With an improved performance from both the team and captain Rau'l, Real Madrid qualified for the next round of the Champions League as they beat BATE Borisov 1-0 thanks to a goal from the captain in the seventh minute.

Bernd Schuster started with Casillas in goal, Torres, Pepe, Ramos and Heinze in defense, Guti, Gago, Sneijder in midfield, while Drenthe, Rau'l and Saviola all started in attack.

The German used a 4-3-3 formation which I didn't like at all (Helmet_o9, one of my readers had a funny feeling before the match that Schuster would use that formation and it turned out to be true).

If I were the coach, I would play with only two strikers in attack unless I had Villa, Ruud and Ibrahimovic all on the same team. Additionally, playing with 4-3-3 requires a strong midfield with an exceptional defensive midfielder (wish we have but injured - Diarra) and a very talented attacking midfielder to feed the three strikers.

Anyway, it was good for the German that Sneijder was fit and able to start. He really played exceptionally well and was probably the man of the match after Rau'l. 

BATE Borisov VS Real Madrid | Champions League| 25/11/2008 - 20:45 CET |  Horodskiy Stadium

 

Yeah Bernd, Interaction and Communication is Vital

Sometimes I wonder if Real shouldn't be criticized for not performing well and winning when many key players are injured. I think that a big club like Real Madrid needs to have a full squad in which each player is capable of being a starter, a player you can count on and a player that ACTUALLY helps (unlike Heinze).

Looking at the names we have, you just can't believe that we lost to a second division team like Real Union or struggled against a small time like Huelva. It is sometimes very confusing. Is it the coach? The management or the players themselves.

Our bench is being warmed by Dudek, Salgado, Saviola, Metzelder, Van Der Vaart...etc players that other teams, even big teams desire to sign. Maybe the key is communication between the coach and the players. I bet that Schuster doesn't communicate with Saviola or even most of his starters.

Even during matches, he just warms the bench and keeps observing the match without any reactions. He would sometimes jump up with happiness when a player scores and saves his ass, other than that, he wouldn't stand up and instruct the players as most coaches who have commons sense do.

Anyway, this game is going to be a difficult one. Not because we are on the skids, but because Higuain, our top goal scorer is not going to play. He sprained his ankle against Huelva and therefore will be staying in Madrid. However, Wesley Sneijder will be able to play despite straining a triceps against Huelva as well (what a match!).

Champions League grp. H

17 Sep 08 - 20:45 CET

Real Madrid - BATE Borisov

The Champions League is back! The trophy we all desire, the trophy that we have won 9 times - that we have won more than any club on earth, but will this year be our tenth's cub? Well, it is too early to say, but if there is one thing obvious then it is that we need to win every single match no matter who we are playing.

Thats being said, the Champions League is the toughest club-level championship in the world. Europe's best teams...

The draw for the 2008-09 UEFA Champions League Group Stage took place today in Monaco and the Whites will play Italian giants Juventus, Zenit and Bate Borsiv. It doesn't look that scary, so I think we should be able to qualify pretty easily.

GROUP H

Real Madrid

Juventus