Title Challenger vs. Relegation Struggler

By: Corey | April 10th, 2008

4/13 Sunday 1pm eastern time Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Yes, its that dreaded scenario for Real fans, where we have to come up against one of the struggling teams of La Liga, which means we usually stumble to get a result. I for one am not as uneasy about this game, because even though Murcia defeated Valencia last matchday, they face a daunting task of getting a result against a revived Real at the Bernabeu. Home comforts never hurt when your looking to consolidate your position in the league. Here is the remaining fixtures we have for the year.

Apr. ‘08
Sun. 13 13:00 ET Real Madrid v Murcia Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Sun. 20 11:00 ET Racing Santander v Real Madrid Estadio El Sardinero
Sun. 27 11:00 ET Real Madrid v Athletic Bilbao Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

May. ‘08
Sun. 4 11:00 ET Osasuna v Real Madrid Estadio Reyno de Navarra
Wed. 7 14:00 ET Real Madrid v Barcelona Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Sun. 11 11:00 ET Real Zaragoza v Real Madrid Estadio La Romareda
Sun. 18 11:00 ET Real Madrid v Levante Estadio Santiago Bernabéu

The bolded matches are the possible losses, while the italic are possible draws. I think if we get 7 points from those 4 games (out of 12), the title will be ours. Becuase I completely expect maximum points against Murcia, Zaragoza and Levante. Santander is very much winnable, while Bilbao at the Bernabeu eases the fears of a loss, if it was at the San Mames I would put it down, Bilbao being very much in form right now. Barca of course is a toss up, but I always want a win against the Catalans. So a win in the Basque country has been hard to come by for us recently, Osasuna will be a tough opponent, but I expect a draw at the least. Zaragoza and Levante will probably be relegated by the time we entertain them so theres no motivation there.

As for this weekends game, everyones favorite anti-Madrid coach Javier Clemente has been running his mouth off ever since he was fired for being a crappy coach for Serbia. Here is his input on the upcoming game:

Merciful (ed. note: HAHA yeah right) Javier Clemente, far from sizing his controversial declarations on the liking of Real Madrid, returned to attack against her in the microphones of Radio Mark. “Of the fields of Spain, where worse they have treated to me has been in Santiago Bernabéu.

But the behavior of 20 or 30 bad-mannered ones does not determine the education of all the stage “. “I have always gone with equipment of less level than Real Madrid: Spanish, Tenerife… with all and always have said to me that we go with the bus and that we are going to do cerrojazo.

What I cannot do is what my critical say and not to put it. So so that they do not give coñazo them to my players, we are going to go with the bus, the BIRD and with which it is necessary to try that Real Madrid does not do any goal to us “, added. “Just as Madrid complaint when in Bilbao or Seville they throw things to them, that same one I have done I, and nevertheless when I speak, all the presidents of the rocks of Madrid move”. The technician of the Murcia even got to say that “they have removed a knife to him” in the Bernabéu. “If there is some wants that they give the medal him of Real Madrid to say trivialities, that they had gone to them when I have gone to the field of Madrid and have removed me a knife and I have had to be running to the Theater box. In the tribute to Juanito, I had myself to march

He claims he will not park the team bus in front of the net, but I dont believe it, this guy wants nothing more then to see Real loose points, regardless of whether Murcia get relegated or not. To say I like Clemente is a lie, I despise him and everything he “stands” for. But my personal struggles with him aside, we have a slightly in form team to consider in this weeks preview. Murcia did themselves a world of favors when they beat Valencia 1-0 at La Condomina. I didnt watch the match, but I suppose it wasnt a very tight midfield battle, as possession was 60-40 to Valencia. The shots for both teams were the same, and this time Murcia was able to finish, Ivan Alonso getting the goal. Many were impressed with Dani Aquino’s play, especially his movement and passing. Sounds good to me, we will probably buy him this summer, and I cant wait to see him play against Madrid.

Murcia’s Defensive Strategy

Murcia’s leading goal scorer is Ivan Alonso, but he is suspended due to yellow cards accumulated, likewise for Alvaro Mejia. Which is to bad because it would have been nice for Mejia to get a standing ovation from the Bernabeu faithful for his good service for Real, but it was not to be I guess. Also out for Murcia is Pablo Garcia, who is out of form, has a minor niggle, and is technically not suppose to play against us because he is on loan at Murcia. If he was to play against us, we would be compensated 600,000 euro! Wow, give the negotiating team some credit, thats an impressive clause they snuck in there.

So with the absences aside, Murcia has a fairly healthy team. I expect a lineup as follows:

————–Carini—————-
Pignol—Arzo—Pena—Curro Torres
Abel—Kabous—Movilla—De Lucas
———Baiano—–Aquino———

Probable, but dont hold me to it. Curro Torres and Pignol may both play, but usually it is one or the other out there. Considering that Curro Torres has alot of experience, I would play him out of position anyways. Movilla steps in so that Arzo can move back to center back in the absence of Mejia, while Baiano comes in for Ivan Alonso, I suppose Goitom will be on the bench to start.

