Season Finale: Real Madrid vs Espanyol discussion

by Onyx Fri May 16, 2014 3:49 pm

Season Finale: Real Madrid vs Espanyol discussion 714

Real Madrid vs Espanyol discussion.

Saturday 17th May.

H2H Past 2 League meetings:

Away: 12th January 2014 - Espanyol 0-1 Real Madrid

Away: 11th May 2013 - Espanyol 1-1 Real Madrid

Injuries/Suspensions:

Real Madrid: Diego Lopez, Pepe and Jese.

Espanyol: Lanzarote.

Espanyol last 3 league results:

Espanyol 1-1 Osasuna
Valladolid 1-0 Espanyol
Espanyol 2-1 Almeria

Espanyol Current league position: 12th.

1. Atletico Madrid - 89 points
2. Barcelona - 86 points
3. Real Madrid - 84 points
4. Athletic Bilbao - 69 points
------------------------------------------
12. Espanyol - 42 points

Real Madrid players called up:

Goalkeepers: Casillas, Jesús and Jacob.
Defenders: Varane, Arbeloa, Ramos, Coentrão, Marcelo, Carvajal and Nacho.
Midfielders: Bale, Xabi Alonso, Modric, Casemiro, Di María, Khedira, Isco and Illarra.
Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema and Morata.

Real Madrid predicted lineup:

---------------Casillas
---Arbeloa--Varane---Ramos---Marcelo
--------Khedira--Alonso--Isco
-------Bale---------------Ronaldo
---------------Benzema

Ancelotti pre match:

Carlo Ancelotti spoke with the press ahead of the La Liga fixture with Espanyol. The Italian coach, who confirmed that “Cristiano Ronaldo will play because he is available and doesn't have any problems”, spoke about the last game of the season: “There should be a great atmosphere in order to help the team prepare for the final. We will play with lots of intensity because it is our last match in front of our fans. I expect a very good atmosphere. The fans are going to show their support and love in order to get the team ready for the final. We want to show that we are going to play well and with lots of intensity in the last game of the season”.

“I will announce the team tomorrow. Pepe, Jesé and Diego López are the only players unavailable. We are going to give Khedira a run out because he needs it after being out for a while. He played well in Vigo for an hour and didn't have any problems afterwards. He could be an option for the Champions League final”.

The title-deciding La Liga match
“It will be a tough and interesting match. The best thing would be that the team that wins La Liga is the one that deserves to win the match, but we are only concerned with our own games. It is important that we continue with what we have been doing this week, with a good atmosphere during the training sessions and with an air of excitement surrounding us. That is all we are worried about: preparing the training sessions well and then I'll announce the lineup the day before the match”.

WE HAVE THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF INTENSITY AND LEVEL-HEADEDNESS TO PLAY IN A CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL.
“We have to approach the week leading up to the final in as normal a way as possible. We have to remain calm enough to prepare ourselves for it well. Almost all the players have recovered from their injuries in time and that is important. We are not going to do anything out of the ordinary”.

The video and team talk before the final of the European Cup
“It would take a long time to prepare a video of everything we've achieved to date in the Champions League and we have to make a video that captures the players' attention”.

Illarra's work
“He's our first choice for the final. We signed him to play there and he's used to playing in that position. I haven't changed my mind. He's a player who has the quality needed to play in every match, whether it's important or not. He didn't play at first, but we were happy with his work and next year he's going to be better. He has enough quality to play a final”.

The absence of Diego López
“He has a niggle which is why we let him rest for a few days. It's wear and tear and we've let him take a break. He has only missed two training sessions all year and he has never had any problems before”.

Praise for Zidane
“He's learning his trade as a coach and he has charisma and the quality to do it. He knows how to motivate the players and he's ready to train any team, but it's a decision for him to make. I hope he stays here so we can continue to work together”.

Marks for his first season
“I don't like giving myself marks. I have a personal opinion on my work and I'll give it after the game in Lisbon. The marks have to come, above all and in this order, from the club, the players and then the media”.

Prediction:

Real Madrid 3-0 Espanyol

by halamadrid2 Fri May 16, 2014 7:07 pm

final game of the season between two teams with nothing to play for. This should be an ideal game to practice our CL final starting line up

Everyone are called up bar Pepe, Lopez and Jese

Carlo has confirmed Ronaldo and Khedira will play and also that Illaramendi is the one starting in the final so I hope he stops shoving him onto the CM spot and actually plays him in his preferred position for once. I have a feeling he will and we will see Khedira in Modric' position with the croatian getting much needed rest

my predicted line up:

Iker
Carvajal-Varane-Ramos-Marcelo
Khedira-Illarra-DiMaria
Bale-Benz-Ronaldo

For those of you expecting patient possession football, don't bother watching the game because these guys are going to feed ronaldo from minute one. Hope he scores in the first minute so that we can go back to the mt way Laughing

prediction: Real Madrid 2-0 Espanyol
scorers: Ronaldo and DiMaria

by RealGunner Fri May 16, 2014 7:50 pm

So that kid striker isn't called up who came on as a sub last time?

