Real Madrid Vs Osasuna | La Liga Preview
Saturday, 17 January 09, 08:07 AM · Comments (26)
Real Madrid Vs Osasuna - La Liga | 18/01/2009 - 17:00 CET | Santiago Bernabéu
One of questions that I keep asking now is will the resignation of Ramon Calderon have an effect on the team's performances? Normally, such a change in the club won't have short-term effects because the coach, the players and the staff are still the same, but there might be some long-term ones. However, since we are not there, we can't certainly know what's really going on in the dressing room.
Tomorrow's match will be ab an excellent opportunity for Juande Ramos' men to continue their impressive form and reduce the gap with league leaders Barcelona.
Real have won three consecutive games with three clean-sheets, something which under the era of Bernd Schuster seemed very difficult.
Injuries, oh injuries, we just can't seem to get rid of them. The new additions to the sickbay are Guti, Dudek and Parajeo. The second captain has suffered a grade two muscle tear in his left calf and he will now be sidelined for up to a month, while the Polish will be out for three weeks. Parajeo, who returned to the club this January, is still recovering from his injury.
Lineup
The squad list has been announced and it excludes: Torres, Salgado, Saviola and Drenthe for technical decisions. However, there is some good news for Marcelo's fans, as the Brazilian left-back is back on the squad after being left out in the last few games.
- Goalkeepers
- Casillas, Codina
- Defenders
- Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Cannavaro, Marcelo, Heinze & Metzelder
- Midfielders
- Lass, Gago, Senijder, Robben, Van der Vaart, Javi García & Palanca
- Strikers
- Raúl, Higuaín & Huntelaar
Lineup
I don't think that Juande will alter his starting lineup that much and will continue depending on the same defense.
Having Sergio Ramos on the right is much more better for us as this way he can go forward and contribute to our attacking efforts.
Pepe and Cannavaro are most likely to start in the center, although the Spanish coach might give Metzelder the start instead of Pepe.
On the left, I'd love Marcelo to play, but I think Ramos will favorite Heinze.
In midfield, three players will certainly start: Gago, Lass and Robben. Those three have become very essential to us -- Gago for his improved performances, Lass for having the qualities that we have missed since Diarra's injury, and Robben for his magical and phenomenal performances.
Personally, I'd start Van der vaart over Sneijder, to give the ex-Hamburg playmaker a moral boost and let him shine again. He has really been over-looked and if this keeps going on, I wouldn't be surprised if he decided to leave.
Upfront, for my curiosity, I'd like both Higuain and Huntelaar to start, mainly to observe how they'll initially partner up and what kind of results they would produce. However, since that captain Rau'l is just two goals away from making history, it is not the appropriate time for my wish to come true.
4-4-2
Casillas
Ramos --- Pepe ---- Cannavaro ---- Heinze
Lass ----- Gago
Robben
VDV
Rau'l ------ Higuain
Prediction
Although Osasuna are going through a bad spell at the moment, they are still a dangerous team and they already proved that against Barcelona, that hadn't Messi been so freaking talented, Barca would have lost. So, I don't think it is going to be easy, but heck, we will win, coz we have Robbbbbben! CHO CHA CHO... ROBBBBEN!! As the Chinese commenter hailed the other day!
3-1: Robben, Huntelaar (2)
What's your lineup, prediction and thoughts?
Hala Madrid!
UPDATE: Juande Ramo's press conference
How has the week affected the players?
I think the team worked well, but there was a little commotion, but it was expected. We hope to have a lot of fan support and to give them a victory. It would be a fair reward.
Personally speaking, what were your thoughts on Ramón Calderón's farewell?
His speach said it all. He was really hurt because he is a Madridista and many things were said. I'm not going to judge whether they were true or not, but it's clear he was really hurt by it all.
What effect does everything that took place have on a coach?
We are professionals and we have to work every day. There is a new president, but we all have the same goals. All that will calm this situation are good results. We hope that's the case.
Do you think fans will soon forget about all that took place?
I am convinced that all that Madridistas want is to see their team win. We want to give them what they want, and that will bring things back to normal. The team is playing well and victories bring tranquility.
Do you think elections will hurt your chances of staying on as coach?
It's as simple as me being the coach of Real Madrid right now because that's what the president wants. We'll see what happens if their are elections, whether we win a title or not. I will only work somewhere where I am wanted.
How is the winger issue?
Some priorities were taken care of and on the sporting side of things everything has calmed down.
You would prefer that we say this team is more defense-oriented...
The team is perfect. It's the ideal situation. We are scoring and not conceding any goals.
Can Osasuna be more vulnerable because Camacho is a Madridista and he might be affected by everything that has taken place this week?
We are professionals and we defend the team that signs out paychecks. When the match is over, Camacho will continue being a Madridista, but what he really wants is for Osasuna to win.
Did Vicente Boluda express his desire to win titles?
No president can deny the desire to win. He wants to win titles and for us to close in on Barcelona. We all want to win.
Do you think you are the only sensible person in this club?
I am just another employee. I want to be as serious as I can within my duties.
Will Guti's injury benefit Lass in the situation with the Frenchman and Huntelaar?
There is still time and we have to see how things unfold. It will be a last minute decision. Each has his own duties for the team and I will pick the player who the team needs most.
The team was overpowering last week, but Barcelona look invincible.
Barcelona are playing well, but the season is still long. It's hard to maintain such intensity. That's why we have to be prepared. The players are training extremely well and are very focused, and it shows on the field of play.
