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Real Madrid vs Juventus Preview
Big match coming up. It’s Juventus. More like our European Rival. I mean seriously, when was the last time Real Madrid got the better of Juventus? (that I leave to you guys to find out).
The White Colisseum is a tough stadium for all Italian sides; Real Madrid have only lost 4 of their 29 encounters with Italians in the Bernabeu.
December 1984. First leg of the UEFA Cup semifinal between Inter Milan and Real Madrid. After Milan won 2-0 at San Siro, legendary Real Madrid defender Juanito approached Milan defender Graziano Bini and said, “Noventa minuti en el Bernabéu son molto longo” (90 minutes are the Bernabéu is a very long time). Real Madrid won 3-0 in the Spanish capital and played in the final. Juanito was tight.
As for Juventus, Their last visit took place in the 2004/05 season and they lost 1-0 thanks to a goal by Iván Helguera.
Anyway. A win for Real will see the group tip in their favor with only a trip to BATE and a home game against Zenit left to qualify to the latter stages. Then again a draw or loss to Juve would mean that while qualification would still be very much possible, it most likely would be in 2nd place, putting us in a tougher match in the 2nd round.
Real Madrid will have to perform a 100 times better (if not more) against Juventus tonight then that hap hazard performance against Almeria in order to get anything from this game.
I think Real Madrid will have to play with a postive attitude and a positive approach to the game in order to get the desired result. Juventus is a strong said needless to say, but they are not infallible.
We need to attack more, we need to improve our wing play, our creativity going forward. We need to be much tighter at the back. We need all sorts of improvements because the game agains Almeria was just horrible and I hope it was just an off day but they way Real Madrid has been playing for the past month, it certainly doesn’t look so.
Juventus News
Ok. Good news is that Juventus still has not got out of their injury crisis , with Cristiano Zanetti, Gianluigi Buffon, David Trezeguet, and Zdenek Grygera all definitely out, while Claudio Marchiso being ruled out just yesterday even though he traveled with the squad to Madrid.
There is the possibility of Tiago starting in place of Marchiso, as he played against Roma and did fairly well there.
We will be seeing a very similar lineup as the one we saw two weeks ago, so we know what to expect on Wednesday night:
—–Manninger——
Legro–Melberg–Chiellini–Molinaro
Marchionni–Sissoko–Tiago–Nedved
—-Amauri–Del Piero—-
A very similar lineup to what we saw, and an almost identical one to what beat Roma 2-0.
The main addition to the already dangerous attacking line up of Juventus us Mauro Camoranesi. He has returned from injury and was on the bench against Roma. I expect him to come off the bench in this game too, when Real’s legs are tired. Iaquinta will be a threat off the bench while Giovinco has been rarely used but is a very crafty young player.
Claudio ranier’s team has won every game it’s played since its previous clash with the Whites and is only four points behind the leader in the Italian league.Alessandro del Piero is performing at a very high level and even scored from a beautiful free-kick in his team’s previous league clash.
Real Madrid will therefore have to stay alert during set pieces. Amauri is also having a great run and is currently Juventus’ top-scorer with five strikes, as well as the man Ranieri uses the most.
Real Madrid News
Despite all the above mentioned about Juventus, Bernd Schuster’s men know they will have the support of a packed Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and that they will be able to count on Ruud van Nistelrooy, who has scored in the team’s previous three Champions League clashes.
Real Madrid hope to take three points and become group leaders again, which would allow them to play at home in the second leg of the following round.
Miguel Torres and Ruud van Nistelrooy were back in action with the squad and should be cleared to play against Juventus. Pepe has been slowed by a badly bruised left thigh ( had a bad collision with an Almeria player) and worked out in the gym. Rubén de la Red, who fainted in Cup action against Real Union Irun, is still recovering at home.
So the squad is pretty much complete, we have all our key players and that SHOULD mean that Real Madrid will be able to perform better than their last league match which quite frankly SUCKED.
OK, so Casillas is the obvious confirmed numbere 1 player in our line up.
I would like to see Sergio Ramos on the right and Marcelo on the left. Heinze has been so poor these past weeks. His mistakes have single handedly cost Real Madrid some crucial points. He is experienced, way more experienced than Marcelo but right now, he looks like a 18 yo kid.
Personally, I would always have Salgado as the right back and Sergio Ramos in the centre of the defence because I have zero confidence in Cannavaro and Pepe. Both are so inconsistent. In one match they perform like Champions and in the next they perform like street players.
Anyway, so Schuster is probably going to play it safe and go for Cannvaro and Heinze in the centre ( I don’t think Pepe will be able to start) with Marcelo on the left.
With Marcelo on the left, there will be sufficient support for Robben to attack and have a helping hand in tight situations too. Marcelo has better range of passing than Heinze.
Sergio Ramos is going to start (against my wishes) on the right. Seriously, he does need some help on the right. He is so alone there. Real Madrid lack width and that’s why Ramos is supposed to run the whole right flank by himself. Defend plus attack. That’s a little tough on the Under 23 Spain International.