Its a very practical lineup, Kabous and Movilla hard working players, while De Lucas is crafty, but not in an extraordinary way. Abel is a little under rated, he may cause a few problems for Marcelo, so I expect Heinze to start at left back. Aquino will look to impress I am sure, while Baiano has been just off form all year, not nearly the dangerous player he was for Malaga and later Celta. But he should never be taken lightly.

If I can remember to get the team sheet for Murcia I will put it here:

I really dont have much more to say about Murcia, so I guess I wont, on to the Real news!

Here is an increased section on stats for everyone to take a look at, as numbers are whats important here on the Offside:

Real Murcia Summary

G W D L F A GD GFA GAA PpG Pts Rank
Home Record 15 6 3 6 16 15 1 1.07 1.00 1.40 21 16
Away Record 16 1 5 10 12 33 -21 0.75 2.06 0.50 8 18
Overall Record 31 7 8 16 28 48 -20 0.90 1.55 0.94 29 19

Last Five
G W D L F A GD GFA GAA PpG Pts Rank
Last 5 5 2 0 3 8 10 -2 1.60 2.00 1.20 6 14
Last 5 Home 5 2 0 3 5 5 0 1.00 1.00 1.20 6 16
Last 5 Away 5 0 1 4 4 13 -9 0.80 2.60 0.20 1 18

Monthly Summary
G W D L F A GD GFA GAA PpG Pts Rank
August 1 1 0 0 2 1 1 2.00 1.00 3.00 3 1
September 5 1 2 2 5 5 0 1.00 1.00 1.00 5 10
October 3 1 1 1 1 2 -1 0.33 0.67 1.33 4 13
November 4 0 2 2 1 6 -5 0.25 1.50 0.50 2 17
December 4 1 2 1 5 6 -1 1.25 1.50 1.25 5 11
January 4 1 0 3 5 10 -5 1.25 2.50 0.75 3 14
February 4 0 1 3 1 4 -3 0.25 1.00 0.25 1 19
March 5 1 0 4 7 14 -7 1.40 2.80 0.60 3 19
April 1 1 0 0 1 0 1 1.00 0.00 3.00 3 1

Performance
Highest Gate: 24000 Valencia
Lowest Gate :10000 Valladolid
Average Attendance: 18000
Aggregate Attendance: 72000
Biggest Home Win: 4-0 Espanyol
Biggest Away Win Valladolid: 1-4
Heaviest Home Defeat: 0-3 Getafe
Heaviest Away Defeat: Barcelona 4-0, Real Betis 4-0
Highest Aggregate Score: Recreativo Huelva 4-2

Win Streaks
Current Win Streak 1 game: Valencia
Current Unbeaten Streak 1 game: Valencia
Longest Win Streak 1 game: Valencia
Longest Unbeaten Streak 3 games: Racing Santander, at Athletic Bilbao, Osasuna
Current Losing Streak 0 games
Current Winless Streak 0 games
Longest Losing Streak 6 games: Villarreal, at Almeria, Valladolid, at Real Betis, Getafe, at Recreativo Huelva
Longest Winless Streak 10 games: at Barcelona, at Real Zaragoza, Levante, at Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, at Almeria, Valladolid, at Real Betis, Getafe, at Recreativo Huelva

Goals Won/Lost By
Games won by 1 goal margin: 4
2 goal margin: 1
3 goal margin: 1
4 goal margin: 1
5+ goal margin: 0
Games lost by 1 goal margin: 5
2 goal margin: 7
3 goal margin: 2
4 goal margin: 2
5+ goal margin: 0

Real Madrid Team News:

The major news out of Valdebebas is that Ruud is running around again. The goal is to get him ready for some minutes against Osasuna, so that he can have a part to play in El Clasico. Sounds like a good idea to me, but we must be cautious of rushing his return. His Dutch doctor will give the all clear if he is ready, and Ruud is doing double sessions in order to be ready. Have to love the commitment there.

Today, training was a little different, as Real’s first team played a little friendly against the Castilla team. It was a great showcase of the talent on hand, and these were the lineups:

————Codina————-
Torres—Pepe–Canna–Marcelo
—-Baptista—Diarra—Guti—-
–Higuain—Saviola—Robinho–

vs.

