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La Liga Preview: Real Madrid – Racing Santander

Real Madrid return to Liga action by facing Racing Santander on Saturday evening…

Nov 20, 2009 7:15:04 PM

Atletico de Madrid, Real Madrid (Getty Images)

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Atletico de Madrid, Real Madrid (Getty Images)

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Kick-off: Saturday, November 21, 2009, 20:00 CET – Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid, Spain

Atoning For Alcorcon

Having been humiliatingly eliminated from the Copa del Rey by Segunda B side Alcorcon, Real Madrid desperately needed the international break to help disperse the fan anger.

Now, having fortuitously waited out the storm, Manuel Pellegrini’s men have just two trophies for which to contend and, having spent €254 million to bring over world-class talent, if Madrid fail to live up to expectations in these two competitions, the club culling could go much higher up than the Chilean coach—after all, the longer Florentino, Valdano, Pardeza and company stick with Pellegrini, the more likely they will be to share his fate (both favourable and unfavourable).

During the international break, the media lost wind of the Alcorcon debacle, instead focusing on Raul’s extended time on the bench, the possibility of winter signings, and the imminent return of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese maestro will not be available for this weekend’s match against Racing, but began full training on Friday and should make his return next week in Wednesday’s Champions League match against FC Zurich ahead of next weekend’s El Clasico against Barcelona.

Trailing Barcelona by just one point a match ahead of El Clasico, things are not looking all too bad for Los Blancos and this weekend’s encounter against Racing will be an opportunity to showcase the kind of play that won Madridista hearts against Getafe, Milan, and Atletico Madrid.

Ahead of next week’s Champions League match and El Clasico, Pellegrini will be looking to have his men turn the corner and hit their operatic high notes; it will take nothing short of a five-star performance for the Bernabeu to chant ‘Ole’.

Racing To Nowhere

Just one spot out of the relegation zone in 17th place, Racing Santander's leadership had grown impatient with a side that has not lived up to expectations and just as the international break began, coach Juan Carlos Mandia found himself out of a job.

Into the managerial position comes former Real Madrid player, youth team coach, and club official Miguel Angel Portugal with the hope of reversing Racing’s meagre fortunes by taking points away from the Santiago Bernabeu. Portugal’s return to Madrid makes for an interesting storyline before Saturday’s match, as it was not too long ago that the Spaniard was on the shortlist for the Real Madrid coaching position (Ramon Calderon preferred Juande Ramos for the job instead).

Ahead of the encounter against Real Madrid, Portugal has stated that his side can beat Los Blancos and there is no doubt that Racing’s players will have a new wind of motivation ahead of the weekend’s match with the hope of giving their new coach a win against his old side.

FORM GUIDE

Real Madrid

November 10 v Alcorcon (H) WON 1-0 (Copa del Rey)

November 07 v Atletico Madrid (A) WON 3-2 (Liga)

November 3 v AC Milan (A) DREW 1-1 (Champions League)

October 31 v Getafe (H) WON 2-0 (Liga)

October 27 v Alcorcon (A) LOST 4-0 (Copa del Rey)

Racing Santander

November 11 v Salamanca (H) WON 4-1 (Copa del Rey)

November 08 v Athletic Bilbao (H) LOST 2-0 (Liga)

November 01 v Mallorca (A) LOST 1-0 (Liga)

October 29 v Salamanca (A) LOST 1-0 (Copa del Rey)

October 25 v Osasuna (H) DREW 1-1 (Liga)

TEAM NEWS

Real Madrid

Along with Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence, Guti, Lass and Van Nistelrooy are all out with injuries. After being excluded from the squad for four consecutive matches, the Spaniard has proven himself to Pellegrini, but has come down with a knock in training; the Frenchman picked up a minor injury in his time with the national team; and the Dutchman picked up an injury after colliding with Higuain in training.

Despite a knee injury scare in the closing minutes of the Austria-Spain match, Raul Albiol has been included in the squad list, but it is unlikely that he should start the match and Ezequiel Garay will likely face his former team in the centre of defence. Sergio Ramos is also unavailable for the match, serving out a red-card suspension picked up in the Madrid derby.

Probable Starting XI (4-2-2-2): Casillas – Arbeloa, Pepe, Garay, Marcelo – Diarra, Gago – Granero, Kaka – Higuain, Benzema

Racing Santander

In Miguel Angel Portugal’s first squad list, the notable absences are Crespo and Manuel Arana, the latter who was a starter under Juan Carlos Mandia. The new coach will have but one training session to decide his starting eleven and could field some interesting surprises with the hope of catching Manuel Pellegrini off-guard.

Probable Starting XI (4-4-2): Tono – Pinillos, Henrique, Torrejon, Cristian – Munitis, Colsa, Lacen, Serrano – Tchite, Luis Garcia

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Real Madrid – Kaka

The Brazilian is beginning to show flashes of his former Milan self and will look to hit higher form in the Liga match ahead of El Clasico.

Racing Santander – Munitis

With a new coach, Munitis will have to exercise his captaining duties more than usual in order to help organize his side on the pitch. The savvy veteran will look to lead by example on the pitch.

PREDICTION

It is difficult to see Madrid stumbling before their crucial Champions League match and El Clasico. Miguel Angel Portugal’s side should show some fight, but will ultimately fall to the Spanish giants.

Real Madrid 3 - 1 Racing Santander

Cyrus C. Malek, Goal.com

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