La Liga: Real Madrid - Real Zaragoza | Madrid's Kick-off of 2008

(I love the above photo so much :cool: )

Real Madrid take on Real Zaragoza tomorrow at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. Bernd Schuster will miss the services of several key players, including Pepe, Soldado, Salgado, Balboa, Drenthe, Codina, and Metzelder.

Real Madrid - Real Zaragoza
La Liga - 06/01/2008 - 19:00 CET | Santiago Bernabeu Stadium

Squad List:
Goalkeepers: Casillas and Dudek.
Defenders: Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo, Heinze, and Torres.
Midfielders: Diarra, Guti, Gago, Baptista, Sneijder, and Robben.
Forwards: Higuaín, Saviola, Robinho, Van Nistelrooy, and Raúl.
Not called up: Codina, Salgado, Pepe, Soldado, Drenthe, Metzelder, and Balboa.

Schuster's pre-match statements:
How do you feel about the Appeals Committee rescinding Diego Milito's red card?

It's quite a surprise, but anything is possible.

It's not my problem. Zaragoza's work paid off.

I always behave well. I'm a good kid, but Germans celebrate and give gifts on December 24th so that we can have more time to play with all our toys before going back to school. Therefore, I've already received my presents, as well as that one you guys gave me before we traveled to Barcelona. We've got almost everything. There's nothing left to ask for. I hope we play well tomorrow. Honestly, I'm over the holiday season.

Pepe is doing well. He trained with the team, but it isn't enough. It's too risky. I would rather have him in perfect shape for Mallorca. He had a fever over the break and was suffering from a knock from the Barcelona match. He's healthy again, but we don't want to push it against Zaragoza. Heinze, on the other hand, is ready to play tomorrow.

Nothing will be decided no matter what happens. It's still the first half of the season. I'm only concerned about my team, not about Barcelona. We have to start where we finished last year: winning matches and remaining strong in the Bernabéu, where we haven't lost one point. That's our goal. Barcelona have always done well in Mallorca.

One of them. They have proved it despite not having the season we all expected of them. Their attack has been their saving grace so far. They can score and they are very mobile. We have to keep a close eye on them. In regard to Milito, I'm glad he can play. We like to see players like him on the pitch.

I don't think we are overjoyed. We are just pleased with the work we have done. We like to be praised every so often, but we have to remember that we haven't accomplished anything yet. Tomorrow we have to reaffirm the great result we obtained in Barcelona.
portmanteau

Hala Madrid!