Foorumin ohjenuorat - Kaikille käyttäjille luettavaksi
0 jäsentä ja 1 Vieras katselee tätä aihetta.
Two giants of European football clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday evening…Kick Off: Wednesday, October 21, 20:45 CETEstadio Santiago Bernabeu, MadridPellegrini’s ChallengeOn the face of it, Real Madrid have been in good form at the start of this season as they sit second in the league and have suffered one defeat in their opening nine matches. Things are not quite as rosy as they seem, however. Defensive frailties were exposed on the opening day against Deportivo La Coruna and, more recently, in Sevilla.Then there is the case of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese star’s impressive early performances have led some to claim that there is ‘Ronaldodependencia’, or a dependency on Ronaldo, at Real Madrid. In a side that boasts such a wealth of attacking talent, it is some accusation.Is it more a case of ‘Ikerdependencia’? Not even Iker Casillas could stop the defeat to Sevilla as his defence went missing countless times, with Sergio Ramos and Marcelo the guilty parties. ‘San Iker’ will make his 100th European appearance for los Merengues against Milan and will be hoping for a clean sheet to mark the occasion.However, the season is young and the team is largely new. It takes time for players to settle in, but the quality of Kaka and Karim Benzema will show through, even if the latter’s work-rate may be called into question. Manuel Pellegrini is also suffering from a spate of injuries, but the calls demanding attractive football from the new coach are already becoming increasingly loud. Even against the second most successful side in Europe, Real Madrid must win and win well.Resurgent Rossoneri?The pressure was mounting on Leonardo to pick up three points against Roma and on his side to finally deliver something that would warrant the term ‘a performance’. Fortunately for Milan, Ronaldinho and Alexandre Pato led the team to their first victory since their 1-0 win against Bologna on September 20. While the Roma players stamped their feet and bemoaned the refereeing performance, Filippo Inzaghi succinctly summed up his side’s feelings as he said, “It doesn’t bother me – others will talk about it.”Could this be a turning point in the Rossoneri’s season? It certainly shows more promise than their narrow win against Bologna, who are widely tipped for relegation this year. On Sunday night, Leonardo’s side overcame a one goal deficit to win 2-1, and Ronaldinho showed what he is capable of with a sublime pass to setup the second goal.In fact, Milan had incredibly only scored once since their last victory – a sign of their strikers’ severe lack of confidence. However, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar may have more joy with Leonardo’s 4-4-2 formation after struggling to find his feet in Serie A since his move from Real Madrid, while Marco Borriello’s return to fitness will also be a boost for the Rossoneri.As is the case with their opposition, the defence remains an issue. Alessandro Nesta and Thiago Silva are beginning to form a formidable partnership in the heart of the rearguard, but Massimo Oddo and Gianluca Zambrotta’s age is clearly beginning to show. While many sides still have problems at this stage of the season, the test against Real Madrid at the Bernabeu will show just how far Milan have really come.FORM GUIDEReal MadridOctober 17 v Real Valladolid (H) – WON 4-2 (La Liga)October 4 v Sevilla (A) – LOST 2-1 (La Liga)September 30 v Olympique de Marseille (H) – WON 3-0 (Champions League)September 26 v Tenerife (H) – WON 3-0 (La Liga)September 23 v Villarreal (A) – WON 2-0 (La Liga)MilanOctober 18 v Roma (H) – WON 2-1 (Serie A)October 4 v Atalanta (A) – DREW 1-1 (Serie A)September 30 v FC Zurich (H) – LOST 1-0 (Champions League)September 27 v Bari (H) – DREW 0-0 (Serie A)September 23 v Udinese (A) – LOST 1-0 (Serie A)TEAM NEWSReal MadridThe crucial absence for Pellegrini’s side is that of Cristiano Ronaldo, while Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fernando Gago, Alvaro Arbeloa and Christoph Metzelder are also sidelined. Lassana Diarra and Guti have both been reincorporated into training and should both be available for selection.Probable Starting XI (4-2-2-2): Casillas; Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, L. Diarra; Kaka, Granero; Raul, Higuain.MilanMarco Storari is out with a muscular problem, while Oguchi Onyewu, Davide Di Gennaro and Daniele Bonera are all out with long-term injuries. Gennaro Gattuso has been left in Milan in order to recover from a knee injury, but Marco Borriello has returned from his lay-off and is included in the 22-man squad.Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Thiago Silva, Zambrotta; Abate, Pirlo, Flamini, Seedorf; Pato, Ronaldinho.PLAYERS TO WATCHKaka (Real Madrid)It will be interesting to see how Kaka performs against his former side. The Brazilian has not been at the top of his game since his summer transfer, but has still found the net against Tenerife and Marseille. He will know the Milan defence inside-out and will know how to exploit their weaknesses, and this could be crucial.Ronaldinho (Milan)‘Dinho’ is beginning to show sparks of what he can do. A marvellous piece of control helped him equalise against Atalanta before he scored a penalty and beautifully setup Pato against Roma at the weekend. The Bernabeu once gave him a standing ovation during his time at Barcelona, and it could be time for him to reproduce some of his best form on one of the world’s greatest stages.PREDICTIONReal Madrid have to be seen as favourites for this encounter, despite their injuries. The home team have won nine of the previous 11 matches between these two sides, and although the Rossoneri showed their capabilities last weekend, it is likely this trend will continue.Real Madrid 3-1 Milan
Real Madrid - AC MilanTwo 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.kaka_real.jpgThere will also be an early reunion for Kaká with his ex-mates having spent six seasons at Milan before his summer move to the Santiago Bernabéu. At the other end of the pitch, Clarence Seedorf may be the only player in a Milan shirt not to get a hostile reception having won the Champions League with Madrid in 1998. The game should also see a return to the Spanish capital for Klaas Jan Huntelaar, who had a seven-month spell with Los Merengues this year before being unceremonious deemed not good enough to feature in the new Galacticos.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 designated 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.The domestic form of these two sides could not be more different. Real Madrid beat Real Valladolid 4-2 over the weekend to record their eighth win in nine outings this season. Madrid are just one point behind Primera Liga table toppers Barcelona, and are strutting their stuff with aplomb this season. Milan on the other hand have been performing miserably since coach Carlo Ancelotti left for Stamford Bridge in the summer, and claimed what was their first win in five games on Sunday against AS Roma. The Rossoneri had struck just one goal in four games at San Siro this season before the Roma win having scored in every home match in all competitions last term. Scoring goals has been a real problem this season, and collectively have just 8 goals in ten games in all competitions.Milan are presently in 8th place in Serie A, and had to suffer the ignominy of their heaviest defeat in 35 years at the hands of local rivals Inter in August, a 4-0 scoreline.With eight goals to date Madrid are top scorers in the Champions League this season, and world record signing Cristiano Ronaldo is the top scorer in the competition with four goals in two matches. Ronaldo began the season by becoming the first player to score in his first four Liga matches for Madrid but is not going to feature in Matchday 3 having aggravated an ankle injury during Portugal's 3-0 defeat of Hungary. The high flying winger could be out for up to a month.Madrid will also be without veteran Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy who has been out with a thigh strain for almost a month. Joining him on the injured list are Guti, who twisted his ankle in training on 13 October, and Christoph Metzelder, who sprained ankle ligaments also in training.Milan too have their share of injuries with newly signed American international Oguchi Onyewu joining Davide Di Gennaro, Marco Borriello and Christian Abbiati on the injured list. However, with none of these players first choice in their respective positions, their absence is unlikely to be significantly felt.Milan go into this game as huge underdogs, and though their veteran all-star cast should relish the big stage, the number of options that Real have in attack are likely to prove too much for the Italian giants. Even without Ronaldo the likes of Kaka, Raul and Benzema are all good for goals and with players like Higuain and Rafael van der Vaart waiting in the wings, it is hard to see Milan coming away from the Santiago Bernabéu with anything at all.Likely Teams:Real Madrid: Casillas; Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo; Mahamadou Diarra, Alonso, Lassana Diarra; Kaká, Raúl, Benzema.AC Milan: Dida; Oddo, Nesta, Silva, Zambrotta; Gattuso, Ambrosini, Pirlo, Seedorf; Ronaldinho, Pato.Did you know?Madrid have won four out of four, scoring 15 and conceding two since a new pitch was laid at the Santiago Bernabéu in mid-September. Special lamps have been fitted to give the playing surface more light during winter.
Casillas; Ramos, Pepe, Albiol, Marcelo; Lass, Xabi Alonso, Kaká, Granero; Raúl y BenzemaOdotettu avaus. Raúl saa jatkaa hyvän pelin jälkeen avauksessa. Kakálle soisi onnistumisia entistä seuraansa vastaan.
Higuain ilmeisesti loukkaantunut, eikä ole edes penkillä .
Benze saisi mun puolesta levätä pari matsia penkillä. Ehkä sitten oppii ja jaksaa stana liikkua siellä kentällä
Grönlundin puolueellisuus paistaa vähän läpi!
