Zaragoza Comes to Town

By: Corey | January 5th, 2008

Here is the fixture list for the next two months, which Gonzalo pointed out is looking very crowded. I said back in November that December was a make or break month for the team, and they steered through it virtually unscathed. We were able to beat Barca, get a draw at Alicante (and later win the tie in January) and qualify top our CL group. But its looking like January is gonna be the do or die month as far as the league and cup is concerned. Zaragoza will present a challenge, as well Atletico in the derbi and Villareal. But Mallorca and Levante away will not be easy either, I would expect wins but nothing is guarenteed anymore.

January 2008
Wed. 2nd Real Madrid 2-1 Alicante 35,000 Copa del Rey - Last 32
Sun. 6th Real Madrid Real Zaragoza Primera División - week 18
Wed. 9th Real Mallorca Real Madrid Copa del Rey - Last 16
Sun. 13th Levante Real Madrid Primera División - week 19
Wed. 16th Real Madrid Real Mallorca Copa del Rey - Last 16
Sun. 20th Atlético de Madrid Real Madrid Primera División - week 20
Sun. 27th Real Madrid Villareal Primera División - week 21

February 2008
Sun. 3rd Almería Real Madrid Primera División - week 22
Sun. 10th Real Madrid Valladolid Primera División - week 23
Sun. 17th Real Betis Real Madrid Primera División - week 24
Wed. 20th A.S. Roma Real Madrid Champions League - Last 16
Sun. 24th Real Madrid Getafe Primera División - week 25

If we can manage 9 points in January and beat Mallorca in the Copa del Rey, then we should be all set, because Febuary, the month that yours truly was born, looks pretty easy except for the Roma tie. February should bring a full 12 points as all of the teams we face are in the bottom half of the table. If we can max league points in these two months, then we will be well on our way to a league title. And a win against Roma in the CL is not definite, never expect anything in the CL, but I am confident we can win the tie. Schuster has instilled confidence in me, although I still disagree with some of his coaching methods and squad usage and tactics, but hey, I disagreed with Del Bosque alot and he is still my favorite Real coach!

Of course we take Mallorca on in the cup, which was the easier of the two ties because we could have gotten Sevilla but Barca got them, haha. Here is the draw for the Copa:
Last 16 of the King’s Cup:
1.- Recreativo - Villarreal
2.- Sevilla - Barcelona
3.- Real Zaragoza - Racing Santander
4.- RCD Mallorca - Real Madrid
5.- Athletic Bilbao - Espanyol
6.- Betis - Valencia
7.- Atletico Madrid - Valladolid
8.- Getafe - Levante

We have the all important second leg at home yet again, so it isnt like its stacked against us. I know what you are saying, with three competitions going, something has got to give. It can be the CL to be honest, I dont care to much this year, the competition is great to watch, but the knock out rounds are usually a bore. Teams like Milan, Chelsea and Liverpool are so GOD DAMN boring to watch as they patiently defend a meager lead its horrible. But thats me, the magic of the CL is beginning to become lost on me.

But maybe I am being to cynical. Here is the Zaragoza preview:

Zaragoza Team News:

Zaragoza has had a rough go of it this year, loosing their center back Milito to Barca was their only significant loss that I can think of, but they replaced him with the ageless Fabian ‘Raton’ Ayala. They did loose Ewerthon but he was played primarily as a winger for some reason, and they added Ricardo Oliveria who has blow hot and cold over his career, usually cold at the big clubs, hot at the little ones. They poses Generelo and Zapater, two good Spanish midfielders as well as Real old boy Albert Celades, Atletico old boy Jose Movilla, and the famed other Milito brother, Diego, who scores goals by the bag where ever he plays, although he is suspended for this game after a red in their Kings Cup win over Ponte. Which is good news for Pepe and co.

