- Match
- Real Unión – Real Madrid
- Date
- 30/10/2008
- Time
- 21:00
- Venue
- Gal Stadium
Ok. Let me just give you a little background regarding this match. Real Union as we all SHOULD know, it not the powerhouse of European football by any means.
Real Madrid and Real Union met eight times in the four years the Irun-based squad played in Primera Division. The first match took place on 31 March 1929 and ended in a 2-0 Real Madrid win, a result that would repeat itself in the second half of the season. Real Madrid won two and drew four of the remaining six matches.
Copa success
Contrary to Real Union’s lack of success against Real Madrid in league play, Real Union defeated Real Madrid ( I hate to tell this to all Real Madrid fans) in the Spanish Cup, a title they won on three occasions (four if you include that won by Racing de Irun, who later merged with Real Union in 1913).
Two of the titles were won in finals against Real Madrid, the first of which also happened to be their first meeting ever during the 1918 campaign (2-0). The Basque side repeated their achievement in 1922 after eliminated Real Madrid in the semifinals (Damn you Real Union).
The next time the two teams met was a painful 1-0 defeat for Real Madrid in the final of the King Alfonso XIII Cup.
Luck remained on Real Union’s side in 1927, when they again eliminated Real Madrid (ok, this is really getting on my nerves) in semifinal action (2-0). The last encounter between the two took place in 1933, a Last 16 tie won 11-0 by Real Madrid. That should teach them a lesson, not to mess with Real Madrid.
I think Schuster shouldn’t underestimate this game because it is in Real Union’s stadium and the last time Real Madrid played them was quite a while ago.
Having said that, I expect Cannavaro, Salgado and Saiola to return to the starting lineup , I think the Sergio Ramos situation still has not been solved, the media is throwing all sorts of crap. I have even heard that Sergio Ramos’s brother is now talking with Real Madrid about a possible move to AC Milan as early as this winter’s market. Though no reliable source has been quoted as yet..
I also expect to see Dudek, Guti, Diarra and hopefully Saviola all starting.
I would’nt start with Raul (he does need some rest to get some sort of form back). Casillas needs to refresh himself mentally and Pepe, also should not be used, because he hasn’t been performing at an high level that one would expect from 30 million euro signing.
He needs some time to think about his weaknesses and his strengths and how can he use them both to his advantage.
Real Union’s Resent Results:
Racing Santander B 0-1 Real Unión (Second Division)
Real Unión 0-1 Racing Ferrol (Second Division)
Deportivo La Coruña B 0-2 Real Unión (Second Division)
Real Unión 2-1 Barakaldo (Copa Del Rey)
Real Unión 1-1 Ciudad Santiago (Second Division)
Lineup:
Dudek,
Salgado,
Cannavaro,
Metzelder,
Marcelo,
Diarra,
Guti,
Del La Red (if he is available),
Robben,
Saviola (if Schuster decides to give him a chance)
Van Nistelrooy. (a doubtful)
Prediction:
I think, it won’t be as easy as most Real Madrid would want it to be. Real Union have won their last 4 matches and have lost just once, plus, Real Madrid will be playing away from home and against a lowly team that will defend for their lives, but I believe we will win this one and I’m gonna predict a 3-2 win.
Van Nistelrooy, Saviola and I am going to add a twist to the third goal. It will be scored by a second half substitute, who goes by the name of Javi Garcia
Please read our tiny Comment Policy by cliking here
Related posts:
