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Real Madrid VS FC Zenit | Champions League Preview

Tuesday, 09 December 08, 04:25 AM · Comments (22)

Real Madrid VS FC Zenit - Champions League Group H | 10/12/2008 - 20:45 CET | Santiago Bernabeu

Real Madrid take on FC Zenit tomorrow night at the Santiago Bernabeu hoping to improve before playing Barcelona next weekend at the Cam Nou.

As far as injuries are concerned, Diarra will be out for six-to-nine months after having a surgery on his knee. This obviously means he is out for the season and so we need to forget him and figure things out.

Drenthe left training today because he felt some pain in his right knee. It doesn't look to be serious though and so I think he is gonna make it. Meanwhile, Sneijder is making a good progress and there is a chance he'll recover for the Barcelona match.

There isn't any news about Heinze, Pepe or Torres but the Argentinian defender could make it before the Clasico as well.

We beat FC Zenit 2-0 in the first leg there in Russia. It was a difficult game and we won it thanks to our effectiveness in front of goal.

We have already guaranteed a place in the next stage of the tournament but a win against Zenit and a defeat for Juventus will put us as the group leaders so we'd theoretically avoid strong teams in the knock-out stage (well, it doesn't always work like this).

Lineup

I have a feeling that Schuster will experiment with a different defense to the one we had against Sevilla. I think he'll give Metz a start with Cannavaro in the center of defense and Ramos on the right plus Marcelo on the left.

In the midfield, Gago and Guti will certainly start with Robben on the right and Drenthe on the left. Upfront, either Higuain or Rau'l would be rested for the Clasico and so Saviola would start.

4-4-2

Casillas

Ramos Metz Cannavaro Marcelo

Gago Guti

Robben Drenthe

Higuain/Rau'l Saviola

It doesn't look like that Real are going to appeal Robben's red card and so his performance in this match won't mean anything for us in the league because he'll miss the Clasico. It is a shame because he is truly our most dangerous player.

Prediction

Ahead of the Clasico, I expect the team to revive and start playing as they did in the second half against Sevilla. However, comments like the ones Schuster made don't help - they actually make you feel that you are down in the dumps.

Hopefully, they haven't effected anyone and the team is in a winning mentality. For this game, I'm gonna predict a 2-0 win - whoever scores.

What do you think?

Hala Madrid!

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Tags: La Liga 08/09, Real Madrid, Zenit Petersburg, Transfer Rumours, Real Madrid News, Real Madrid opinion, Real Madrid Talk, Madridistas, Real Madrid CF supporters, Real Madrid forums

Topics: La Liga 08/09, Real Madrid, Zenit Petersburg
Live report for: Real Madrid vs Zenit Petersburg

Posted by Adam Bader | 22 Madridstas said something

22 Madridistas have commented on "Real Madrid VS FC Zenit | Champions League Preview" · Add yours

1. madridtrini4 Wrote: | 12.00GMT | Dec 9, 2008

i think madrid are definately winning this match.. higuain will score 2, robben will score another.. madrid will look to get themselves hyped up for el clasico, and will want to do this infront of their home fans, to make up for the disappoinment over the weekend.. there are rumors that schuster is gonna be sacked and his replacement is juande ramos... what do you think of this?

2. Madridista Wrote: | 12.48GMT | Dec 9, 2008

CONFIRMED: SHUSTER HAS BEEN SACKED! JUANDE RAMOS IS THE NEW COACH!

3. Rireal Wrote: | 12.51GMT | Dec 9, 2008

i think that it will be very difficoult game because of the preasure that is on Real at this moment, but if midfield does the job well then the victory will be hours. i like your line up in 4 4 2 formation but i would rather see Drenthe on the right and Robben on the left wing.

4. Rireal Wrote: | 12.55GMT | Dec 9, 2008

houpfuly Ramos will do a better job in Real than in Tottenham. Wish him the best...

5. Rireal Wrote: | 13.04GMT | Dec 9, 2008

I have just read the news that Man.city have oferd 69 mil.euros to Valencia for Villa. His weekly wage would be of around 170 00 euros. Now it will be even more dificoult for Real to bring him when rich owners of Man.city are in the game...

6. pablo Wrote: | 13.25GMT | Dec 9, 2008

the team needed this .....we needed a new system ,that defence wasn't getting any better ....i jus hope the new coach will give everyone an equal chance and get rid of all those mediocre player in the team

7. fofos Wrote: | 13.39GMT | Dec 9, 2008

Are we serious?? I thought it was a rumor but did Real actually signed Ramos??? Why?? Look at what he did to Spurs...Oh god...He destroys goalkeepers and he is as lighthearted as Schuster.
Why doesnt Real go for top coaches. Mancini would have been a much better option.

8. madridtrini4 Wrote: | 15.29GMT | Dec 9, 2008

lets just hope he brings in some good reinforcements during the winter break... dos santos anyone? lennon? aimar?

9. helmet_09 Wrote: | 19.27GMT | Dec 9, 2008

Ramos will have to sort out the defense. Sergio can not play another game in the center. He had a really bad last game and he needs to be played in his prefered role. Metz and Cannavaro have to play in the center and Marcelo in left back. Gago and Guti in the middle and Robben and VDV on the wings. In front Raul/Bueno and Saviola. It would be interesting to see if madrid can manage a victory. I think it would be a good morale booster before the Barcelona game.

10. Adambader Wrote: | 21.02GMT | Dec 9, 2008

It will be interesting to see how Ramos make Real play.

11. Adambader Wrote: | 21.02GMT | Dec 9, 2008

Squad List:
Your contract is for six months and an option for another season.
I have had short contracts of a year with most of the clubs I have worked for. I like for those who I work with to be pleased with we and vice versa. I don't understand why it should be a long-term deal with some parties not pleased with others. It's six months long because we are half-way through the season. It would have been a year had it been the beginning. If we earn the extension and we are happy, we will continue next season. If not, the two parties are free ti split ways. I am coming in with Marcos Álvarez, who has been with me at every club I have coach for. He is my right hand man.

12. TheAngelOfMadrid Wrote: | 13.32GMT | Dec 10, 2008

What a game it shall be. Personally, I love Ramos and he's a team-changing manager but he's come at a very wrong point in our season. Though he has much more power than Schuster did and I hope he makes use of it. It's his fist test and I think he's going to use it well. If we play anything like we did in the second half against Sevilla then Zenit will be crying for a long time. I say the players will give it their all. 3-0 to us thanks to a double by Robben and a long range goal by VDV. I don't think we'll concede any if Gago can just fill those gaps like Diarra and De la Red do. Hala Madrid!

13. TheAngelOfMadrid Wrote: | 13.33GMT | Dec 10, 2008

Reply to helmet_09:

Ramos will have to sort out the defense. Sergio can not play another game in the center. He had a really bad last game and he needs to be played in his prefered role. Metz and Cannavaro have to play in the center and Marcelo in left back. Gago and Guti in the middle and Robben and VDV on the wings....

Why in heaven would you leave out Higuain, he's our top-scorer and he looks Raul look like shit.

14. helmet_09 Wrote: | 17.41GMT | Dec 10, 2008

Reply to TheAngelOfMadrid:

Reply to helmet_09:
Ramos will have to sort out the defense. Sergio can not play another game in the center. He had a really bad last game and he needs to be played in his prefered role. Metz and Cannavaro have to play in the center and Marcelo in left back. Gago and Guti in the middle and Robben and VDV on the wings....
Why in heaven would you leave out Higuain, he's our top-scorer and he looks Raul look like shit.

Save him for the Barcelona Game.

15. MadridistAli Wrote: | 18.39GMT | Dec 10, 2008

i just want to remind you Adam that we won 2-1 against Zenit in the 1st leg not 2-0

16. helmet_09 Wrote: | 19.41GMT | Dec 10, 2008

Starters:
Dudek
Michel Salgado
Ramos
Cannavaro
Marcelo
Gago
Guti
Van der Vaart
Robben
Raul
Higuain

Bench:
Casillas
Saviola
Drenthe
Metzelder
Javi Garcia
Bueno
Anton

17. Adambader Wrote: | 20.13GMT | Dec 10, 2008

Watch the match live:
LINK

Real are winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Rau'l.

18. helmet_09 Wrote: | 20.23GMT | Dec 10, 2008

Reply to Adambader:

Watch the match live:
LINK

Real are winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Rau'l.

That goal ties him with Pipo Ingzaghi as top scorer in all UEFA competitions 65 goals.

19. Adambader Wrote: | 21.08GMT | Dec 10, 2008

Reply to helmet_09:

Reply to Adambader:
Watch the match live:
LINK

Real are winning 1-0 thanks to a goal from Rau'l.
That goal ties him with Pipo Ingzaghi as top scorer in all UEFA competitions 65 goals.

He scored another one

20. Adambader Wrote: | 21.08GMT | Dec 10, 2008

3-0. Robben scored as well.

21. helmet_09 Wrote: | 21.22GMT | Dec 10, 2008

Raul is now the all time scorer is all UEFA competitions 56 Goals. Congrats to the captain.

22. redsNblues Wrote: | 21.32GMT | Dec 10, 2008

helloooooooooooooo juandee that is pure beautiful football raul is on fire and robben is justifying why did we sell robinho .... THIS IS AMAZING AM FINALLY HAPPY