[El-CapitanoR7]

Real Madrid vs AC Milan
Estadio: Santiago Bernabeu
Date:Wednesday 21st October 2009
Time: 20:45 CET (please check local timings)

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Key Players:

Kaka was partially rested for this game, I expect him to show Milan just what they are missing.

Nesta is an excellent defender that will use his experience to stop the amazing attackers of Real Madrid.


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CL Review( UEFA.com)

Two of Europe's biggest names, with a total of 16 European Champion Clubs' Cup triumphs between them, meet at the Santiago Bernabéu with the pressure on AC Milan to bounce back after their surprise home defeat by FC Zürich on Matchday 2. Hosts Real Madrid CF are much more comfortable, sitting atop Group C with maximum points so far.

Previous meetings

• High stakes tend to be involved whenever these teams cross paths. Their first competitive meeting was a semi-final encounter in the European Champion Clubs' Cup debut season of 1955/56. Madrid edged that tie 5-4 on aggregate on their way to the first of five successive crowns.


• Remarkably, the home team has come out on top in nine of the eleven fixtures that have been played over the years, the sole exceptions being the 1988/89 European Cup semi-final first leg in the Spanish capital, which finished 1-1, and the 1957/58 showpiece in Brussels, won 3-2 by Madrid.


• Their most recent games came during the second group stage in 2002/03, Milan triumphing 1-0 at home before Madrid prevailed 3-1 in the return. Raúl González scored twice and Guti, a second-half substitute, added a third in the latter match.

Match background

• Madrid have been drawn against Italian opponents three times in this competition over the past two seasons, winning once, drawing once and losing the last four.....continued here ( http://www.uefa.com/competitions/ucl...400/index.html)


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Valdano:“We will see a great match on Wednesday. We are eagerly awaiting Milan. We are on good terms and look forward to hosting them. It looks like the Bernabeu will be a sellout.”

^I hope so. The Bernabeu should give our players a boost and give our former Milanese star some confidence.

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[Nino The God]

Good intro to the match, El Capitan... I've been eagerly awaiting this match for years now (which is why I was particularly disappointed when they declined showing up for the Bernabeu trophy game).

My younger brother and I played FIFA for years using the same two teams... he always selected AC Milan, and I always played with Real Madrid. We used to take these games pretty seriously and were pretty evenly matched, so they were always heated encounters. He talks a lot of smack too, which used to piss me off. You can imagine how much smack he was talking when Milan was beating Liverpool 3 - 0 before half-time in Istanbul. You can also imagine how much fun I was having when it was all said and done.

I know this may sound a bit stupid, but our thousands of heated games in FIFA and trash-talking during actual matches ove the years have engendered in me a real disdain for AC Milan (although, I generally respect the club and thought they used to have the best team in the world cerca 2005-2007). Through all of it, though, we've never got to see a Real Madrid v. AC Milan match live until now. As you can imagine, it is eagerly awaited by both us.

I hope I didn't put you guys to sleep with my silly story, but I just wanted to illustrate how seriously I want Real Madrid to win this. It is very disappointing that Cristiano will not be available for probably either leg, but I think the quality/hunger/youth are there for us to beat an aged and out-of-form Milan.

But, a club like Milan with the players they have are never a foe to take lightly, and they will probably be extra motivated to beat the only club in Europe that can boast a superior haul of European Cups than them, especially since they have so much to prove to their fans right now.

Can't wait.

[El-CapitanoR7]

Originally Posted by Nino The God

But, a club like Milan with the players they have are never a foe to take lightly

They don't have a lot of attacking players that I'm particularly wary of, Pirlo of course is key, if he is shut down ( By Horsey's kid) then I do not see much of an attacking threat.

If they do not play a possession game, and rely on counters by Pato and Abate they could be more dangerous, seeing as our starting players are absolutely clueless on stopping counters ( I miss M.Diarra.)

I'm really ********ing excited, cannot wait for this game.

Edit: My realistic formation for the game...

Saint
Ramos--Pepe--Albiol--Marcelo
Lass--Xabi

Granero/VDV----Kaka

Raul
Higuain

[Achillean]

I'm going to remain humble simply for the fact that Milan are an Italian team. But Real Madrid should walk all over these old men.

[Nino The God]

[quote=El-CapitanoR7;19052711]They don't have a lot of attacking players that I'm particularly wary of, Pirlo of course is key, if he is shut down ( By Horsey's kid) then I do not see much of an attacking threat.[QUOTE]

With players like Pato, Ronaldinho, Huntelaar, Seedorf, and even that old prick Inzaghi (who still scores goals in Europe. he is a ruthless, if not often off-sides, finisher), they always pose a serious threat. And you know how it is... everyone always saves their best games for us.

btw, is Maldini still playing for them? How has Nesta been?

Originally Posted by Achillean

I'm going to remain humble simply for the fact that Milan are an Italian team. But Real Madrid should walk all over these old men.

We definitely do have trouble against Italian sides.

And, yes, we should, on paper, walk all over these guys. But we also should have gotten past the first knockout round of the CL atleast once during the last 5 seasons. This club should've done alot of things, but we know how that's gone over the last several season.

Although this is a whole new team, I wouldn't be that surprised if Milan upsets us, honestly, especially without the threat of Ronaldo to keep them honest. I think much depends on how Kaka does. And, of course, if our defense can get their shit together.

[Akramzizou]

Originally Posted by Nino The God

btw, is Maldini still playing for them? How has Nesta been?

Maldini retired at the end of last season, Nesta has been okay and is still regaining form.

I would to see us try something slightly new this game, since our offense doesnt seem to work as a unit yet. A Higuain - Kaka striking partnership where Kaka plays as a trequartista might finally help Kaka regain his 2007 form. With VDV and Granero playing like today, we should be much more dangerous in front of goal. Raul instead of Higuain works too, but I guess its Higuain's turn to play next game.

[Gitano]

When Nesta is fit he is still one of the best defenders in the world. Him and Thiago Silva have formed a pretty good partnership and overall Milan are pretty solid through the center. It is their dreadful fullbacks and inability to create chances and score that have let them down thus far.

This is going to be a tough game and I concur that we struggle against Italian teams. A upset wouldn't surprise me as Milan tend to raise their game against quality opposition in Europe. It would have been nice to have Ronaldo rape their fullbacks.

[El-CapitanoR7]

It's worth noting that they play against AS Roma today, I don't think Leonardo will risk resting his best players Vs Roma as Milan are currently 12th in Serie A, another loss would be "disastrous "

This is all good for Real Madrid of course.

[demogorgon]

It's not Italian teams we are having problems with, we are struggling against any big team (Bayern,Arsenal, LIverpool) in Europe.

I fear this year could be the same, if the team is able to pressure us we are done.

[El-CapitanoR7]

Originally Posted by demogorgon

we are done.

I don't know why you're supporting a team if you think " we are done ", have faith.