've managed to catch in ages, can't wait to watch the team play again!

As an aside, have we still been doing the unofficial "player who's starting does the press conference before the match" policy?

EDIT: Granero, lol.

En el conjunto blanco jugarán: Casillas, Varane, Coentrão, Khedira, Ronaldo, Özil, Alonso, Arbeloa, Albiol, Higuaín y Di María

Silva definitely plays midfielder for City. For Valencia he played a little more on the wing. I'd say he's currently the top midfielder in the world now that Xavi has slowed down. He was amazing in City's last match. Only player on the team that can pass. I don't understand how we didn't try to sign him.

Ozil would be the only non-Spaniard on the list.

Khedira is a donkey. Maybe on Barry's level.

Maybe Mou was late getting back from his son's game?

Which ones will you sell before the end of the match?

I've highlighted all my guesses