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26 Madridistas have commented on "Real Madrid Vs Osasuna | La Liga Preview" · Add yours
Raul deserve making his history,he gave a lot for RMADRID.
3-0 Raul(2)Roben
I hope we will win this one with more than 2 goals, I don`t care who will score.
.
But I always wanted to see a goal from Casiilas
Reply to Riken:
Maybe a header or from a penalty. Can you imagine a one-on-one?
I hope to win this one
and I hope a lose for Barcelona that will be a great move for us
The injuries are quite good for us. With Guti out, Lass and VDV get chances and Dudek barely ever plays so Codina can cover him. Parejo is not important either. I really want to see Higuain and Huntelaar on the field together as Raul sometimes can't keep up with the pace of the game. Il Capitano's getting old and I think tommorrow against Osasuna is the best chance to give him some rest. If Huntelaar's not in your XI then how come he'll score two, as a substitute?
Robben will tear throgh the Osasuna defence 
I'm going to make an ambitious prediction, 4-0 from goals from Higuain (2) and one each from Huntelaar and Robben. Hala Madrid! 
I can see that everyone hope to win this match,its not the the time of hoping its the time of DOING!,we have to win so we can catch Barca,but lets put UEFA CL as our top priority,i am very happy about Marcelo making the list again,i am going to predict a 5-0 win Raul (2),Robben (2),Huntelaar (1)
HALA MADRID!
Barca's winning 3-0 ... first half
Barca expected!We will win tommorow!!No problems
about the Real Madrid vs Osasuna maths....I predict a 4-2 win
*match
I have a feeling that he will start Marcelo over Heinze in this game
damn lol the catalans are smoking !!! wow , anyway Cha Cho Chi will do what he does best , robben will do his thing tomorrow and lead us hopefully for another smashing victory ,
looking forward to see out team without guti for a while
Predict a 3 nill victory , and i just hope we see Hunty and Higy playing together for once
Have you people heard about our late bid for Kaka? The article says we're willing to match the oofer but not the wages. I for one am not pleased to hear this as wasting 120m on a player who's no longer at his prime is not right. Besides, we can get Ribery, Benzema and two more World-Clas players for that much and I don't think we're in need of Kaka either. I don't know why these Presidents still believe we want a do-over of the Galactico era, did they not see its conclusion?
Hala Madrid!
Reply to TheAngelOfMadrid:
I just heard about it, too. I don't think Kaka is "no longer in his prime" - he's only 26 after all, so he hasn't had a good year but that's more bad form than being out of it.
But I don't think it will happen. Who's directing this bid? Boluda, because he wants to hold the post come July? Pedja, trying to save his ass before he gets fired in the summer? Juande Ramos - for what? He knows Kaka isn't what we need for 120m right now. Besides, Kaka has already turned down Real Madrid and Chelsea to stick at Milan, and if Real can't match what Man City are offering him (and we SHOULDN'T), he might as well stay at Milan.
Reply to phantompong:
120m euros is certainly a lot of money!
Calm down. Osasuna isn't a wack team, Barcelona needed a lot of time that win them. If Real Madrid will be cocentrated and consistent should be good.
I'm sure that Higuain today scored and may Sneijder.
Real Madrid 2:0 Osasuna. Peace :-)
Kaka is a brilliant player but not worth a 120m euros!!!!!
for this money we could bring Ribery, Benzema and a Quality leftback( Lahm, Chielini)...
Who ever brings those three players will probably buy himself a place as a next director of Real Madrid...
i dont understand why would a club spend a 120m for one player????? where is a sense in this offer???!!
Nowhere :-)
Reply to Rireal:
If you read my comment, I said the same thing my friend
Except I think Kaka's no longer at his prime. He's still one of the best but probability is he will never be as good as he was last year and will not win the Player of the Year again. Hopefully, our next Sporting Director won't be an idiot and will sign those players that we need, not those who are just for the image. That's one of the reasons I don't want Florentino, he doesn't concentrate on the defence and floods the attack with over-priced, not-needed players 
Hala Madrid! 
then we probably think alike my friend...
But i thin he can be as good as he has been last year or maybe even better. Kaka as i remember had a problems with his knee and with Ronaldinho playing in Milan's team he has been shifted in other position. This has all influenced his preformance this year. But nevertheless he is not worth 120m, or any other player... There are other positions in the team that are needed to be covered and Kaka's position is not one of them.
I'm also against Perez coming back, he had his chance and we all now how it turned out.
There is also one thing that interest me and that is a potential signing of Joe Cole... He is a fantastic player and i have read an article saying that his contract is expiring this summer. I don't know if this information is true but if it is then this could be a good chance to sign a fantastic winger...
What do you think about this? Do you know anything about his contract expiring this summer? Is it true???
Reply to Rireal:
I'm not aware of Joe's contract expiry but what I do know is that Ribery is no doubt better and at the moment, he's the one who would be a more realistic target because i'm pretty sure Chelsea will do everything in their power to keep the only real winger they have. 0-1 down at the Bernabeau we are. I think the wrong team's showed up today because we're playing very poorly. I expect a good second-half, hopefully they'll be rejuvinated then. Hala Madrid!
OMG!!!
DID ANYONE ELSE SEE THAT ONE GO IN!!!
Oh yes, Ramos is back
of course we're down....that's what happens when some ppl only show up and score in special games......i am hoping for a win! Huntelaar come on down!!!!!!!!!!!!
1-1 RAMOS SCORES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! come one real!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hala Madrid!