Racing Santander v Real Madrid In this fixture, I pick Real Madrid to easily beat Racing Santander. Real Madrid must eliminate its habit of starting poor in the first half and playing catch-up in the last half. That was in full view in last weekend's game with Celta Vigo. While Real Madrid has an 8-point lead in the Primera Liga table, the race for the League title isn't over yet. Real Madrid is the favorite (1.70) to win this fixture at www.sportsbetting.com. If Real Madrid plays poorly again in the 1st half, do you guys sense an upset happening?
I sense a beating here. RM is probably going to mix in Mehia and a couple others that don't seem to get much playing time. These guys are young and hungry to show they can compete. I believe the Galacticos will score early and the Pavones will finish it off.
Re: Racing Santander v Real Madrid It isn't easy to win away games in la liga, you only have to see the statitics of all the teams. At the same time, all the teams play the game of the year against RM, they play extra-motivated and normally in a sold out stadium with the support of all theirs supporters. Probably if they play/run as they play/run against RM the rest of the games, the would be in a better position in la liga. And we have the game of the next wednesday. Probably the most important game of the year. We have a advantage of 8 poinst and we must play with intelligence don't risking too much and have a player injured for the game against Bayern. Anyway, this game can be one of the "key" match of the season. If we win the game, it can be a very very important step to win la liga, because Depor and Valencia play between them. If they tied we could have a advantage of 10-11 points. And if one of them win, the other one would have a disvantage with us of 11-12 points, and it would be practically out of the fight for la liga. Raul hasn't trained with the team the last three day, and it seems the he won't play. We will see what player play instead of him.
Portillo is out of the squad for this game with gastroenteritis, according to AS, so Queiroz will probably play Solari on the left and Zidane behind Ronaldo. Salgado also out of the game for accumulation of yellow cards, so Mejia is supposed to play at right fullback. I'm looking forward to seeing how he performs at this position. Beckham also doubtful with tonsillitis.
Casillas Meija - Pavon - Raul Bravo - Roberto Carlos Figo - Helguera - Guti - Solari Zidane Ronaldo There ya go. Look for Juanfran and Nunez to make it off the bench.
I thought you all were more savvy than this!!! Funny that you guys latched on to this well veiled spamvertisement for the betting site and turned it into the match thread. Maybe it was just a little too subtle. I added the [R] just to make the thread legitimate. And I'm leaving the link intact just in the case of my assessment being incorrect. *Late edit: I can exclude BKN from the above statement. You're on the ball, tronco!
The betting garbage is meaningless to me, I set it at nought. In fact I didn't even notice the crap until you pointed it ou.
I thought Ronaldo is just a serious doubt...not out for sure. He would really have helped - he plays big in big games, especially against Ollie Kahn. Hopefully Raul will remember who he is and what his job is, Solari or whoever plays up top will take the chance to shine, and Celades or whoever is playing in the back for Carlos won't make any big mistakes. This is getting a little scary...
I've read that Ronaldo is definitely out, Portillo will still be out, and Raul is doubtful for the CL match. Who will play up top, Guti? I want Morientes back!
that would be nice. he had a brace the other day. there are too many problems going into the return leg with Bayern. Carlos out. Ronaldo out. Raul coming back from an injury. Beckham, Zidane, Portillo, Guti have been sick with the flu. It is a bit worrisome, but hopefully the players are inspired and will conquer this challenge. I doubt Queiroz would move Guti up top. He's only played him as a striker once this season that I can recall, and that was in the Copa del Rey against Eiber when they played with none of the 'galacticos' (except Casillas). I bet he'll go with Raul and play Zidane behind him as he did today, with Solari wide on the left.
Yikes...for Bayern -------Casillas Salgado---Helguera--Pavon/Mejia----Celades/Bravo Figo--Zidane--Beckham--Cambiasso -----Guti---Solari thats what I'm coming up with. I am a little scared that are strikeforce is a pair of substitute midfielders. But who knows, with Bayern needing a goal we might be able to sneak one in early and then let it go from there
Very very bad news!!! Real Madrid Doctor have said the Ronaldo will be out the next 3 games. That means that he won't play the CL game against Bayern, la liga game against Zaragoza and the Cup Final!!!!! The doctors have said that they will try hard that he play the Cup final, but it will be very difficult. It isn't a big injury, only 15 days, but at this moment of the season with so many games, 15 days out could means that we could be out of 2 throphies, CL and spain Cup. It changes the future of the team, everobody know what means Ronaldo for this team. And the important he is for the big games. He has been maybe the most important player of the team, without him will lost a lot of offensive power. The Bayern game change completely. Without him and without Roberto Carlos, two key players for the team we will have to change de defense and the attack....and Raul is injured and he will play the game problaby without train in a week. I think that Bayern must be very very very happy.