———Felipe Ramos———-
Velayos—Gary—Krystof—Chema Anton
—Parejo—Mateos—Mosquera—
—-Callejon—Szalai—Callejon—-

There was no score listed, but it was a productive session none the less. The rest of the players did some gym work and jogging, as everyone gears up for the final stretch of the season. Metzleder also looks set to play some part in the end of the season as he is near recovery, so good for him. As for our formation, given that in traing a 4-3-3 was practiced, I suspect to see something to that affect. I would replace Saviola with Raul and Robben for Robinho. Sneijder may come in for Baptista, but I do forsee Gago for Diarra, it wouldnt make sense as Murcia will probably deploy two holding midfielders. But Diarra provides a tough spine Gago just doesnt have. Definately a Diarra-Baptista partnership may be a little over kill for a team that wont attack that much.

And of course, Casillas will come in for Codina, if that was not obvious. When the team sheet comes out I will put it here:

Here are some of the recent pre-match interviews:

Cesar Arzo Had This To Say About The Match:

Caesar Arzo assured that he is afraid of the arbitration of Iturralde González, the one in charge to direct the Real Madrid-Murcia of the next Sunday. “All we know what it happens there in case of doubt, something that is and will be thus and we will play against thirteen: the eleven of Madrid, its liking and the referee “, declared. The defense of the Murcia follows therefore the footpath opened by Merciful Javier with the purpose of warming up the party.

Everyone always whines about ref’s decisions going in our favor, but I dont see it to often. Usually its the other way around, as referees are more conscious not to award to many call towards us for fear of retaliation about this supposed favoritism. Im not buying it, play the game Cesar.

Julio Baptista:

Appearance in press conference of Julio Baptist. The Brazilian responded on the situation of his Robinho companion trusting that “he returns to be soon level to the maximum”. Also, one was satisfied with his work and he hopes to be able to recover the titularidad with effort: “Respect the opinion of mister and whenever me of the opportunity I am there”.

How you see Robinho?
Robinho is working to return to the level that was; it always is in a good level, but if he is cut with an injury to all he later costs to us to recover the rate. It is contented and works to return to the maximum.

Think that he advanced too much his return after the injury?
It was around a month recovering, but the bad thing of the injuries is that sometimes you try to return to help the equipment and you suffer yourself; he was playing, he was suffered and now he will return to be at the same level.

Why you think that now no longer you are titular?
I have made good parties, but mister decides that plays and he thinks that I am not giving my maximum level or that another player is better. I respect to him and only I can work, and whenever they give me the opportunity there I will be. Perhaps Schuster sees you more loose physically? Before beginning the season I was with the Arsenal until May, soon me pilló the Selection, and we say that I arrived here having played many parties and without stopping. Perhaps that caused that it found me very hard at the beginning, but now pays a little the invoice of not having to pains rested those months. With tranquillity it will be solved.

It affects to your future your suplencia?
The decisions of the trainer do not have to do with my future; I have demonstrated that I can play here and help to give successes to Real Madrid. My work well is done.

You would ask to him Aragonese for Raul?
Everybody asks to him the same. It is a thing of the trainer, he no longer wants to speak of the subject; Raul is a great one and if he continues demonstrating it in each party would have to be in the Eurocopa, but only Luis can decide it.

He visits the Bernabéu Merciful Javier and he has already begun to speak…
It is necessary to respect all the trainers; it has a special way to see the things, wants to put off center to us with his commentaries, but we have a line of work marked in giving the maximum level and demonstrating that we want to gain Liga.

You will see the Getafe-Bayern?
It is a party to be pending; it will be a pretty encounter and it would cheer to me if the Getafe passed the eliminatory one, would be a great success arriving so far for them. Good looking by 2-0.

It dresses the party Barcelona?
Only ví fifteen minutes, that they have won; the conclusion that coat is the success of English soccer with three equipment between the four European semifinalists. But Barcelona although winning continues being tooted by its liking. That happens in all the clubs; we have lived it here or in other sites. He is a little while complicated for them, but we only thought about our work. I do not watch the neighbor, only to us because the things are due to wash in house.

How you see the situation of your Ronaldinho compatriot?
Ronaldinho is grandísimo player and preparing itself very well it has talent to do it everything. He has been the best player of the world and can return to be it.

You would change points in Liga to be able to be in the Champions?
Liga is a different competition, you can equivocarte and rectify; Liga de Campeones does not allow errors. I am contented with our position and hopefully in the next years we do not commit errors in the Champions and soon we dispute a end.

A short preview, I know, but both squads have little injury/suspension problems and this is not exactly what is capturing the hearts of the Spanish public right now, Getafe as I write this is up 2-1 on aggregate, so lets hope they can keep it up, Aupa Geta!!!! I am going to predict a 3-0 result, I do not think we will have a tough time breaking down Murcia, whether they park the bus on the field or not, they just dont have a strong defense. Even without Ruud, I forsee Robinho bagging two on a sub role and Raul getting the first. I also think that Vilarreal will drop points at Almeria, probably 2 but you never know, maybe 3. It will be a good weekend for all Madridista. Ill be watching the game, feel free to comment on it here. HALA MADRID!

Training Pictures: