A Week of Unanswered Questions

Real Madrid is on the brink of arguably their biggest week of the season to date. First up, after the international midweek, Sevilla visits the Bernabeu. Real fell to the Rojiblancos at the Sanchez Pizjuan earlier this season. Los blancos, who still remain two points astray of Barcelona, risk going a tragic five points back with a loss because the Blaugrana are unlikely to misfire against 14th place Almeria. Next up, the Wednesday fallowing the Sevilla match, Lyon comes to town where we have it all to do ladies and gentlemen. If we fail to beat the French outfit by 2 goals then it will be more than half a decade in which we have not advanced from the Round of 16 in the Champions League. Let the criticism pour on the Capital if that happens. Our summer spending will be looked upon as a failure and the words "you can't by trophies" will never stop ringing around in our heads. I don't even want to get into that argument but there is a lot of things I want to discuss. I really wanted to start doing the video discussions for this article but I was experiencing technical difficulties. Perfect, on make or break week.

The biggest question is player fatigue and rest. We're just coming off the Tenerife trip, our most important players have internationals in the midweek. Sevilla comes to visit on Saturday and 4 days later we have Lyon in the Bernabeu to decide our Champions League fate as we know it. I guess if we're talking about resting players, we have to set out our priority. Is it La Liga or the Champions League? I want la decima as much as anyone but I'm certainly not going to sacrifice being 2 points of Barca domestically either. So can we afford to rest players during the Sevilla game so they are rested for Lyon?

Perhaps those players that are not called up for internationals could play a more significant role against Sevilla. Players like Guti, Granero, Mahamadou Diarra, and Benzema and Drenthe if they are fit in time. Obviously Xabi Alonso would have to take place from start to finish because he is suspended for the Lyon match but some would say that he shouldn't play a big part because the team needs to practice without him to keep out Champions League hopes alive. The plus side is that we have a midfield surplus in the team if everyone is healthy, Guti, Granero, Lass, Diarra, Xabi Alonso, Kaka, Van der Vaart, and Gago, not to mention Mosquera who has earned several selections. That's nine midfielders not including Marcelo who plays there at times. I'm not going to get into who should play where and why until I do the pre-match thoughts because I don't know who will be fit for those matches yet and because I'm still turning over these things in my head.

At the back we will just have to go with the Ramos-Albiol-Garay-Arbeloa set up. We really don't have any options do we? Metzelder is made of glass, Marcelo can't defend well enough to handle Sevilla's Navas (he's suspended for Lyon so no worries there). With the Spain team as well established as it is, Arbeloa probably won't play a big part against France and should be as well rested as the Brazilian Marcelo. I thought that Tenerife's attackers sometimes were unmarked particularly in our own area but I can't exactly contribute that to Albiol and Garay alone. I give a lot of the credit to Tenerife themselves for throwing 7 bodies at a time at least when attacking in the second half. But I am a fan of the Garay/Albiol center back partnership. Garay made a few last ditch efforts to stop onslaughts the other day and had an assist.

Up front, its Higuain or Raul, who got one at the weekend (hell yeah!), if not both (depending on what formation we play) if Benzema can't get fit. I'm puzzled to the extend of his injury. I know it's the Madrid plaguing sports hernia that Guti and Kaka have endured this season but I haven't seen anything (unless it's escaped my eye) that has told me how long he will be absent. His layoff worries me because even though we are in March now, he really hasn't shown his best yet I don't think. I feel as if he has a long way to come.

My number one concern is that our internationals escape their untimely friendly matches unscathed. I just finished up watching Brazil's 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, and Kaka didn't seem to pick up any injuries. Thank goodness because he's had a great run of form lately. Shut up haters. We'll have to wait on everyone else but arguably our internationals are our most vital players.

I guess it's only a matter of time before these questions are answered. I'm sure that Pellegrini has had these topics swirling around is his pool of thoughts. I know I have. I'm really glad I have break starting immediately after I finish class on Friday, because I'm going to be stressing hardcore over these matches and don't want my roommates to feel my wrath (evil laugh, kidding..) I will be saying a few prayers this week.

HALA MADRID!

Bobby

Tenerife Voted Off The Island

Raul scoring at the death of this game has left a smile on my face I just can't get rid of (not that I want to). I've been propelled into an even better mood this weekend with Real Madrid's 5-1 thumping of an admirable and courageous Tenerife. I give my thumbs up to the Canary Island based club. They never quit and created chances of their own time after time despite being hounded at their own end by viscous Real Madrid counter attacks. Their coach was bold because even though at the time they were down 3-1, he took off defensive minded players in favor off offencive players. They switched up their formation adding another attacker, opting for 3 at the back. Awfully risky when you consider the counter attacking power that shown by the Ronaldo, Kaka, and a brilliant Higuain. There is no doubt that we were robbed of a clean sheet though. Casillas clearly had clutched onto the cross firmly when Tenerife's Ayoze came crashing through him, knocking the ball from Casillas' grasp and into his goal mouth. But my anger subsided a few minutes later when Pipita slid in Kaka, who is really starting to shut up some critics lately. Kaka took the ball in stride and drove a low shot into the far corner. Is it just me or do Ronaldo and Kaka have a planned celebration for every match? I can't tell you what that one was.. lol.

Ronaldo got a goal so I'm sure he'll be content even if it was just a penalty. May I offer my compliments to Van der Vaart. What an impact he had coming in off the bench. Drew the penalty by blasting the ball into a defenders hand, and assisting the great Raul. The Dutch captain lifted the tempo of the match when he came on. Granero didn't play poorly but VDV did more in 15 minutes than Pirata did in 75. However, I wanna take a look at the last goal. Look at the experience and knowledge Raul has. The first curled ball in from Marcelo aimed at the path of El Capitan is cut out with a last gasp effort from the defender which deflects the trickling ball toward the point where the box meets the end line. Raul reloads his run and jets himself at the near post where a driven low cross is the most likely candidate for a ball into the danger area. His experience pays off and he nets another historic goal. Just brilliant.

Man of the match you may ask? Has to be Pipita. Two goals and an assist. That's 4 goals in 2 games for the Argentine. He is such a critical finisher. After Marcelo evaded with the challenge on the sideline with a sneaky spin, he touched in Gonzalo in on the edge of the area, he strikes it low and hard with his unfavored left foot and from the moment he hit it, I knew it was a goal. Great finish. Marcelo adds his assist total to six (Did you know Marcelo has more assists and goals than Iniesta who people are calling the best in the world?). However the finish is better on Higuain's second goal. Of all people, Garay, who is up from set play, picks out his fellow Argentine beautifully. And with the ball skipping across the turf at pace, Pipita whacks it into the far corner. The adventurous Tenerife goal keeper never stood a chance.

Let's take a look at some more individual performances. Marcelo, good offensively and yes I'm saying it, a little better defensively. Is he my first pick for left back? Far from, but I know an improvement when I see one. He blocked a few crosses and cut out some passes. Still room for improvement though, littly reckless. Lassana Diarra was worlds better than he has been in recent games. He just linked everything together. Little, short, quick, simple passes. It was useful. A lot better from him. He didn't try to be an attacking midfielder for once. I hope Pellegrini encourages his performance and says "More of that." Garay and Albiol were under immense pressure all night considering the highly aggressive and offensive formation that Tenerife sported in the second half. Everyone knows the Tenerife's goal was no one's fault except for the man with the whistle so the center back pair are not to blame. They made a couple of very last ditch efforts to clear balls away that were played in behind them, especially inside our own areas. An image in my head of San Iker giving Garay thumbs up resides in my brain. Kaka has been telling critics to put down their pens in his last two performances. Instrumental again today.

No Castilla players again. Pretty disappointing. I was really hoping to get at least one on there. I've noticed that Pellegrini almost refuses to make substitutions before 75 minutes. Every game. It's like VDV did so well, but we could have seen even more of his talent if you would have put him in 10 minutes earlier.

I may be looking ahead but hear me out. We are very dangerous team on the counter attack. It's been said many times that the way to beat Barcelona is on the counter because they attack with numbers. If we counter attack like we did today on April 11, we could totally throw Barcelona on the back foot. Do you agree? Bounce them off their game plan at Fortress Bernabeu and we may be in a good position to win that match. Just a thought yeah?

All Madridistas should be in a good mood right now. With Barcelona vs Malaga tied at 0-0 (halftime), we are top. Tenerife were as offensive as possible and we let up no goals threw fault of our own. At the moment I'm pulling for Malaga who seem to be frustrating the Blaugrana but definately on the back foot. No one is gonna say it but I will. I think Messi looks selfish lately.

Hala Madrid!

Bobby

Another 3 Points For the Taking.

Tenerife vs Real Madrid. I'm obviously pretty confident we can take this match but I said that against Xerez and it was a struggle for the first 70 minutes. I'm in a delightful mood though. Today was the second day in a row in which my classes were canceled due to bad weather (which really wasn't that bad, but I'll take the four day weekend). I really hope a lacking Madrid performance at a must win destination doesn't bring down the mood. We are on fire in the league as far as results go but like a mentioned in my "La Liga Deciding Fixtures" article, our away form has not been stellar. Games against lowly opponents away scare me at times for a few reasons.

1. No matter who we play, teams are always up to play Real Madrid, especially in front of their home fans.

2. When the opposition is low in the table, Madrid are expected to bake up a scintillating performance with a dramatic scoreline in our favor. Which adds pressure to games that don't have the same caliber of El Clasico, or a Valencia clash.

3. Sometimes players (cough Ronaldo) try to do things that they wouldn't normally try to do against a stronger opponent. It was seen in the Xerez game and when we went back to playing like the team-minded Real Madrid team we've seen for the better chunk of the season, 3 goals in 10 minutes.

But for now let's forget about the mental aspect and get to the match itself. The game will take place off the cost in the Canary Islands, where Tenerife is located. Pellegrini has named his team for clash leaving out Benzema and Drenthe who are still recovering from their respective injuries, Guti who has recovered but is not quite up to speed, and Arbeloa who is suspended for this match. I'm sorta glad that Arbeloa is missing this match rather than Sevilla at home next week. Two Castilla additions on the squad list. Marcos Alonso and Mosquera. I really hope that at least one of them gets a chance. I know we won't see it happen if we don't get out in front of them with a significant lead with a good bit of time to spare. Pellegrini is too cautious about putting our latest products in the line-up. It would be nice though considering this would be one of the ideal teams to test them out against. I've devised two line-ups for the match. One of my own, partnered by the one I think Pellegrini will opt for.


There's almost no doubt that with Arbeloa out, Garay will emerge from the pine once again to take center back, pushing Ramos to right back . For some reason or another, Pellegrini thinks Marcelo is a good choice left back. I know it's Tenerife but he didn't look good there against Xerez. That's why on my side I've chosen a cantanero! Marcos Alonso? Think I'm jumping the gun? Well I'm no Pellegrini. He can't be any worse defending than Marcelo that's for sure. Give him a shot. Anyone with me? To my dispair Pellegrini has shied away from the 4-1-3-2 (which Zizou and I have established to be virtually the same thing as 4-3-1-2 not to confuse anyone) and decided on the double pivot. I'm still more of a fan of the single pivot system. I just don't think Xabi Alonso plays as well along side someone as he does isolated as a deep lying playmaker. That's my opinion. I think Lass hurts him quite frankly. Moving up, Pellegrini and I still have the same "Kaka-Granero-Ronaldo." Granero hasn't been himself in the last 2 matches but I think that's because we have such high expectations for the guy. As great as he is, he cant have an assist or goal every match. Moving him to the bench will only hurt his confidence I think. However, that's just my opinion. Yes! Raul is in my line up, my man. I have just been dying to see him score again. He hasn't gotten one since October if my memory serves me correctly. I hope he plays and impresses. Once loved, always loved. Higuain will lead the line obviously for both me and boss because Benzema will still be in Madrid. Plain and simple.

In all respect to Tenerife, it's not them I'm worried about. It's us. Though they have improved slightly I guess since the break, I don't see them as a threat. Second in the drop zone and not much to be proud of as far as this season goes. Juan Fansisco Martinez is the club's leading goal scorer this season so he's obviously the one to keep an eye on. Los Blanquiazules were thumped last weekend by Bilbao 4-1 and will be looking to bounce back. This game is very manageable but if all possible I want to stay out of card trouble if all possible, which we failed to do against Xerez. We need three points. Barca are at home with Malaga coming to visit. I don't see an upset in the cards. Let's get in and get out. Get the job done and then turn our focus toward next week's game against Sevilla at Fortress Bernabeu.

Hala Madrid

Bobby

Penalty Kick Ethics

After this weekend's recent Ronaldo vs Xabi Alonso dispute over who should take the second penalty kick that would eventually be Real's sixth goal of the game, I was bothered about the entire situation. Through long boring lectures at University, I began to redirect my focus from class to the incident. This was what I read on Goal.com which displayed the dialogue between the two Galacticos:

"Cris, give it to me...because I haven't even scored one goal. Let me score one. Let me."

"The next one, I promise you,"

"No, stop. Give me this one. Come on, give me the ball"

If you can't figure out who is who, well I'm sorry, you'll be confused for the rest of the article. This is according to Spanish TV station, Canal. Now I'm not trying to bring anymore attention upon the subject intentionally but it's a subject that must be addressed. This is a Real Madrid issue, and this is a Real Madrid blog. Now, I've read peoples comments about their thoughts about the subject but after observing and talking to some of my trusted football minds, there are a couple different mindsets to how this argument should have been avoided.

First let me dissect Ronaldo with my own thoughts. Everyone knows that Ronaldo has a huge ego. I believe his intentions are team orientated but I think he is transfixed and obsessed with being the player that makes the difference for the team. He also loves his image and reputation. This works both ways. It's positive because Ronaldo hates losing. He will do whatever he can to make sure his side wins, including taking on a lead-by-example role. He has a passion for the sport like few others. However, his passion leads to temper at times. His lead-by-example role makes him believe that he HAS to be the one to make the difference. For example, when he missed the penalty against Ameria and Benzema thumped home the rebound, he didn't celebrate with the Frenchman because he was so upset that he was unable to convert the go-ahead goal himself. His talent is great but it gets to his head as seen in this latest incident. So if Ronaldo can balance the two mindsets between passionate and prick he will go on to achieve more than he comprehends at this point because he has trouble doing what I just described. He does want the team to win. He knows he can't win without them and often when asked about himself in the press he deflects the praise and focus to the club or the team. He did this most recently when Marca reported his warning to Lyon when he made these statements:

"This is the team that is waiting for you and is going to do everything possible to beat you."

"I played well but the team was better. We are a hell of a team."

It's either Ronaldo has good intentions and is team orientated or he just had to find a more modest way to say "I am ready for you and I will beat you all by myself." It's up to you what you'd like to believe. I want to trust that he is a team player for this great club that he won't cause dressing room problems, but his personality always hints in the other direction. Anyway let's get into the ethics and morals of this spat.

I personally have my own opinion of what should have gone down. When Alonso asked to take penalty, Ronaldo, like a good teammate should do, should have smiled back at the Spaniard and said "Yeah, sure Xabi. Common now, get one!" I think it's childish and selfish that Ronaldo didn't grant his teammate (who is just as vital to the team in a more quiet way in my opinion) a goal that has so elusively avoided him. A goal for Alonso would surely lift pressure off his shoulders and maybe lead to a couple more. From what I've seen, most people feel the same way. The correct way to deal with situation would be for Pellegrini (who handled the Guti situation like a true professional) to pull the two aside before training and say something along the lines of:

"I don't know what was said, what it was about, or who was in the wrong. But you two are teammates in the greatest team on the world, professionals. We haven't got time or room for this kind of behavior on this team. Your actions against Villarreal were childish and reflect badly on the Team, the Club, and Yourselves. We're past this. We will hear nothing more about it. Shake on it and get your asses out to training."

Then Ronaldo, realizing he was in the wrong, gives the next penalty to Xabi Alonso. Everything goes back to normal and it's an issue of the past.

I ran the topic behind my close friend and brilliant football mind, who sees the game in a way most people don't see it. He said that the coach should already have the penalty takers set in stone and that without question about who has scored and who has not, that person takes it. That was a wise view I thought. It would have been understood by the whole team and the conflict would have been avoided. It's always a mystery on who will take the penalty for Real. It goes almost by a criteria system. Something like, if Ronaldo hasn't already scored then he takes the penalty and if Ronaldo has already scored but draws the penalty, he takes it, unless he is physically unable. Or if Ronaldo draws it and doesn't want to make his new best friend Kaka upset, he sometimes lets him take it. It's too confusing. How about Ron takes them. If Ron is not on Kaka takes them. If both are not on Xabi Alonso takes them. Simple and affective.

My friend also brought up the point that maybe, as harsh as it may sound, Alonso should get out there and score himself instead of asking for a handout from Ronaldo, who earned the penalty and is primarily the penalty taker (according to the ridiculous criteria lol). This is interesting too because automatically people want to blame Ronaldo's ego for the confrontation. It's hard for me to say Ronaldo was right but maybe Xabi Alonso would want a more memorable goal for his first tally in a white shirt, like one of his midfield blasts where he catches an unsuspecting goalkeeper off his line from around the center cirlcle. I have been wanting a Xabi Alonso goal no matter how it comes but could it possibly be that that wasn't the Spanish international's place? It's a perspective that I didn't think of and I know it was overlooked by many. Just something interesting to think about.

This all comes right after I was expressing my view of "Ronaldo is becoming a good team player" on The Offside comment section. So I'm little stressed on what I should think. I know people have opinions on this. I'd love to see who agrees or who looks at the football world a little differently. I was debating on whether or not to write about this but I think it's a good topic that needs addressing. Hopefully this situation has already been dealt with by our loved Club who always remains image conscience.

Hala Madrid

Bobby

La Liga Deciding Fixtures

Okay, So it's only February 22. But with a La Liga title race this close, it's about time I took a look ahead. There are still 15 match dates to be played but there are certain fixtures that could decide which out of the obvious big dogs will triumph or falter. Both Real Madrid and Barcelona are in control of their own destiny. They are only separated by two points because Real took advantage of Barcelona's crumble to Atletico Madrid. Probably the only time where both Madrid based clubs celebrated for the same reason. Essentially if Real Madrid win the rest of their games, they are Champions. Same goes for the Blaugrana however because the two giants still have to play each other at the Bernabeu where Real Madrid are not only unbeaten this year, but they've taken three points from ever match at their fortress. Last time the two met, los blancos missed the opportunity to go 4 points ahead of their rivals because going into the match at the Nou Camp was the only time the Merengue lead the title race. Real lost that match 1-0 to a lone Zlatan Ibrahimovic goal despite having more than enough chances to put the game in their favor.

Madrid would like to think they've played the toughest part of their schedule already. Los Blancos have already visited challenging grounds like Camp Nou (Barcelona), Mestella (Valencia), Sanchez Pizjuan (Sevilla), Reyno de Navarra (Osasuna) , Madrigal (Villarreal), San Mames (Athletic Bilbao), Riazor (Deportivo), and Molinon (Sporting Gijon). These are notoriously the toughest grounds in Spain that Madrid have to visit. Real still has the challenge of going to the Island to play Mallorca in the ONO Estadi. It proved a struggle for the Galacticos. We've only taken a measly 11 points out of a possible 24 from the away matches listed above. However there is an upside. With those matches behind us, those squads have to travel to fortress Bernabeu in this latter half of the season. Madrid tend to find the net at relative ease in La Casa Blanca which has attributed to them being La Liga's top scorers after the 6-2 thumping of Villarreal this weekend. Los Blancos have racked up 59 league goals compared to Barca's 57. However, the Blaugrana have let up 4 less goals this campaign which gives them a 2 goal better goal differential. So enough with the stats. Let's take a look at so crucial fixtures starting with the match they both have in common.

El Clasico: Real Madrid vs Barcelona - Estadio Santiago Bernabeu - April 11

Ultimately this is the big one. Like I said If Madrid win all the rest of their matches they'll be holding up their 32nd La Liga title. Barcelona's Sergi Busquets already said to the press that the title will be decided in this match. It's the six pointer at the top of the league. If Real and Barca win all their matches up until this point, it will surely a vital factor. If Madrid were to win at this point, only for the second point this season would they climb above their rivals. The gap would only be a point but nonetheless Real would be 1st. If Barcelona were to win in the Bernabeu (which they so painfully destroyed last season) they would extend their lead back to 5 points. Barcelona have won the last 3 clashes between the sides but he match always has an entertaining twist to it. Real Madrid could put their stamp on not only La Liga but the world by snatching 3 points because Barca are currently considered by many to be the best team on Earth.

Real Madrid Crucial Fixtures

Real Madrid vs Sevilla – Estadio Santiago Bernabeu – March 7

A Ronaldo-less Real Madrid crashed in Seville to 2-1 earlier in the season. Casillas had what some people are calling the save of his careers where he crawled across his 6 yard box to deny a point blank shot after the ball was squared across the mouth of his goal but it just wasn’t enough to propel Madrid to victory. Pepe had Madrids loan goal. Navas and Renato cheesed for the Rojiblancos. Jesus Navas looks increasingly dangerous in every match, reeking havoc on the wing. It will be a return home for Alvaro Negredo as Deigo Capel, Adriano, Luis Fabiano, Freddy Kanoute and company look to take us down again in just two weeks time. Real Madrid vs

Atletico Madrid – Estadio Santiago Bernabeu – March 28

Many (including myself) hate putting Atletico in the same sentence as ourselves, let alone a challenge, but the Madrid derby is always going to be a high pressure game. Atletico haven’t been able to beat us since they returned to the first division in 2002 but they’re always up for it. Madrid even went out in front 3 goals to none at the Calderon and Atleti still pulled back 2 goals and a series of good chances late in the Match that had every honest Madrid fan a little shaken up and relieved to hear the final whistle. After all this is the same team that beat Barcelona 2-1 a little over a week ago.

Real Madrid vs Valencia – Estadio Santiago Bernabeu – April 18

The 3-2 win for Madrid at Mestalla earlier this season was a thriller. Higuain lead his side to victory despite Los Che drawing level on 2 occasions and the loss of defensive leader, Pepe, to a season ending ACL injury. You can never count them out with David Villa on top. He was highly coveted by Madrid in the summer, but when almost assured plans fell through, Los Blancos opted for Karim Benzema instead who played a part in putting Valencia away in the fall. This will be a stern test after El Clasico has been played. If Madrid beat Barcelona, choking on Valencia would be a real shame.

Real Madrid vs Athletic Bilbao – Estadio Santiago Bernabeu – May 9

I simply put this game in here because I’m still upset about this loss. Even though Bilbao beat us 1-0 in the Basque Country, we were clearly the better side. After they went above 1-0 via Llorente in the 3rd minute, they never had another shot on goal. Madrid hasn’t lost in La Liga since then but I am craving revenge.

Barcelona Crucial Fixtures

Barcelona vs Valencia – Camp Nou – March 14

These two teams played to a thrilling (yes, I said thrilling) goalless draw at Mestalla earlier this season. I say thrilling because I’m a Madrid supporter and Valencia should have beaten the Blaugrana despite missing star striker David Villa. Juan Mata and David Silva asked plenty of questions of the backline. One of them (I forget which) was in the six and volleyed the ball right into Valdes with a whole goal just gaping and begging to be scored on. Nonetheless I was happy Barcelona dropped 2 points there.

Villarreal vs Barcelona – Estadio Madrigal – May 2

We skipped all the way to May where Barcelona will play the first of two vital late season clashes away from home. This one is against Villarreal who came back to draw Barcelona 1-1 at the Nou Camp earlier this season. Barca is always expected to win by their fans as well. I watched that match at home in my living room screaming for the Yellow Submarine, much like I screamed against them recently against Madrid. Villarreal was robbed of at least one penalty against Barca and perhaps deserved a win. Barcelona already knows they’ll have to play better to beat the Submarine at their place.

Sevilla vs Barcelona – Estadio Sanchez Pizjuan – May 9

Just a week after the Villarreal test, the Rojiblancos will be standing in the champions way. Sevilla already managed to knock Barcelona out of the Copa del Rey this season but were smashed 4-0 at Camp Nou just a week later. The fans in Andalusia will be lively after the nail-biting and heated affair that occurred last time the two teams met in Seville (Barca’s Copa del Rey exit). Barcelona has a lot of away pressure to withstand at the end of the season. If Madrid can take full advantage of El Clasico, it’s a possibility that the all-mighty Barcelona may crumble under the weight of their own expectations in the final half month of La Liga play.

Unlike Madrid, Barcelona have to travel to most of their most challenging games this spring. It’s up for grabs. Us as Madridsitas would love to outreach the Blaugrana in race for the finish. This is looking to be as good a title race as the 2006-2007 where Real Madrid came from behind to beat Mallorca 3-1 on the final match day to win La Liga on the head-to-head rule. Everything will unfold in coming weeks. Who knows, maybe there will be a slip up where it’s least expected. I didn’t put Mallorca vs Madrid in the mix there but that too will pose a threat to our title campaign. Will the Mighty Madrid take the title? Only time will tell.

HALA MADRID

Bobby.

Sank the Submarine

Los Blancos responded well to their more than disappointing Champions League loss to Lyon. The score finished 6-2 but it didn't always look like the Merengue were running away with it. The men in yellow cut the lead back to just one goal on two separate occasions giving me one or two reasons to bite my nails. However, our prolific strike force's torpedoes eventually sent the submarine to a watery grave below fortress Bernabeu. Although I was furious at giving up goals this game proved that we can overcome setbacks and adversity to eventually triumph. Hopefully we can take the lesson learned and transform it into a similar performance when OL come back to visit in March.

Summer spending payed off again. Four of the six goals were scored by new faces. Dos for Kaka, uno for Ronaldo, and Xabi Alonso tallied his first goal in a Real Madrid Uniform. May I offer him my congratulations. The game also acted as a stat booster for many. Ronaldo not only scored, he marked 2 assists and also drew the penalty that Xabi Alonso took (twice lol). Pipita returned to scoring form with 2 pieces of cheese. He is in 3rd place running for Pichichi with 14 goals, 2 goals off the leader, Messi, if my memory serves me correctly. Marcelo added to his assist total with his cross for Higuain's second which makes 6 goals created for the young Brazilian this season. In all fairness I think los blancos should have won by a few goals more. Ronaldo and Kaka both failed when 1v1 with the keeper and Ronaldo's breakaway was wrongly called offside. Madrid seem to rise to the challenge everytime it was thrown at them. When Villarreal scored we made it a bigger gap. When they scored again, we did the same. When Kaka converted the penalty I texted a fellow Madridista, and said "2 goals from deadballs. I want 1 from open play." Madrid then rose to that challenge as well.

Refereeing decisions were a question in this match. Many people seem to think that the penalty Ronaldo drew was a dive. Honestly I thoughts he got clipped from behind but honestly people, was it a match changing decision? No. On Higuain's first goal, when Arbeloa played the ball up the line to CR9, he did appear to be off by a step. However, later in the match as I said above, Ronaldo was called off when he was most certainly on. Though he had been flagged, play continued and he dribbled around the goalkeeper and passed the ball home. These decisions were not all correct but nonetheless wouldn't have changed the result.

We were a totally different team from what I saw in France. We were so lively. Runs in behind the back line on so many different occasions. The ability to find players was 20 times what it was on Tuesday. Creativity was a major boost. I think it raises more questions about our away form. I mean sure, our European away form has been good other than this loss, but we beat Zurich and Marseille away and only tied Milan. It's not like we beat the best team in our group. Our La Liga away form hasn't been pretty at all, a loss to Sevilla, a loss to Barca, a Loss to Bilbao, and Draws at Gijon and Osasuna where we failed to score both times. The only real significant away win that we've recorded was our thriller against Valencia, and if you think about it it that's probably the best team that we've beaten all season. We still have lots of hype to live up to ladies and gentlemen, but I'm gonna stop being pessimistic on a day with reason to be optimistic. Just pointing a few things out.

Let's start with what I was not pleased with, Lassana Diarra. Many player have hot and cold games but Lass has had and cold minutes. He is the fastest changing Dr. Hyde and Mr. Jekyll. He fouls too much. Right after Marco Senna scores from a well taken free kick, he goes and clatters some yellow shirt from behind a yard or two off the top of the arc. Needs to be smarter. Needs to stop dribbling. He looks a much better player when he plays it quick. I'm surprised Pellegrini hasn't said something more about it. Arbeloa played a good game but what bothers me is he always gets beat on a give and go (one-two). Track your defender, don't get caught ball watching. Wingers will get a free cross every time. For once, Marcelo wasn't horrific on defence but he can always do better. I can definitely call it an improvement from the Lyon game. Ramos, all I can say is class. I know he is a right back but he is a damn good center back as well. He too was beat by a one-two on Villarreal's second goal, scored by Nilmar, but that counter attack should have never happened. Too many opportunities to shut it down. We need to make sure we don't put too much emphasis on offense that we forget we have a goal of our own.

I don't know if it's just me, but Pellegrini seems to make subs very late on in matches. I know in this case it was okay because we needed to establish a gap in scoreline when the Yellow Submarine doesn't go away, but the subs hardly get any time to adapt to the match. Raul, Van der Vaart, M. Diarra, I can't even tel lyou how they played really. I'm never going to complain when we get a result like 6-2, but I don't even know what to say about them. I can say that today is the first time where I thought Guti wasn't missed as much. We had plenty of creativity. Granero may not get the credit for today but I thought he was solid. Quiet, but solid. He keeps the play moving in midfield. He doesn't do anything out of his element but links together big pieces like Higuain, Ronaldo, and Kaka. Benzema wasn't missed either today. Higuain found form again and it didn't look as if we would have needed him today anyway. With that said, I'm still sure it will be a boost when he returns to the squad.

This win will be in the back of Barcelona's head. When Villarreal visited them, the two shared the points. Now that we are within 2 points of the blaugrana and we are tallying up 6 goal performances in a still perfect record at home, where they still have to visit, they can definitely feel our hot breath on their necks. This match puts a smile on my face once again and I can look at the crest and know that we haven't failed it last time we took the field. Well done. Next up we have Tenerife away. We are expected to pick up 3 points there. Malaga visit Barcelona but I don't think the Catalans will drop anything there.

Hala Madrid!

Bobby

Time To Turn Frowns Up-Side-Down

In the wake of another Champions League match that all Madridistas would love to pretend never happened, Villarreal is scheduled to visit the Bernabeu. The match itself is a challenge but the mental aspect is even greater. The team cannot let what happened to the in Lyon affect how they perform on Sunday. It's a different competition and a different mind set. Despite Barcelona's injury problems they are unlikely to drop points to an unstable Racing at the Nou Camp. Maybe Sergio Canales can already begin to do favors for Real Madrid but we can't depend on it. Pellegrini was in charge the last time the Yellow Submarine visted the Bernabeu. We have to be cautious, although the entire Population on Villarreal could fit into the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, the team is always a force to be reckoned with. Afterall, it's the same Villareal that came from behind to draw 1-1 with Barcelona at the Nou Camp earlier this season. Los Blancos did get a 2-0 result at El Madrigal this season. Cristiano Ronaldo broke the deadlock before most fans got to their seats in the first minute. The Yellow Submarine are coming off of a recent 2-2 draw with German champions Wolfesburg in the Europa Cup on Thursday but have had an up an down season laced with inconsistency, but every team gets up to play the Galacticos.

Real Madrid are boosted by the return on Rafael Van der Vaart. Perhaps he might be a useful tool to add to the lack of inventiveness breathed out of the midfield on Tuesday. Guti remained in the gym with the terminally ill Metzelder. Drenthe is the latest victim to fall to injury. His quad tear will keep him sidelined for 2-3 weeks. Although Drenthe was energetic after coming on against Xerez last weekend, I don't think his presence will too missed. The squad demographics for the Villareal match doesn't concern me as much as the mental state of the team with the pressure from pretty much everyone after what happened. Kaka has told the media that the match was not his fault. Rumor has it that if Pellegrini can't get the team to turn around the Round of 16 situation at home, he'll be sacked. The last two performances, Xerez and Lyon, the latter of which was dreadful, were not good enough by our standards. Even though Real beat Xerez 3-0, the showing was questionable. Higuain hasn't been himself for the last two matches and to add to the mind games, Madrid have stalled Pipita's contract talks to have him focus on what happens on the field. I get the feeling that this will be another stern test, despite the fact the match will be at Fortress Bernabeu.

Villareal have themselves to focus on, however. The team will still be adapting to a new coach after Ernesto Velverde was sacked when the Yellow Submarine sank at the hands of Osasuna a few weeks back. Madrid will have to beware of some special players in yellow. Nilmar is always a goal threat and has been making a case for his establishment in Dunga's Brazilian national team. Marcos Senna in my opinion is one of the best midfielders on the planet. It's a surprise he isn't at a greater club. Left back Joan Capdevila has 5 goals from left back and Santi Corzola, Spanish International is another one to keep your eye on. Robert Pires has experience that few can match dating back to his triumphant days in a Gunner's jersey. American-born Italian international, Giuseppe Rossi, is still missing from the squad due to personal problems.

This is my line-up for the clash:


Please Pellegrini can we play this back four together for the start? We were lucky to escape from Lyon without a costly mistakes from Marcelo who just cannot get the job done at left back. For me, the decision should have always been this line up with Garay available. I wasn't impressed with Diarra against his former club. I think Granero, Xabi Alonso, and Ronaldo AS A WINGER in midfield. I don't feel like Ronaldo suits too well as a second striker. Originally I liked the Idea because of his goal scoring abilities but I think to put him out wide and let him meander freely as he did early in the season is his best position. Am I the only one that thinks Pipita and Benzema would make a good strike partnership? Let me know what you guys think. I'd like to see it. We have Raul to come off the bench for the one who performs second best and the formation can always be changed.

Madrid face a sterner test than Barcelona this week. We are now within two points of our Catalan neighbors and we can then again control our own destiny when Barcelona come to visit. I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts. Madrid need a morale boost from what happened in Europe but we need more than that. We need the three points. HALA MADRID

Bobby

Not again...

Today is a day much like five other days where I will most likely go to my room, avoid looking at the walls, and sulk all night praying for the return leg. This can't be happening again. I'm nothing short of disgusted with the play, the effort, and the lack of interest from our players. I really do mean to say that I feel sorry for the crest. Today my faith in my team has been damaged greatly. Although I will never part with my true colors, it's times like these where one really begins to lose hope. It was an all around pathetic performance. I want to critique the match but I don't know where to begin honestly. In all reality we are the luckiest team in this competition. We could easily be looking at a 5-0 half way aggregate already, should have been over before it started. 1-0 is a blessing. We have it all to do at the Bernabeu but you just get the feeling, if that's the best we can do against Lyon away, we really don't deserve to win competition. I was embarrassed to have watched the game with so many people around. For the pride I show all the time in being a Real Madrid supporter was not justified but humiliated. Last night I couldn't sleep in anticipation, tonight I won't sleep because of frustration.

I cannot pick out one single good performance. That's pitiful. There was one main difference that I picked out between Lyon and ourselves. Lyon looked like they wanted to play. We looked like it was a chore to be there. Marcelo just horrific. I applauded his yellow card because it means he won't play in the next match. Arbeloa was frozen all match. Bad defensively, bad offensively. Ramos, fouled too much, gave away a bunch of dangerous free kicks for Lyon which they were unlucky not to do better with. If Casillas wouldn't have been standing in front of the 6 yard box he would have been in great position to save Makoun's shot, though it was a good strike. By the way Iker, nice goal kick. That should have been 2-0 in Lyon's favor. Welcome to the match Garay, that might happen when you don't pressure someone at the top of your penalty area. Kaka might have had trouble trapping a bag of sand or dribbling a Velcro ball with Velcro cleats. Granero looked for the first time that he might not be ready to be a Champions League starter. The inventiveness was missing from midfield. Get well soon Guti, VDV. Ronaldo should not have worn a Madrid shirt today. Perhaps he'd just like a logoless shirt with his name on the back. Today he played for Ronaldo. It's the last thing I wanted to see but it happened. Higuain pulled another disappearing act, other than the break way that probably goes down as our best chance.

As for our Benzema. He was eager to impress but simply didn't have enough time. Can't get a lot done when no one around you feels like playing. I feel for him. He came to Real Madrid for a better career but can't beat the team he left. What hurts the most though is the lack of intensity, the lethargicness. It looked like Lyon battled and scrapped for every ball, gave 110% on every play when our players walked around like their shit don't stink (pardon the curse). I would like to see Raul on at least. I know for sure that he would work his tail end off every match. I can bet my life that if I was the one standing in that tunnel pulling on a Real Madrid shirt, I wouldn't quit working until my heart stopped. I don't see that kind of commitment right now.

We need two goals at home. We have the quality to get them but I don't know if we will frankly. It's going to be a long couple weeks until the next leg. The players should be ashamed, but they have to overcome it. It's not over yet, but they've given us no reason to believe. Once again we fail to win against quality opposition. Time to turn our focus toward La Liga again. Villarreal visits this weekend and I hope we see a better performance there. I'm not looking forward to be laughed and ridiculed in the media, but I can't say we don't deserve it sadly. I apologize if it seems this post was written out of spite. Frustration is an monumental understatement.

Bobby

The Night Before One of Scariest Days on my Calendar

"Five years. Five years of anguish" I whisper to myself as I lay wide awake at 2 am, 12 hours and 45 minutes away from kickoff. All is silent except for the faint noise of the Champions League anthem rattling around in the back of my head. As I turn onto my side, I come to terms that sleeping was never really an option on a night like tonight. I sit up over the side of my bed in the dark, loiter with my hands over my face and elbows rested on my knees. I reach for the lamp. As the light bursts around the room, I squint until my eyes find focus. Everywhere I look, I see the crest that his defined my life since I was 10. It's a small room, decorated with two large flags, a small flag, four jerseys, two scarves, 1 pennant and a poster of the great Zizou looking over the head of the bed, all hanging on the wall, all Real Madrid. My friends call it the "Mini Bernabeu." I count the Real Madrid logos out of boredom and curiosity. Thirteen.

"We can't afford any more bad luck, not this season" I mutter as a stumble out of bed nearly tripping over a football that lay in the middle of the room after a lacklustre juggling demo I put on in my room to entertain myself earlier that night. I find a wooden drawer next to my desk and slowly pull open the cool brass handle to find a tiny Real Madrid pennant with a suction cup to stick to a pane of glass next to a couple pencils and an old cell phone charger. I pick up the tiny crest, blow some dust off it, grasp it in my palm, and drag my tired body over to the window. I wet the suction cup and press the pennant to the cold glass. "Fourteen." I say to myself with half a smirk on my face. I peer out the window. "All white." The pretty snowfall covers the roof tops, tree branches, cars, and streets. I push my nose against the glass to get a better look. All white. "Todo Blanco" I repeat as my breath fogs up the glass. Only to remember in a few hours, Lyon would probably be the ones wearing white in the Stade Gerland.

The glass chills my body and runs a shiver up my spine. The same shiver you get when you remember Benayoun scoring at the Bernabeu, or Henry cutting through the center of the Madrid back line, or David Trezeguet thumping home and acrobatic volley 5 years ago now. I crack open the squeeky closet door and reach in for the 2007/2008 Real Madrid training top, the one with the thumb holes. I quickly poke my head through the neck hole and pull the 15th crest in the room over my heart and sit back on the end of my bed where a black IMB laptop lays awkwardly on top of the latest FourFourTwo close by on the floor. I pick up the computer to reveal Torres on the cover of the issue. I think twice about spitting on his face but elect to kick the magazine into a pile of dirty clothes, swearing at him quietly.

It's just Lyon. I thought to myself. Flash backs start to occur. "It's just Juve..., It's Arsenal, not Brazil..., It's only Bayern..., It's Roma we're talkin' about..., We can beat Liverpool..." I tell myself to shut up before I'm tormented by my own thoughts and memories anymore while the pictures of every goal scored against Real Madrid in the round of 16 for the last 5 years flash across my pupils. I squeeze my eyes shut and shake my head rapidly. I try to block everything out of my mind but I can't help but analyze the match over and over in my head. The expectations are always high for Real Madrid in the this competition, but to be thumped out of the Champions League now, with all the bags of cash we put out this summer would be looked at as one of the most monumental failures in club history. I shutter at the thought. and lay back on to the bed stretching open the closed the laptop. A picture of Sergio Ramos, arms stretched at full wingspan, taking off to the corner flag occupies as the current desktop background. "Go on, Ramos!" I say it almost every time I see the picture. I pull up a minimized Youtube window. ZIDANE 2002 CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL reads the title. For roughly the 20th time of the day I press play and the Zidane poster and I watch his breathtaking volley 3 or 4 more times.

I look up the wall and ask him sarcastically if he wants to come out of retirement for tomorrow. No answer. "Ahh, you've done enough I suppose." I click on Microsoft Outlook. Some random school emails, some prematch banter from friends and a Uefa.com email for being good at the Predictor game or something. I click "New" and begin to type.

"Dear Dr *********

This is Bobby from your 2:30 Media Literacy class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I'm afraid I won't be attending class tomorrow. I have a very important appointment that I have no control over rescheduling. I apologize for the inconvenience but there was simply nothing I can do. I'll catch up on the missed lecture notes from a classmate.

(deleted "HALA MADRID!!!!!" then added) Thank you for understanding,
Bobby Mohr"

"Uhhh that should work" as the conversation with myself continues. I flick off the lamp. Throughout the night, my own memory haunts me. Confident but scared I lay in motionless in bed staring wide-eyed at a blank ceiling, occasionally and half-heartedly checking my phone for missed text messages only to discover the time hasn't changed. I say a quick prayer, one of many of the last couple weeks regarding Los Blancos, drag the comforter up to my shoulders and wait for my alarm to remind me to pull on the white shirt, drape a scarf over my shoulders and proudly head off listening to Hala Madrid on my ipod on my route to Spanish class where I seem to be pretty popular and factor "la decima" into all my sentences.

It may not sound like fun, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. The night is over... It's Match Day...

¡Así! ¡Así! ¡Así gana Real Madrid! ¡Así! ¡Así! ¡Así gana Real Madrid!

Bobby

Behind Enemy Lines

Real Madrid are set to take on French Club, Olympique Lyonnais (Lyon for short) on Tuesday at the Stade Gerland where Les Gones can brag to be rather secure. The meetings between the two sides have never swung in the favor of Los Blancos. For two season in a row, 05/06 and 06/07, Madrid was placed in the same Champions League group stage as Lyon. For those of you who know the format, understand there would have been 4 matches between the outfits in that time period. Madrid didn't win a single match of the four and failed to even score in France at all. Madrid lost in Lyon 3-0 and 2-0, frustrating days to be a Madridista to say the very least. The return legs at the Bernabeu proved to be better results, both draws, but still disappointing. Real will be looking to put the past behind them and put on a performance in the country to the Northeast. This is a special Real Madrid team who has already broken the club personal best record for number of points at this time in the season and even triumphed at the Riazor breaking a 19 year curse. The squad has unimaginable potential with its limitless talent. Big money spending this summer has brought in the best of the best with primarily this competition in mind. To be even more specific, this stage of this competition. Speaking of curses right? Real Madrid has failed to progress past the Round of 16 in the Champions League for the last five seasons falling to Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern Munchen, Roma, and Liverpool in that order. Last year was the most terrifying exit yet where Los Merengue were thumped 5-0 on aggregate, losing 1-0 at the Bernabeu, and a tragic 4-0 in Liverpool ( I could go into the story of the other 4 defeats but it hurts bad enough just to mention it). We need to emerge from one of the darkest periods in the club's European history in a desperate drive to reach the final in the capital city of Spain and the fortress of a ground we call home, Estadio Santiago Bernabeu. All of this in pursuit of La Decima (the tenth).

Let's take a look at some key facts. When Madrid so unconvincingly played Lyon a couple seasons back, Lyon was in the heart of their 7 year reign as champion of Ligue 1. OL won the crown every year from the 2001-2002 season to the 2007-2008 season. This season, things are different and on paper, Madrid's line up is far superior to Lyon's (but in actuality that means nothing. This is football, anything is known to happen). Last season they finally handed the title over to Bordeaux and handed their leading goalscorer, Karim Benzema over to us for 35 million. Not only was Benzema Lyon's big gun but the top scorer in the French league last season too. Benzema is fighting fitness rather optimistically to make the trip to France on Tuesday. However, Karim isn't the only former Lyon player in our team. Mahamadou Diarra was part of the Lyon side that thrashed us 3-0 in 2005 but the fallowing season scored a goal against Lyon for us in the 1-1 draw in Spain.

After a slow start to their 2009-2010 campaign, OL have climbed back into 4th place, only 6 points off of leaders Bordeaux (at 2:40 AM Sunday). Lyon's leading league scorer is former Porto striker, Lisandro "Lilo" Lopez, with 9 goals, fallowed by Bafetimbi Gomis on 7 goals who was picked up from St. Etienne this summer. But, the front men arn't all we need to worry about. Aly Cissokho, who was also signed from Porto after a failed move to Milan is a pacy individual who can serve dangerous balls into the box from the flanks. Also the Bosnian youngster Miralem Pjanic is one of the hottest up and coming stars in Europe and a threat from midfield.

In the Champions League this season, Lyon haven't been beaten at the Stade Gerland and only conceded 1 goal there in the group stage. This comes up against Real Madrid's impressive away record in the Champions League (definately not La Liga) this season. Real are unbeaten in their travels and already trumped French outfit Marseille, who are only a point and a place behind Lyon in Ligue 1 with a game in hand (again very early on Sunday morning) 3-1 in France earlier this season.

Real Madrid's two biggest signings this summer know one or two things about knocking Lyon out of this competition. In the 2005/2006 Champions League, Kaka and AC Milan bumped OL out of the Quarter finals. In 2007/2008, Ronaldo and Manchester United sent the French crashing out in this stage of the competition and went on to lift the trophy against Chelsea in the Moscow final.

It seems like for the first time in practically forever, Madrid might be able to start arguably its best XI. Benzema will most likely miss due to injury but many, including myself, would rather see Pipita as the starting striker leading the line. Guti is expected to recover from his ankle injury and any question marks about Albiol and VDV have been erased because they were able to rest against Xerez. The only real question that I cannot answer is how many holding midfielders we will go with. Pellegrini has been switching back and forth between a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-1-3-2 for the last 4 matches and personally I think we do better with the single pivot (aka the 4-1-3-2 because of the one holding center midfielder, which allows us another forward). So I designed 2 starting line-ups I'd like to see with the two different formations:



I'm much more in favor in the single pivot because it allows us to attack better with more combinations up top and more players in area to aim for on crosses from Ramos and Arbeloa thundering up the flanks. Kaka now has two forwards to sit behind like he does for the Brazilian National Team. Also with my 4-1-3-2, I can allow Ronaldo to work off Higuain, leaving the right midfield open for Granero who has been great lately. If we go with the double pivot, Granero might not see the field and Lass, who has been not himself or impressive at all (if I'm being nice) will be on instead.

I developed a checklist starting from with the most important things we need to take away from this match.

1. Obviously a win. That way we can take the tie back to the Bernabeu where we have been exceptional (minus AC Milan) this year.

2. Away Goals. The away goal rules always ousts somebody every season. With our players, not scoring is unacceptable. We can put a dagger in their hearts before the second leg if we can manage 2 or 3 goals on tuesday.

3. A clean sheet. If we can tuck'm away at one end and keep'm out on ours, we'll be in fabulous shape.

4. Stay out of yellow card trouble. I know one or two players are in danger of yellow card suspension. I just can't tell you who off the top of my head, Lass maybe?

It should be an interesting tie. I'm more confident about this round of 16 match than I have been with all the rest for the last 5 years. It's a must win, a do or die. If we don't progress pass this stage, it will be eyed as a disaster for the club. All the players on the team have continued to state that we can win this competition. Don't let us down after you've hyped us up. I wanna rip the Champions League crown right off the head of Catalonia with a thick chunk of hair. Hala Madrid!

Bobby

Good scoreline, Lacking Performance

Madrid managed to scrape up 3 points with 3 goals against bottom of the table Xerez but it wasn't the Real Madrid performance that we all wanted to see with Lyon on the horizon. It took los blancos about an hour to break the Xerez lock and it was an unlikely goal from an unlikely source, Arbeloa that banged down the door when Xabi Alonso found him in space. To that point in the match, I wasn't impressed with the former Liverpool defender's performance but with that goal he did two crucial things. 1.) He scored the winning goal. It's hard to do anything more important than that. And 2.) He lifted the pressure of Los Merengues' shoulders. It's not as easy as one may think to beat the last place team when you are Real Madrid. Here's why.

Everyone is up for it when Madrid come to town. There is a mental aspect about the whole minnow versus giant matches. If you're the giant. You are expected to smash the minnow and put on a blinding performance. This can get into a lot of teams' heads. They over do it and try to do things out of their element rather than think of the match as any other match. I think Real Madrid had a case of that today. Especially Ronaldo in the first half who took too much responsibility amongst his heroic shoulders and was disappointing in the first half. Madrid was lucky not to be down a goal or two in the first half. Lackadaisical defending lead to a couple clear chances that perhaps a better team would have surely scored. Madrid should have definitely had a penalty when Granero was taken down in the area in the first half and then another one when Pipita's on target volley was blocked by the hand of a defender. Can't get them all I suppose but I was desperate for a goal at that point and frustration was an understatement. The fouls, the misplaced passes, the referee decisions all created a first half to forget. The foul stat at half time was something absurd like Real 13, Xerez 3. I'd personally like to express my anger at Goltv for putting the La Liga match on a Gameboy sized screen in the bottom right hand corner for 25 minutes while Bayern Munchen vs Dortmund finished up. That's just poor broadcasting.

Let's get into some personal performances. Arbeloa's goal did open the flood gates but he wasn't his regular self today. He picked up a booking he didn't deserve but was shakey on most other offensive occasions. I'm sure he'll bounce back. Marcelo at left back never impresses but that's all I'm gonna say there. Lassana Diarra really needs to improve if we are gonna play a double pivot. I personally am in favor much more of the single pivot, which gives us an extra forward but Lass has got to be better. Too many times he was the culpret for a wayward pass or giving the ball away in the center of the pitch. Pipita was quiet. There was so much hype about Higuain in the midweek after his stunner vs Espanyol last weekend that everyone was a little disappointed not to see him do more. I guess you could blame some give aways that ultimately resulted in poor performances on the rough condition of the pitch. Hardly the pristine, lush grass of the Bernabeu but still can't use an excuse like that.

Raul didn't really make an impression after coming on but the other two subs did. Surprisingly Drenthe noticeably lifted the play when he appeared. He was unlucky not to score. His crisp strike was cleared off the goal line. Big Diarra made a rare appearance and other than the off target long ball he played shortly after arriving on the field, he was solid.

Ronaldo and Kaka were both stories of two halves. Both were off beat in the first half but instrumental in the second half. They proved our summer spending useful by teaming up for 2 goals. Ronaldo bagged another two for the season while the Brazilian tallied two more assists. After being played in toward the end line by Granero, Kaka lifted his head and played a flawless ball across to meet the gelled hair of Ronaldo. The header was a cerebral thunderbolt that rooted the goalkeeper. Great Goal. Kaka then again showed his brilliance as he used a sweeping slide tackling technique to pull the ball away from the charging shotstopper, loitered with the keeper at his back for a few seconds, only to then slide the ball across Ronaldo who tucked the ball passed 2 defenders into a gaping goal.

But we accomplished some important things today.

1. We proved we can turn around a bad performance and grind out a result. Something the Madrid has never historically been used to doing.

2. Ronaldo is back on form for Lyon.

3. No injuries from what I can see were picked up.

The job is only half done though. We have to hope our city rivals can take points off our national rivals tomorrow. That would help us out immensely! Not a pretty match but a pretty 3 points to return back to the capital with. Madrid's away form needs to improve despite the win. HALA MADRID!

Bobby

To Rest or Not to Rest?

It would be a disgrace for Real Madrid not to take 3 points at bottom of the table Xerez on Saturday. The Andulusian side only has a pathetic 2 wins from 21 one games. Madrid smashed the lowly outfit 5-0 earlier in the season where Ronaldo scored in what I believe to remember the second minute. I decided to take a different approach to the preview because without overlooking the La Liga fixture this weekend, we have to keep half an eye on Lyon on Tuesday. Don't get me wrong, it is essential to beat Xerez. For the first time in a good number of weeks, Barcelona have a difficult task infront of them because they visit our cross town rivals with a very skewed back line. The blaugrana is missing Pique and Marquez due to suspension and Dani Alves and Abidal missing with injuries. Pep Guardiola has already hinted at youngsters but it is almost without question that we will see Gabi Milito in a once-in-a-blue-moon appearence and rare spotting of Maxwell who transfered from Inter Milan this summer. Puyol will obviously be part of the wounded defense, but with a back four that hasn't played together, or played hardly at all, will they be able to handle players like Aguero, Forlan and co. who scored 4 against Racing last week in the Copa del Rey? We can only hope not. So I decided to go down the roster (excluding the Castilla players who in my opinion should get a call up to this match because I'm not sure which of them if any Pellegrini will summon) and state whether or not I think they should play a part and how much of a part they should play with the Champions League in mind.

1. Iker Casillas - It's an easy one 90 minutes. I don't know the exact figures but Casillas has hardly missed any La Liga matches in his career. He should be on.

2. Alvaro Arbeloa - With our preferred back line (Ramos-Albiol-Garay-Arbeloa) all healthy once again. I think they should all start to get reaquainted (if that's even the right word) or some extra practice before traveling to France.

3. Pepe - Without say, out for the season.

4. Ramos - The Spanish international has done a fine job filling in for the injured Garay at centerback in recent weeks but I think he should get some time back at right back before the Lyon test

5- Gago - Because of the whole Manchester City fiasco, and the fact that we've recently been working with only one holding midfielder, I think Gago is pretty far down the pecking order to play Saturday despite the opposition being Xerez

6. Diarra - I don't know if Big Diarra will see the pitch with one pivot point but he's above Gago for me, always has been.

7. Raul - Last 2 matchdays Raul has been a worthy stand-in with Ronaldo and Higuain absent from the line up. This time it's Benzema with the injury bug and with Raul's minutes limited nowadays, I think he should get atleast 90 minutes. People say that his legs won't carry him that long. That's a lie. Guti is a year older and played 90 against Depor in the midfield. I'm sure if Raul was told he's gonna he 90, he'd be thrilled and work his back side off the whole match.

8. Kaka - Surely I think Kaka can rest. I don't think we need to start him. Maybe give him 20 or so minutes in the second half to keep him fresh but with the way he played last weekend, we will surely need him against Lyon. I don't think he needs to play.

9. Ronaldo - Usually I would be against giving Ronaldo a great deal of time with the Champions League around the corner but because he has missed the last 2 matches, keeping him sidelined for another might not be a great idea. He's a big player for los blancos and we don't want him getting stale, then thrown into the mix from the go in a big match. Give him 60 minutes from the start. That's more than enough time for CR9 to find form. Hell, last time it only took him 2 minutes to score against Xerez. That could be 30 goals for him on Saturday ( I'm only kidding).

10. Lass- If we are playing the single pivot I would split the time at holding midfielder between Lass and Xabi Alonso half and half, maybe give Lass a little less time. Lass wasn't impressive last game and he must know it. Give him a little confidence booster against Xerez.

11. Benzema - despite how he is feeling from his injury, leave him in Madrid. There is a very small percentage he will return against his former club but we don't wanna hurt those chances even more by risking him against Xerez. Easy decision.

12. Marcelo has recovered from his bout with a stomach virus, which caused him to miss training yesterday. He trained without incident today and I'd start him in the midfield on saturday with maybe the long lost Drenthe subbing in for him at half.

13. Dudek - Second best to Iker, will not play.

14. Guti - The evil genious has been instrumental lately and could be the guy that tears appart Lyon. I know this, Guti knows this, and Pellegrini knows this. I vote to give Guti the day off because of his aging legs so he is fresh and fit for the french.

15. Drenthe - Drenthe hasn't seen significant time in a long while. It would be good for him and good for the team if he could get it in for atleast 30 minutes. He is auxillery relief at the moment but I still rate him a useful player and there is no better chance to chance for him to gain confidence than against Xerez.

18. Raul Albiol - Start to finish at Centerback

19. Garay - Same as Albiol. He needs the minutes having missed Depor and Espanyol

20. Gonzalo Higuain - Pipita is arguably our most important player. He already showed last weekend that his form hung out with him the entire time he was injured and that it was never lost. I definately wouldn't give him 90 minutes but he needs some time having only played 15 minutes last match.

22. Xabi Alonso - Often times doesn't get the recognition for victories but is secretly the glue that holds the Real Madrid foundation in place. (Just ask Liverpool). Although The job against Xerez should still get done without him. I like him for the first 45 minutes.

23. Rafael Van der Vaart - Happy Birthday! Anyways, he should play because I said we can rest Kaka. He played the long ball that ultimately lead to Pipita's goal last game.

24. Granero - Fabulous in times of player absense. I can see him playing 90 minutes. He has been great. Keep the starting spot and should play a place against Lyon.

I'm not even going to try and get into Pellegrini's head for this match. Him and I don't often times think on the same plain. However, I conjured up a line up fallowed by my planned substitutions, given everything goes according to plan.


Okay. I'll get to my selection after I list my substitutions.

45' - Drenthe for Marcelo
60' - Lass for Xabi Alonso
- Higuain for Ronaldo

Before you start picking me appart let me explain. Above I mentioned I wanted the back four to play together because they haven't in a while so no surprise there and no surprise with Casillas obviously. Xabi Alonso will play the first hour because we have still just converted to the single pivot and I want him to have one more go at it before we try it out against Lyon. I don't want to kill the guy so I have Lass who desperately wants and needs to improve from his last performance. Marcelo is a better winger than defender that's for sure, and I think we can agree the same with Drenthe so I have those two splitting the match for Drenthe's sake of playing time and because we need to rest Marcelo. Chances are the young Brazilian will play more of a part on Tuesday than his Dutch colleague. Ronaldo needs to get back in the swing of things before the trip to france so I am giving him an hour hard work. Higuain who only played 15 minutes last match will fill in for him at the same time I'd like Lass to replace Xabi Alonso. This still gives Pipita enough time to spread his wings for a bit and some more game time before the trip.

I don't expect everyone to agree with this. I never do (lol). However, this is what I think. I'm interested to hear what other people have to say. You might even change my mind. It's happened before. I would be severely pissed if we don't win against Xerez. Hala Madrid!

Bobby

The Wonder that is Pipita

"Van der Vaart smacks a long ball up field toward Higuain. OH WHAT A TOUCH! He's past his defender, he's past Kameni, he's scored! The substitute has made use of his 15 minutes and has every Madridista in the Bernabeu eating out of his hands once again, as if he was never injured. Magic. Pure class." Now this isn't an actual quote from a TV commentator but if I was narrating the match live for viewers, those would have been my exact words. Simply breathtaking from what some people call, the next Raul.

Born in France, Bread in Argentina, and Groomed by Real Madrid. The combination of these ingredients has created one of Europe’s best strikers at only 22 years of age . His name? Gonzalo Higuain AKA Pipita. "Ronaldo 80 million, Kaka 59 million, Benzema 35 million, Pipita... Priceless." -from my last post. I came up with that (pretty good right?) just moments after the numero 20 tallied the third goal of Real Madrid's thumping of RCD Espanyol in the dying minutes when he came on as a second half sub for Karim Benzema. With all the high profile signings this summer, it was a doubt that the young Argentine would establish his place in the starting lineup but he has silenced critics, and amongst the big names is Real Madrid's leading scorer this season. In La Liga, Pipita has 12 goals in 15 appearences. I read a funny comment on goal.com from a random commenter that made sense to my surprise. Usually all the commenters on that site are just bias fans with some bragging to attend to. Here it is:

"Higuain scored 12 goals in 15 apps in la liga, while Ibrahimoivc (46m+Eto'o) scored 11 goals in 18 apps. I wonder how many goals Zlatan would have scored in la liga if he didnt have players like messi , iniesta , xavi and alves assisting him ... Pepita The BEST !!!"

