Juve Preview
By: Corey | November 3rd, 2008This is going to be very quick. So I have already dont a preview for this match, which can be found here. I have been pretty beat from blogging these past few days, as the rather strenous demands of a college student have caught up to me finally in the form of being very tired. To much partying is never good. But none the less, we have ourselves a Champions League match on Wednesday that should decide where the group will go. 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.
So this is definately a big match, where we need to see the squad perform much better then the sort of hap-hazard play we saw against Almeria. We need to be tigher down the middle, and need more creativity in our forward play. Considering that while Juve has won all of its games since we last played them, this will not be an easy task. But there is still an injury crisis for Juve, with Cristiano Zanetti, Gianluigi Buffon, David Trezeguet, and Zdenek Grygera all definately 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. With Grygera injured, Legrottaglie could play at right back, with Melberg coming in to the middle. Grygera may play though, I have yet to find out just how injured he is, as he played against Roma. Also, Mauro Camoranesi 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.
Real News:
Injuries? What injuries! Miguel Torres and Ruud both trained yesterday and we have a fully fit squad. Well Pepe has some bruising on his thigh after a full throttle collision with an Almeria player, but he probably will be able to play. Therefore we have a full squad to win this game, which means we should see a better performance from the team??? Here is what I think will be the lineup:
————Casillas————
Ramos—Pepe—Canna—Heinze
Guti—Gago—Sneijder—Robben
———Ruud——Raul———
A few things. If Pepe cant go, Heinze moves into the center and Marcelo comes in at left back. Fair enough, except Marchionni will attack the flank alot which could be a struggle if Marcelo moves forward alot.
I cannot decide whether Gago or Diarra will start. Surely they both wont play considering Juve’s defensive central midfield posture. Tiago does no possess much of a threat, then again two years ago he tore us apart for Lyon. Guti will of course drift in field often, and Sneijder plays pretty central as well, which means its a 3 man midfield, but Guti and Sneijder are not defensive enough for me. Then again, Ruben is not able to play, so Sneijder gets the nod. VdV has been miserable lately, so lets hope he stays away from the pitch until he gets it in gear.
Up front, I feel like Schuster has to start Raul since he scored against Almeria. He didnt play very well, but he did score, and that means something. 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.
My predicted score is 3-2. We are shipping goals right now and that needs to change, but with a strong attacking lineup out there, its hard to bet against the Merengues at the Bernabeu. Steve may have a liveblog up, I will watch the game but cant guarantee a review as I have an accounting test on Thursday and need the week to study for it as well as doing some other work related items. Also, Cesar as well as a friend of mine will be at the Malaga match this weekend, so we can look forward to some great pictures from that match. HALA MADRID! Beat JUVE!
Category: Team News
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Comments
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Swap Legrottaglie and Mellberg and you’re right. Legro doesn’t play fullback, he’s become the captain of our defense, and Mellberg played RB for the last 6-7 years with Villa.
Posted from
United States
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I think losing this game will make it complicated for you even in the liga, your last CL game will be in a week where you will play Valencia before and Barcelona after, so i will be honest and say the more i want RM to qualify (because I prefer all the big teams to qualify to knock out stage in CL), I hope you will need that game to do so.
If I would be you, I would wonder why RM is not using Marcelo as a left wing with Robben on the right?
Well I hope they never do so, because if they give this structure enough time to mature, things will get better for you, Hm…I don’t want that
Posted from
Germany -
Correction:U will play sevilla, not valencia, we will play valencia to ruin their fitness and cause them some suspensions before passing them for you, as it will go all the season…
Posted from
Germany -
I think u guys did bad on letting robihno go and i also think u guys did bad for trying to trade robihno for christiano well good luck in your season
Posted from
United States -
This will be a huge game. As usual Corey, I like your predicted line-up and hope Schuster listens. I’m a little torn about whether Marcelon or Heinze should start. After a crap game like Heinze’s last, Marcelo kind of deserves a chance. And - I just can’t help it - I think Higuain gets the start before Raul.
Also, I hope Schuster stops making the mistake of fielding Guti next to Diarra. They just don’t play well together.
And Ramzi - although I’m sure you despise Madrid, thanks for the sentiment. I actually feel the same way, and always root for the Spanish teams to advance (yes, even Barfalona). Thus I’ll be cheering los blancos and Villarreal simultaneously tomorrow.
Posted from
United States -
Well john “despise” is a big word for sports in my opinion. I am Barcelona Fan and i enjoy that we have a Rival to make things more fun and stressfull at the same time, this is sports and its a game to enjoy, thats how i see it anyway.
May be you concluded it from our previous discussions but its just that i have that “history” problem with RM, but thats not on the field or players, thats something related to the Club as a structure and identity and i hope either they do what i think its the right thing to clarify their position, or i discover that they already did do and its just me who didn’t notice, then it will be clear sport for me, we discussed this before in Corey previous preview so let us keep it this way.
Aside of that I hate no one and nothing in sports, and that will not make me less loyal or less passionate about Barcelona.
We draw tonight, and even though RM usually raise up to the challenge of crucial games, I hope you lose tomorrow
Posted from
Germany -
Even the Madrid press is impressed, Marca’s Miguel Serrano declaring: “If I was a kid now, my dad would have a hell of a job stopping me supporting Barcelona. The Pep Team’s too late because you can change house, job, wife, political party and even your sex, but not your football team, yet when they play it’s glorious.”
from the site:http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2008/nov/03/barcelona-laligafootball
So its not strange that we support Barcelona, but its strange that others don’t
ok i took more space than i am allowed to as an enemy lol…enjoy your discussion.
Posted from
Germany -
You’re always welcome, Ramzi. My point is (and I thought we agreed) that I always support all the Spanish teams in the CL and UEFA cup until they face MY spanish team - Real Madrid. When it comes to La Liga, I cheer against Barcelona in every game (no offense). But when they’re representing the league in Europe, I wish them the best of luck.
Posted from
United States -
I too root against barcelona in every la liga game I however root for them in europe especially since the ” whose league is the best debate started” I want the CL trophy to go to la liga if that’s not possible then the serie A anything but England I hate them bitches also it usually barcelona fans that hate on real madrid not the other way around because they’re the ones who are trying to be like us in terms of success so they envy us
Posted from
United States -
Good luck on your test Corey, hopefully our boys will give us a victory, and you’ll be more relaxed and can study more for your test (hate accounting, ugh!!!)
As Corey said, I’ll be at the Berbabeu on sunday, with one of my best friends, and I’ll do my best to take good pictures. If any of you would like a particular picture, please let me know, and I’ll do my best to get it for you
Take care everybody, and hopefully we’ll get a victory tonight, HALA MADRID!!!
PS: I think Schuster’s credibility is starting to run out, he has to do some thinking, and fix what’s wrong with the club, because at the moment, we’re playing like shit, with no quality, no pace, and most unfortunetely, no heart…, I hope he rights the ship, because I really like him…., that’s my little rant, bye now
Posted from
United States -
I hope we control the game more than we did in the first half of the first leg.
I think Juve will probably play the same way they did last time - squeeze a goal and defend - this is what they are good at.
We are at home so normally Gago would be the choice, but given strength players like Sissoko had a good game last time and that Guti is available, maybe Diarra would be the better option.
I think it’s a match where we will need to score first.Posted from
China -
you’re all in luck… i’m going home in about 30 minutes and i’m gonna have a liveblog up. AWESOME.
Posted from
United Kingdom
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