Coming to the midfield now. I think Schuster is going to go with Guti-Gago-Sneijder-Robben. There aren’t a hell a lot of players for Schuster to choose from as Van Der Vaart has been in awful form. Better keep him away from big matches until he returns to his Hamburg SV form.
One thing is for sure, that Robben would do most of the attacking bids. Gago will just sit infront of the back four (or 3 if Marcelo plays). Sneijder is going to try to link the midfield with attack and act as a play maker. He is going to show is creativity in the midfield. But if Sissoko and Tiago both play in the midfield on Juventus then Sniejder is going to have a tough time tonight.
Guti is also going to chip in with his accurate passing and his vision for the game. The only downside with Guti and Sneijder is that, they can’t do the heavy duty work of tracking back and helping out the defence so Gago is going to have to hold the midfield on his own if Schuster decides to bench Diarra (or vice versa).
Up front, I feel like Schuster has to start Raul since he scored against Almeria. He didnt play very well, but he did score.
With Ruud next to him Raul usually looks a little better, but this season I have not seen much from him on the field, and it is becoming difficult to not call for Higuain to start over him, even during these big games.
PREDICTION
Concluding from Real Madrid’s past two matches performances. I think, it is going to be a 1-1. But since I am a madridista I am going to go with a 2-0 win for Real Madrid. Van Nistelrooy with the second goal (hah got ya) and the first goal will (this time) be scored by a defender.
To rap up this Preview, lets here it from the LOOSER himself. None other than Heinze, who can be credited with the blame of Real Madrid losses in recent weeks.
Barcelona continue to distance themselves…
We don’t think our game was great because we drew. Barcelona have a two-point lead, but you are in charge of the propaganda, not us. We aren’t interested.
Last week, Ferguson said Real Madrid signed you to approach Cristiano Ronaldo…
It makes me sad to see someone as well respected as he, who everyone listens to, say such stupid things. I can’t say more than that. I know how things are. I’m sad because he gave me a chance to play for one of the best clubs in the world and I will always be grateful to him for that. I would understand such comments as coming from someone who hasn’t actually achieved anything in this sport, but he has and it makes me sad. He is old enough to be aware of what he says.
Maradona is to become Argentina’s national coach. What do you think of that?
Us players are very happy because he is more than just a former player to us. It could be good for the squad. I laugh and get angry at everything that’s being said because he hasn’t even started yet. I think it’s good for someone like him, who has football in his heart and has done so much for the sport and Argentina, to be given a chance. I say this as an Argentine, not as a player. He has all the players’ support. He will decide if I play or not, but whatever happens I want him to do well because I know he feels for the team.
Cristiano, Iker, Messi… Who do you think will win the Balon d’Or?
They shouldn’t be worried about it because it will reward the good job they are doing. I would understand it if they get anxious when the announcements are meant to be made. It is difficult to decide who will win. Many things have to be considered. Cristiano and Messi are basically equally spectacular, but Cristiano has won more titles. Iker is a keeper and therefore isn’t considered as important as those who score goals, but he also deserves the award. I don’t know how decisions are made, but the three of them deserve it.
You seemed angry after the game. Do you think your teammates are slightly apathetic?
I was sad and angry because we didn’t win the game and because I couldn’t prevent the goal. When I argue with my teammates I do so because I want the best for the team. Football is regrettably a team sport and there are different opinions on the same squad. We sometimes insult each other… But I never mean any harm. I think every player wants the best for his team. I was angry because of what I mentioned before, that’s all.
How can you convince the fans that the team’s attitude will be different against Juventus?
I’ll have to do my very best on Wednesday, first and foremost for my team. If I please the team I will surely please the fans. There’s no sense in saying anything to them; we have to prove our worth on the pitch.
Is the team especially anxious to defeat Juventus because of their victory in the first leg?
It will be a clash between two great teams. Who doesn’t like to play against Juventus? A victory could give us a ticket to the next round and that’s very important to us. We also want to recover our European authority at our stadium. Our goal is to win and to play a serious match. We can’t afford to make any mistakes against Juventus.
Are you worried about Pepe’s absence?
He is a great player, but there’s other men on the squad capable of playing well. That’s why they are here. His absence will be important, but other’s can also play at a high level.
How do you think Ramos is playing?
I think he’s doing fine and that he’s calm and happy. Every football player goes through several streaks. People talked much about him after what he said, but he is playing well. We’re not interested in that story anymore, but the press is. He is working hard and that’s all that matters to me.
Massa or Hamilton?
I have no idea. I know there was and F1 race yesterday, but I know nothing about it.
And lastly, why are you such a sucking, stupid, rash, irresponsible, reckless, heedless dumb, deaf LOOSER?
Seriously, I don’t know. I’ve been like that since I was 6… Did I say 6?. Make that 3.
