REAL MADRID
v
MALAGA
Estadio Santiago BernabAi??u, Madrid
March 19, 2012; 0200 IST
.
***
After dispatching CSKA Moscow and making it to the quarterfinals, in which they will face APOEL FC, Real Madrid now have to travel toAi??MA?laga to take on Manuel Pellegriniai??i??s men. JosAi?? Mourinho will be happy with his teamai??i??s current position in La Liga but will be wary of the performance his men put up against Real Betis. Even against CSKA, Real did not dominate the match and also had to endure nervous moments in the final minutes.
Manuel Pellegrini, on the other hand, will be pretty pleased with the fantastic run of form of his team. After starting the season in a not-so-promising manner after bank-rolled by the Qataris, the Chilean seems to have finally got his team to respond to his tactics. MA?laga have now won their last three matches and look strong contenders for the last Championsai??i?? League spot.
Last time, both these sides met in the league, Real Madrid brushed aside their Andalusian opponents 4-0 with a fantastic hat trick from the Portuguese superstar, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Team News and Tactical Brief
Real Madrid
Real Madrid’s defense has been a bit shaky in recent encounters. They do not have same invincible aura they had earlier in the campaign. It could very well be the fatigue setting in but the players know that this phase of the season is a very crucial one. Mourinho may not tinker much with his defense and go with his usual defensive line-up of Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos and Marcelo.
With the situation of Sahin still unclear and Khedira bossing the midfield alongside Xabi Alonso, Mourinho has no reason to try a different combination in central midfield in this important clash. Di Maria is still out with an injury which means that Ozil will take his place on the right. Kaka will take centre stage as the primary playmaker with Ronaldo and Benzema ahead of him.
Malaga have been in superb form lately and it will be very difficult to control the tempo of the game for Real Madrid with players like Cazorla, Isco and Joaquin in their opposition ranks.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1) : Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Khedira, Alonso; Ozil, Kaka, Ronaldo; Benzema
MA?laga
After enduring a tough beginning the Andalucians seem to be on track. Their target of reaching the Champions’ League spot this year looks probable. But, they will face stuff resistance from Athletic Bilbao and Levante for that spot.
Pellegrini was already without Baptista and the recent injury to Toulalan has made matters worse for the Chilean. Toulalan was the star in the centre of midfield, and the engine of the team. Because of this, Pellegrini may field Cazorla with Recio beside him to try to control the tempo of the match or atleast disallow Alonso to takeover.
Isco will start as the primary play-maker and will be flanked by Joaquin and Eliseu and the attack will be lead by Rondon. Isco is another addition to the glorious generation of midfielders Spain is banking on. He is just 20 years old and is already ranked alongside Alcantara, Canales and Herrera.
Probable Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Caballero; Gamez, Demichelis, Weligton, Monreal; Cazorla, Recio; Joaquin, Isco, Eliseu; Rondon
TheHardTackle’s Player to Watch Out For
Xabi Alonso ( Real Madrid) and Santi Cazorla ( Malaga)
Real Madrid and Malaga are both very strong sides with a great set of players with excellent vision on the ball. Needless to say, Alonso and Cazorla are the players through which most of the attacks get initiated. It will be an interesting battle between the two Spaniards at the centre of the park.
TheHardTackle’s Prediction
Real Madrid 3 – 1 MA?laga
MA?laga have been really good in the past few weeks while Real Madrid have not been at their brutal best but Mourinho’s men have pushed themselves to produce positive results. The Andalucians will be tough opponents but Real Madrid may clinch this contest.
TheHardTackle’s Blast From The Past
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