Real Madrid Vs Racing Santander | La Liga Preview
Friday, 06 February 09, 05:02 AM · Comments (11)
Rau'l: one more goal to become Real's all time top-goal-scorer
Real Madrid Vs Racing Santander - La Liga Round 22 | 07/02/2009 - 20:00 CET | Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid.
What is interesting is that since Ramos took over as our head coach, we haven't had many injuries (touch wood!) and this supports the notion that Schuster and his physical trainer, were, somehow, doing something shady.
We've pretty much recovered most of our injured players save for those who have long-term injuries (De La Red, Diarra and Van Nistelrooy) and this has improved our performances tremendously.
The good news today is that Arjen Robben started to train with the team normally as he seemingly recovered from the flu. In the last couple of days he had to stay home or just workout in the gym, however, the Dutch winger is reportedly fit and should be able to play tomorrow.
Racing Santander
Racing is a team that I respect a lot. They have also proved to be a difficult opponent, but we have always had the edge. This time they visit us hoping to snatch at least a draw in order to keep their hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Cup alive as they stumbled against Barcelona last weekend.
They currently sit tenth on the table with 28 points. A win wouldn't magically guarantee them them a place in the UEFA but would push them to the ninth or eighth place if At.Bilbao and Malaga failed to win their respective matches.
Here are their recent results:
Recent Matches
- Feb 1 Racing 1-2 Barcelona
- Jan 25 Sevilla 0-2 Racing
- Jan 18 Getafe 0-1 Racing
- Jan 14 Valencia 3-1 Racing
- Jan 11 Racing 1-1 Recreativo
- Jan 7 Racing 1- Valencia
- Jan 4 Real Valladolid 0-1 Racing
As you can see, they beat good teams like Sevilla and Getafe and managed to draw Valencia and Recreativo. Their away record is much more better than their home's and so we have to take notice.
Their top-goal-scorer is Congo striker Mohammed Tchité who has seven goals. They also have Jonathan Pereira and Nikola Zigic.
Those folks seem to be good, but I'm confident that Pepe and Cannavaro can handle them pretty well.
I hope that Racing will play an open game so we can exploit the gaps they'll leave -- and Robben will have more space on the wing. They know that they have to keep not an eye but a dozen of eyes (I'm ruining English here) on the fastest player in La Liga (figures speak for themselves for those who say it is Messi).
Real Madrid
We saw our seventh straight win against Numancia last weekend.
Although it wasn't a phenomenal performance, it was a good one that was highly-conditioned by the type of the fixture. There is always a different atmosphere at the Bernabeu and so the same performance that was given against Numancia shouldn't be repeated tomorrow, not that it was bad, but a home match should be more entertaining.
Having said that, I thing the most important thing is to win no matter how. It is all about the three points at this stage in the season.
As we saw in our recent matches, Ramos hasn't made any changes to his lineup due to no much injuries and due to his disbelief in the rotation system. Like it or not, he has brought results, and I think he'll continue to use the same lineup.
As I mentioned earlier, Robben is back at training and should be able to play. Saviola, Drenthe and Marcelo might or might not be called up. Guti and Metzelder are still recovering from their respective injuries but reports say that Guti will be fit for the Sporting Gijon fixture, while new signing Julien Faubert could make his debut tomorrow.
EDIT: I forgot to mention that Gago is suspended for this game. Thanks to Helmet_09 for reminding me.
UPDATE: Squad list has been announced. Drenthe, Codina, Marcelo, Parejo and Salgado have been left-out.
Goalkeepers
Casillas, Dudek
Defenders
Pepe, Ramos, Cannavaro, Heinze, Torres
Midfielders
Lass, Sneijder, Robben, Faubert, Van der Vaart, Javi Garcia
Forwards
Raul, Saviola, Higuain, Huntelaar
Casillas
Ramos Pepe Cannavaro Heinze
Lass
Javi Garcia/Sneijder
Robben Faubert/VDV
Higuain Rau'l
Prediction
I have never been good at predictions but I'll keep making them. It is a good feeling that comes after you've had an accurate prediction -- it illustrates how much you know football -- more than Pele and Maradona.. and .....