If i was Queiroz i will play with: Casillas Salgado- Raul Bravo- Helguera- Mejia Figo- Guti-Beckham- Solari Zidane Raul I'm sure that Raul will play, he would have to be almost dead to not play the game. And even playing at 50% he is very important for the team for the big games, he never hide, and he has a very strong personally that it is very important for that kind of games.
Celades is on loan at Bordeaux. I would go with: Casillas Salgado - Helguera - Pavon - Raul Bravo Figo - Beckham - Guti - Solari Zidane Raul If Raul cannot make the match than I don't think you have any choice but to put Guti up top and then stick Cambiasso in his place in midfield.
I think it would be almost impossible to stop Raul from playing against Bayern. But he hasn't trained for the last week - I hope he will be ready to put in a strong performance. I like the squad above. I haven't seen any of the games that Mejia played in central defense but I heard he was solid there. How did he do today at fullback? (the satellite was on the fritz at the bar and I was only able to see the first 12 minutes or so and the last few minutes of the first half).
I like your team. I think that there is another good combination: Casillas Salgado - Helguera - Mejia - Raul Bravo Figo - Beckham - Guti -Solari Zidane Raul I think that Pavon has most experience in this type of games than Mejia, but he hasn't played too good the last times that he has played. Mejia played well yesterday. I think that Queriroz will have also doubts about Mackay, who is very fast. The solution would be put Raul Bravo as CB. We will see what it is his choice, anyway, any solution will be better than: Salgado - Helguera - Raul Bravo - Roberto Carlos Speaking about RC, tomorrow UEFA will answer RM appeal. There are a very very small chance that they quit the sanction to RC.
We've talked about how it will be more difficult to beat Bayern, but every one of you has put together a strong starting line up. Real Madrid has a deep enough bench to take Bayern at the house. Although, I would definitely ensure Mejia a spot on the defense. Another idea in the middle is speedy Borja, but Cambiasso needs some playing time. Believe it or not, I see Zaragoza as more of a challenge for the King's Cup than Bayern for the next phase. Ciao
Sorry but i'm not agree with you. I listened similars things when we had won Manchester playing the best soccer in Europe the last year. And Juventus had had a lot of problems to win Barcelona that was playing horrible the last year - Juventus won Barcelona in the extratime -. But Ronaldo, Raul, Makelele and Zidane was injured in both or one of the two games, and what happened ... That we lost against Juventus. Bayern it is a very good team. A big team with experience players that know how to play this kind of games. We were lucky to tie the first game, deserved or not, (forgetting the Ronaldo play and fouls) . IF we had lost by 1-0 as it seemed that the first game would finish, we will be now with a great problems to pass to the next round. We must learn of the past.... I hope that the players don't play with the aptitude that the Zaragoza is more difficult game. If they think that, we are out of the CL. It only will be a easy game if the players play at 110% the 90 minutes. ------ Speaking about Racing game, i must recall that we could have won if the ref had seen a very clear penalty to Nuñez in the 80 minute. I'm sure that nobody will speak about this play this week. But i recall it for the next time that a refs make something that could benefit RM and some people speak about that all the week. Then i will remember this play, and also the RED card that saw Mejia when he had touch the ball and it wasn't foul, and also i would speak about the penalty outside area that benefits Valencia this week. As RC have said very wisely "there is only polemic when refs benefits RM, when benefits other teams or take a decision against RM, nothing happen"
I'm not saying it will be easy or to take it lightly. What I mean is Zaragoza can only save face for their terrible year by winning this cup. Bayern won't be able to get away with the cheap fouls they did in Germany. Zaragoza will be played in Northern Spain, typically anti-Madridistas. I do hope Madrid commits to harder challenges in this game as they did let Bayern get away with some cheap shots.