REAL MALLORCA
VS
REAL MADRID
Ono Estadi, Mallorca
30 August 2010, 12.30 AM IST
It’s the start of the new La Liga season for all the clubs and the opening fixture for Real Madrid is a tricky trip to Ono Estadi to face Mallorca. Like the recently concluded UCL draw told us the story of what might be the hoopla for Real Madrid this season, the game against Mallorca is going to emphasize that point. Jose Mourinho has only had at most a month to train with all his players. But that shouldn’t be an excuse for Real Madrid and they should be looking to start off the campaign with a win at Mallorca. An undefeated preseason should give them an impetus to carry on that impressive run.
Group of players who can win it all.
Mallorca have had a tragic preseason with news of exclusion from the Europa League hitting them hard. Los Barralets’ financial despairs continue but Coach Michel Laudrup will be looking to positively kick off his team’s La Liga season against the Madrid giants. If Mallorca can take an encouraging result from this game, they should be able to endure on that for the next few weeks, as they have easier fixtures coming up.
Mourinho’s own woes
Jose Mourinho has a lot of his players battling to be fit for tomorrow’s game against Mallorca. The defence looks paper thin as Garay, Albiol, Pepe are all out of this clash nurturing various injuries. Real, having lost Metzelder in the summer and has very few center backs to cover up for the injured three. Mourinho will be using Ramos as a center back along with Carvalho with Marcelo and Arbeloa getting the nod to bomb forward on the wings.
Laudrup’s boys ready to roar
Mourinho’s counterpart Laudrup will have an almost full squad to stop the Galacticos early on. He will be looking to use his decisive players De Guzman, Diaz, Castro and Webo. Central defender Ivan Ramis is going to miss the clash after picking up a knock in a friendly game and will be replaced by Gonzalez in the heart of the defence.
Possible starting lineups
Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa-Ramos-Carvalho-Marcelo, Alonso-Khedira, Di Maria-Ozil-Ronaldo, Higuain
Real Mallorca: Aoute, Corrales- Nunes- Gonzalez- Ayoze, Diaz- De Guzman, Marti-Castro, Webo-Nsue
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THT’s PLAYER TO WATCH OUT FOR
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid): Ronaldo tortured Mallorca defence last season with a dazzling performance by scoring his first hattrick wearing the white shirt for Real Madrid.
Ronaldo will be all guns blazing tomorrow.
He’ll be all up for a repeat of that performance. Watch out for Ronaldo to score a couple of goals in this game and make an avowal early on for the Pichichi trophy.
THT’s PREDICTION
Real Mallorca 1-3 Real Madrid: Los Blancos should be able to handle Mallorca and collect all the three points at Ono Estadi but might concede a goal in the process as their defence looks a little shrill.
THT’s BLAST FROM THE PAST