Okay, I'll shut up.
I'm gonna predict a 3-0 win with one from Rau'l so Di Stefano says his will, another from Robben so more hair grows in his head and the last one from Huntelaar so Ramos starts him in the game after.
When I shut up -- it is your turn to talk -- so what are your thoughts, prediction and lineup?
Hala Madrid!
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11 Madridistas have commented on "Real Madrid Vs Racing Santander | La Liga Preview" · Add yours
With Faubert maybe Juande will play him in Sneijder's position and play Huntelaar from the beginning instead of Higuain. I thought Gago was suspended for this game? Am I correct? Assuming that Gago will sit this one out here is my line up,
-------------Casillas------------
-Ramos--Pepe---Cannavaro--Heinze-
-------------Lass----------------
--Robben------VDV-------Faubert--
-------Raul------Huntelaar-------
We need to give Van Der Vaart and Huntelaar and start.
Reply to helmet_09:
Yes, Gago is suspended for the game. I totally forgot about that.
Its a very funny post Adam
,anyway.... 
,i think its better for Ramos to play Huntelaar from the beginning instead of Higuain,i told you all that Higuain is a low class striker,Raul was 4 goals behind him and now he reached his 12 goals,we have to sell him next summer and buy Benzema,Marcelo is having mistreatment from Madrid just like Robinho in the old days,he is better than Heinze and even younger,Real Madrid have to put this on mind that Heinze will last only for a couple of years but Marcelo is only 20 years old,he will be a big star someday 
tomorrow's match is going to be an easy one,we will miss Gago in midfield because of that Red Card he took in Numancia's match but Lass will do his job well i hope,Robben will be outsanding again,he will mess around with Racing's defence,God help the one who's marking Robben
I will predict a 5-0 win,Raul 1,Huntelaar 1 and Robben a HAT-TRICK
HALA MADRID!
Reply to helmet_09:
I've just updated the post.
Juande could start with Garcia in Gago's place if he wants to have two central midfielders, another option is to keep Sneijder just behind the strikers (his favorite position) with Robben and Faubert/VDV on the wings:
Casillas
Ramos Pepe Cannavaro Heinze
Lass
Javi Garcia/Sneijder
Robben Faubert/VDV
Higuain Rau'l
Reply to MadridistAli:
LOL
Adam .. on you squad list there is 17 players there has been a late addition and it is Marcelo making him the 18th players
CASILLAS
RAMOS PEPE CANNAVARO HEINZE
LASS
ROBBEN VDV HIGUAIN
RAUL HUNTELAAR
I HOPE HE DOES NOT PLAY SNEIJDER. I THINK THAT NUMBER 10 IN THE BACK OF HIS SHIRT IS TO BIG FOR HIM.
Here is my take on the lineup we should play.. Last season was barcelona when we beat them 4-1 we played with 4 in the back and 2 holding midfielders and guti and sneijder in the center mid and robben supporting up to raul.. and in that game everyone was effective and we had control of the ball alot more with one extra midfielder and 1 striker.. our best lineup i think would be.. iker,ramos,pepe,cannavaro,heinze,lass,gago,sneijder,VDV or Guti, Robben and Raul
also i would like to add that since we play with 2 holding midfielders we should play Marcelo at left back more and heres why.. even though he likes to go up alot we are playing with 2 holding midfielders and they are good cover and Marcelo is a fast player who does good with speedy wingers and he can keep up with them better than heinze can because of his quickness..
This should be a tough game. That's why i'm not going to expect a big win as Racing are not that type of team. Racing have a really good defence but if they leave the gaps open while trying to attack, I think we can capitalise. I'm going to go with a 2-0, goals from Raul and Sneijder. Hala Madrid!
I predict a 3-2 victory
---------------Casillas
Ramos---Cannavaro--------Pepe----Heinze
-------Lass-------------Garcia
Faubert------Sneijder----------Robben
---------------Raul