I chuckled when I first read it but there is one part of the message that I would like to ignore. The "I wonder how many goals Zlatan would have scored in la liga if he didnt have players like messi , iniesta , xavi and alves assisting him" part. Because no striker, not Higuain, not Jesus, not Batman would score goals without teammates. But, I've had this Higuain vs Ibra argument many times with people I chat football with in my own community. Of course, here in the States many people don't fallow the sport to my level and are biased toward big names and youtube highlight reels so it's hard to explain the true nature of the argument but the stats can back me up. Higuain is easily my pick, call me bias, don't care. Pipita is younger, has more of a career ahead of him at age 22 opposed to Ibra's 28 years of age. Higuain is a notorious hard worker, where as Ibrahimovic is a bit lethargic for me. He runs mainly when he has a chance to score but other than that doesn't do a lot to win the ball back once it's gone except foul. Ibrahimovic is very cocky. I dislike his personality. Listen to this when asked about a move he did against a Liverpool defender. "First I went left, he did too. Then I went right, and he did too. Then I went left again, and he went to buy a hot dog." Some find it funny. I find it arrogant and unprofessional truthfully. Higuain is humble, passionate, and team orientated personality. But I didn't write this article to compare the two. This is Higuain's write up, not Zlatan's.

So let's start from the beginning. Let's take us back to a dark, stormy night on December 10, 1987 in Brest, France. The wind was howling and the rain shot sideways against Stade Brest 29's defender, Jorge "Pipa" Higuain's swerving taxi as he rushed to the hospital. Three sounds rang out into the storm. The first was the abrupt turn of a door knob as Pipa burst into a small hospital room. The second was a loud crack of thunder accompanied by simultaneous flash of lightning that stunned the eyes of everyone awake. The third sound was the cry of a newborn child. Suddenly, the rain stopped, the clouds parted, and the bright moon created a ray that shined directly in the window of the room on a boy, the boy known as Pipita. Okay, that's not how it happened. I don't really know how that night went about but that's what I picture when I try to fathom how the legend of Pipita began.

Between 2004 and 2006, Higuain made 39 appearances as a teenager for River Plate, scoring 18 goals and setting up teamates with 16 assists. After Gonzalo scored a brace in the October 2006 El Superclasico, River Plate manager, Daniel Pasarella stated that Pipita was "destined for superstardom." Shortly after, Madrid bought the promising prospect from the Argentine giants for 13 million Euros. Reports now say that the Real Madrid striker has tripled his value. He made his debut for los blancos against Real Zaragoza on January 14, 2007 where he had the crucial assist in a 1-0 win. Real Madrid has praised the Argentine international because he has a habit of scoring goals in big matches. His first ever Madrid goal came against none other than cross town rivals Atletico Madrid away which set the match level at 1-1. He scored the La Liga clinching goal deep into a match against Osasuna in Pamplona. Los Meregues were down 1-0, Robben equalized in the 88th minute and Pipita thrashed home a wicked volley two minutes later to win the league. Last season, the boy scored 4 goals against Malaga at the Bernabeu in an edge of your seat, back and forth match that ended 4-3. At this point in time Pipita, at such a young age, in all 120 games he has participated in a Madrid strip, has 49 goals and 18 assists.

El Numero 20 is quickly becoming a legend around the Capital which he calls a second home. He has such a long career ahead of him at only 22. He already stated he would love to finish his career in white and I'd love to have him. Real Madrid is currently renegotiating his contract. As far as international duty, he had the option to play for either France or Argentina but opted for his South American routes. He has recently just kicked off his full international career with Argentina, scoring on his debut against Peru in a vital World Cup Qualifier which ended 2-1 to Argentina. It took Maradona long enough to call him up. When you are the leading scorer for Real Madrid and don't get a call up from your national team, something is wrong. I don't rate Maradona at all as a coach. Can he not see his resources? Front line Higuain/Milito/Messi. It's on a platter... but don't get me started. Pipita has been a vital part of this squad so far this year and I tip him to continue a big contributor in games and seasons to come. I hope that this season he can leave his stamp on the Champions League too. Hala Madrid y Viva Pipita!

Bobby

Pluckin' Feathers: Real Madrid 3-0 Espanyol

Real Madrid cruise to another 3-0 victory despite key absences once again (cough Ronaldo cough Garay). I wasn't sure certain players would make the squad list like Guti and Arbeloa because of their fitness difficulties in training this week. I was delighted to see them both in the XI. It was a very one sided match. Los blancos looked comfortable and in demand the entire time. It's beginning to become routine that Real Madrid are missing players. At this point in time it seems like nothing can stop los blancos. The home record is unscratched and unlike the last match at fortress Bernabeu against Malaga, this was quite a performance. We jumped on the opposition right from the start with the Ramos goal and we coasted throughout the rest of the affair. The score could have easily been much greater but Kameni was inspired between the posts. I've seen him play before and his ability to read shots, partnered with his quickness makes him a top class goal keeper. I'm surprised a bigger club hasn't picked him up. Easily Espanyol's best player.

There isn't a lot to pick apart. I usually start with the negatives but where do I even look for them? I suppose I could say that after Benzema's two goal game at the Riazor, I expected him to find the net again. He looked a little selfish especially on one or two numbers-up counter attacks but other than that, he didn't play badly. I mean all strikers have to a little selfish. Marcelo was again not his best defensively but we all know he makes a much better left winger. Hopefully with the contract extension in mind, Madrid have decided that the midfielder Marcelo is far more useful than the defender Marcelo. I didn't think Lass raised the level of play when he arrived as a second half sub. He was disappointing. I've seen much better days from him.

I called for a performance from Raul and by my standards I think I got it. Okay, he didn't score. But he sure as hell had chances that he created for himself. His troubling header forced a diving save out of Kameni which ultimately lead to Kaka's goal. I can say without remorse that he was better of our two starting forwards yesterday. I wish he would have scored, it would have been a testament to the way he played, especially first half. Also Kaka looked great. That's the Kaka that we've been looking for. Hernia problem? Didn't look like it against los periquitos. He was very lively. He deserved his goal. He is a true poacher and I hope Pellegrini is now convinced that he is better in behind the strikers than he is a winger. Granero? Another assist. It seems like he always delivers. Him and Ramos teamed up for the first goal and again almost for another piece of cheese off a corner. It will be a shame if he isn't in the starting line up next week. Impressive once again.

People have always questioned Madrid's defensive capabilities, but we're really starting to silence critics. I never really felt threatened by Espanyol. Albiol and Ramos we're rock solid. Ramos is such a good center back, I can't make up my mind where I like him better. But if Garay is healthy I still think he needs to play centrally, moving Ramos to right back once again where he stampedes up the flank and a more solid Arbeloa to left back.

Ronaldo 80 million, Kaka 59 million, Benzema 35 million, Pipita... Priceless. He's back ladies and gentlemen! He inadvertently showed Benzema up by doing in 15 minutes what the Frenchman couldn't do in 75. Just a fabulous goal. The touch the Argentine took to bring down that ball bamboozled the defender. It even fooled me at first, but by the time I realized what he had just done, my jaw had already hit the floor. Then he went on to dribble around the agile Kameni and tuck the ball into a gaping goal. He really is a marvel. I just can't wait to see him action again. Welcome back my friend, welcome back.

Barcelona as many know, won their match against Getafe 2-1 at the Camp Nou so Madrid's win meant nothing more than keeping pace with their rivals who sit 5 points prettier than us at the moment. What fascinates me about the Barca match is that they had two central defenders in Pique and Marquez (who was sent off with a minute or two to spare. So it's not like they were playing with 9 men all match) sent off. That will surely put a dent in their back line as they travel to the capital city to take on our cross town rivals next week. You can never depend on Atletico for anything but if they can at least make a draw out of the meeting, it will be appreciated without a thank you. Whereas we will have to take on relegation struggles, Xerez away. That should be an unquestionable 3 points, but we might look to rest players with Lyon away looming that Tuesday afterwards.

So Espanyol was successful battle. Fun to watch. Even at the end of the game it looked like some of our technically gifted players were trying to put on a little circus act for the fans. Three points, well earned. No bad performances but there is always room for improvement. Well done. Hala Madrid.

Bobby