They sit in 9th in the table on 21 points, but dont be fooled, because 19th place Deportivo is on 17 points. I stare at the league table everyday, its in my Vista gadget sidebar, and I wonder how tight everything is at the lower and top half, but the middle is Valencia and Santander on 26 points while Atletico is on 31 and they are the bottom of the top half at 5th spot. A strange league this year so far. Not because of how teams are doing, just the points spread is awkward, except for poor Levante.

Then there is the luxury items, mainly D’Alessandro, Aimar, Matuzelam, Luccin, Diogo, Oscar and Vistor. They have a competitive squad, they just are not clicking into high gear like they were last year. A 2-2 draw with Valencia doesnt say much anymore, especially because Zaragoza’s two goals were gifted to them by Valencia 3rd string keeper Mora. They the let in two goals late to give away a draw, so they may be solid but they have lapses in concentration.

Cesar, Paco Pavon and Carlos Diogo return to the Bernabeu, and although Pavon was a disaster and Cesar never got a game, Diogo was an interesting player, but he had no future here with Sergio Ramos, Salgado, and Cicinho, while Torres had now replaced Cicinho. Lets just say the double Uruguayan swoop didnt work out to well. Remember how Thomas Gravesen played for us? Damn, what the hell was going on towards the end of the Perez era…

I dont have a squad list for Zaragoza, but I will guess a formation. Cesar in goal, but he came off in the last league game and I dont know what his status is. Maybe Lopez Callejo will be in net, who knows? The defense picks itself, with Diogo and Juanfran on the flanks and Ayala and Sergio in the middle. Juanfran is an ex-Spanish international from WC 2002, and we all know Ayala was and is still to an extent a great defender.

Alberto Zapater, Wouldnt Mind Him Movin To Madrid

In midfield, it looks like a 3 man, with Celdaes, Luccin and Zapater, no Movilla, he is injured. No Aimar, D’Alessandro or Matuz match, again, I dont have a squad list, so I cant accurately say whats the deal with them. D’Alessandro is on the outer though, and Aimar is oft injured. So expect Sergio Garcia and Oliviera up front and possibly Oscar behind them, although one of Aimar or Matuz could slot in.

Real Madrid Team News:

Pepe is out, he isnt going to be risked after a slight thigh strain, while Metz still has wart problems (a big ugly German with warts? nahhh) and Codina has a muscle strain. Thats all for injuries. Schuster still befuddles me by leaving out Soldado and Balboa after solid performances in the Copa. Why? I dont really know. Salgado and Drenthe stay in the stands as well, I would like to see Drenthe loaned out and Salgado sold, he should be playing in the last few years of his career.

As far as lineup and tactics go, you know the drill. Heinze is in the middle so Marcelo is on the left, Torres on the bench ready to shore things up anywhere he is needed. Baptista and Diarra in the middle, Robinho, Raul and Ruud in their usual spots. The only question is Sneijder or match winner Guti? Id like to see Guti, but Schuster has no balls and will use Sneijder to help dominate combat the three man central midfield Zaragoza will throw at us.

Its sorta no fun to wonder who will play cause its always the same. A 3-1 win sounfs about right though, Raul, Baptista and Sergio Ramos with the goals. The game is at 1pm eastern time, check out live-footy.org for links to streams. Oh, and I just found out Diego Milito’s suspension has been recinded, so lets hop Heinze doesnt suck to much and keep him in shackles for the match. Adios

- The news I was waiting to see, whether its true or not but it makes sense, DiarioSport says Drenthe will leave on-loan after failing to settle since his ?10 million arrival from Feyenoord last summer. Dudek will be allowed to leave as the Poland goalkeeper seeks first team football to strengthen his chances of winning a place in the nation’s Euro2008 squad.

Saviola is also up for sale, with Real coach Bernd Schuster preferring the little-used Roberto Soldado ahead of the Argentina international. Well, with Bolton likely to cash in on Anelka, they want to buy Saviola for 7 million. Why do Premiership teams think they can have anyone they want? Saviola will not go to Bolton from Real Madrid, only Ivan Campo did such a dumb thing and thats because he is nuts. I dont expect any players to leave except Drenthe on loan. And thats the way it probably should be.