CL Day 4: Real Madrid vs AEK Athens. October 22th [R]

[MadridForever]

I hope that the game is as entertained as the one in Greece, but that we win.

Figo and Raul won't play. They are injured already.

After the bad last game against the Racing can have changes in the starting line-up. The Media say that maybe Celades could play in the middle for Makelele.

Possible starting line up:

----------------Casillas
Salgado----Helguera---Hierro--------Roberto Carlos
Solari-------Celades---Cambiasso------Zidane
--------------Guti------Ronaldo

There can be many changes in this lineup. Macca, Makelele or Pavon could play.


The game will be at 8:45 p.m European Central time.

[Gilstar10]

Real Madrid already had the experience with this team, I think they can do it better. Let see, Figo didnt play against Racing and RM lose...
I dont know if the game will be in Greece, if not RM wont have the public`s refuse they had last match.

[gofire2001]

Is it on ESPN???

[kanasai100]

Yup, the first Greek goal is due to the goalkeeper Castillas, mistake as he should catch it with his hand and throw the ball away. Other reasons to their poor performance is that Raul and Figo were not playing. Absence of real defenders and Ronaldo's disallowed goal. Perhaps they should buy a defender or two this winter.

[elgreco]

-trolling deleted-

Moderator's note: that's not very sporting of you. Don't be a pesavengis.

[Selecao2002]

Originally posted by kanasai100
Yup, the first Greek goal is due to the goalkeeper Castillas, mistake as he should catch it with his hand and throw the ball away. Other reasons to their poor performance is that Raul and Figo were not playing. Absence of real defenders and Ronaldo's disallowed goal. Perhaps they should buy a defender or two this winter.

But Casillas also made two back-to-back, highlight reel saves, or else it would have been a humiliating defeat for Real.

[Martin Cutler]

Originally posted by Selecao2002


But Casillas also made two back-to-back, highlight reel saves, or else it would have been a humiliating defeat for Real.

Exactly, how can anyone blame Casillas for this tie? He kept Madrid in the game. he really is developing into a great goalkeeper. He still needs work on high balls but at 20 or 21 he's already excellent and will only get better.

No this tie was due to Madrid's complacency. They didn't take AEk too seriously and got burned in the 2nd half. And let's start worrying about the defense. If this Greek team caused that many troubles what will happen when Madrid is playing Valencia, Barcelona, Manchester United, Arsenal or Milan???

[MadridForever]

Casilla played very well. He made 4 excelents saves in a very dificult shots. The first goal was a defense mistake, three Real Madrid players jumped with one Greek player letting totally alone the player whom make the goal.

The second goal was another defense fail, losing a easy ball in the midfield and letting the AEK make a clear attack against a Real Madrid displaced defense.

And the origin of these and other mistakes was as Martin said the compliance of the players. They had played a regular first half and they was winning for two goals and they thought that the game was won. They were mistaken.

Other thing that I saw, is that the team was precipitated in the FEW minutes of good soccer searching Ronaldo. It seemed that the players wanted to help with that to the Ronaldo integration, making a pass to Ronaldo when they had a more clear pass to other player. The team must play like always and Ronaldo will appear without searching him.

The only positive thing is that the game against the Roma will be "decisive" and can be a good game, when seem that that game was not going to have importance.

Other positive thing coul be that the team could learn of its mitakes in this game. Althought seing what they have learned of the Racing game, my hopes begins to fail.

Finally played:

-----------------------------------Casillas
Salgado------------Helguera----Hierro---------Roberto Carlos
Macca---------------Celades----Cambiasso------Zidane
--------------------------Guti-----------Ronaldo

Changes:

Solari for Zidane
Miñambres for Macca
Raul Bravo for Roberto Carlos

RM Goals:
Macca (2)


Players valoration(0-3):
Casillas -2
Salgado - 1
Hierro - 0
Helguera -0
Roberto Carlos -1
Macca -2
Zidane -1
Cambiasso -0
Celades -0
Guti -0
Ronaldo -0

Solari - 1
Miñambres - 1
Raul Bravo -0

[Real Ray]

"...pero la frescura física de su rival..."

How many weeks are we into the season, and already they are singing this song along the Castellana...(sigh)

Good for Macca though-maybe Sven will give him another look.

[Gilstar10]

Why Ronaldo´s goal was cancelled? Commentators said it was unfair!!!
So Real Madrid could won with the 3 goals

www.realmadrid.com

[Martin Cutler]

Madrid Forever said,

"It seemed that the players wanted to help with that to the Ronaldo integration, making a pass to Ronaldo when they had a more clear pass to other player. The team must play like always and Ronaldo will appear without searching him. "

Excellent point. I agree Real Madrid needs to play as they've always played. Ronaldo, as Madrid Forever says, will learn to play with his teammates. At least he went 90 minutes which will hopefully get him back into shape faster. He's still lacking that explosiveness he had at the World Cup.

I pretty much agree with Madrid Forever's player ratings, however, I'd say Cambiasso had a better game than he rated him. I like Cambiasso's two way play in midfield. Celades unfortunately wasn't able to make up for Makelele's absence though.

Gilstar asked,

" Why Ronaldo´s goal was cancelled? Commentators said it was unfair!!! "

Yes he was called for an offside which appeared to have been incorrectly called, but those are the breaks. Still doesn't explain Madrid's complacency and poor marking. Next week i believe we'll see a better Madrid as they'll be ready for Roma.

[Merengue]

I wouldn't worry too much about the game vs AEK Athens. Madrid didn't take them all that seriously as they were practically qualifed for the next round. Next week vs Roma when they can clinch a spot in the next round will see a more inspired Madrid. Remember the Champion's League is won in the spring not the fall. Now it's just important to make it to the following stages.

[dmar]

Originally posted by Merengue
I wouldn't worry too much about the game vs AEK Athens. Madrid didn't take them all that seriously as they were practically qualifed for the next round. Next week vs Roma when they can clinch a spot in the next round will see a more inspired Madrid. Remember the Champion's League is won in the spring not the fall. Now it's just important to make it to the following stages.

Yup, but that same attitude is hindering them in the league.

[Selecao2002]

Any coincidence that this winless drought has coincided with Figo's absence???

[MadridForever]

Originally posted by Selecao2002
Any coincidence that this winless drought has coincided with Figo's absence???

Figo was playing very well in the first games of la liga and CL. And i'm sure that the team is noticing his abstence and that the team will improve significantly with his return. But for me the principal problem of this game was the attitude of the team. Luckily, this attitude changed radically in the last game against the the Villareal, although not the final result.