by Onyx Fri May 16, 2014 7:51 pm

Nah he was called up due to injuries.

by RealGunner Fri May 16, 2014 7:58 pm

Well this is a meaningless game apart from Ronaldo's golden boot. Could have called up few more youngsters imo.

by halamadrid2 Fri May 16, 2014 8:35 pm

Willian Jose is so shite for Castilla I can't understand how he got called up over Raul De Thomas

Anyways this is going to be a game for Ronaldo to stapadd hope he gets the golden boots because he deserves it

We would call up more Castilla players if they weren't in the middle of a relegation battle

by RealGunner Sat May 17, 2014 12:50 am

lol Castilla getting relegated?

by sportsczy Sat May 17, 2014 9:34 am

And Castilla's chances are slim. The remaining 4 games are against Las Palmas, Cordoba, Sabadell and Murcia. That the number 3, 9, 8 and 4th ranked teams in Adelante. We are 2 points behind Mallorca, who is the last safe team... but we also have Girona who is 1 point ahead of us.

It would take a small miracle tbh.

by RealGunner Sat May 17, 2014 2:43 pm

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bn1xxtKIcAALX7W.jpg

by Onyx Sat May 17, 2014 4:02 pm

Ronaldo apparently not injured. He wasn't comfortable and didn't want to risk anything.

by halamadrid2 Sat May 17, 2014 5:04 pm

Good for Ronaldo. Finally getting his priorities straight

As for the game, it was a snoozefest until Modric came in and immediately after that we started attacking better

Isco was awful, Arbeloa should be very very far away from the starting line up. At this rate I want Nacho over him at RB

Apparently Benzema is a doubt for the final

Bale really needs to work on his on the ball skills, with no WC I hope he comes in and works on those. His kick and run might work in EPL but in LaLiga you need good ball control especially if you see the ball alot

by Onyx Sat May 17, 2014 10:20 pm

Carlo Ancelotti spoke to the media after the victory against Espanyol with which the team brought to an end its Liga campaign. The manager talked about the state of his squad: “I'd like the whole team to be able to train normally. Some need individual work. The important thing is that all the players are ready to play. Only Alonso and Jesé are unavailable”.

“I think the others will be ready for the final. The match today was as I expected, without much intensity. Our opposition didn't need points and it was a normal end-of-season encounter to avoid problems”.

Time to recover
“Cristiano wasn't comfortable before the game. Yesterday he trained well and was confident. We didn't risk him; he has had a test and it looks like a minor spasm. We're relaxed because he has time to recover and play in the final. He hasn't played in the last few matches. It wasn't a risk because he trained normally yesterday and was full of confidence”.
BENZEMA SUFFERED A MINOR SPASM BUT I DON'T THINK HE'LL HAVE ANY PROBLEM PLAYING IN THE FINAL.
“When the medical test doesn't show anything, the player's own judgment is very important. He was comfortable and happy yesterday. He wanted to play. He wasn't right in the warm up and we decided to not use him in this match to avoid risking anything. The problem is that when you have a final coming up you can't take risks. If it had been our last match of the season, he would have played. With such an important final coming up we didn't need to take any risks. Cristiano is very sincere”.

Players with fitness issues
“Benzema suffered a minor abductor contracture when he passed the ball to Bale. I don't think he will have any problems to play the final. Di María played without any problems and it was the same for Carvajal. Khedira needed minutes to regain his match fitness. Illarra was excellent. Now we will start thinking about the next game”.

Illarra and Khedira
“Illarra has a chance of starting the match. I have a week to think about the best possible line up. Illarra played at a good tempo, with intensity and was positionally very good. I am happy with how he performed. We have to think about Khedira who is coming back from a very serious injury, and who hasn't been able to play for quite a while. He was good today, but as it stands at the moment Illarra has more of a chance of starting”.

The left back position
“Marcelo has done really well since his injury, and showed today that he is in great physical shape. There is a lot of competition in that position but I still haven't decided if it will be Marcelo or Coentrão who plays”.

Pepe's recovery
“He has gotten better, I think he'll start training with the group tomorrow. He underwent treatment and has started to run in the gym. We are confident that he will be able to play”.

http://www.realmadrid.com/en/news/2014/05/ancelotti-the-important-thing-is-that-everyones-ready-for-the-final

by RealGunner Sun May 18, 2014 12:51 am

So is Morata actually good or what?

by futbol Sun May 18, 2014 5:35 am

RealGunner wrote:lol Castilla getting relegated?

The Segunda table:

Season Finale: Real Madrid vs Espanyol discussion K5hyszdv

by halamadrid2 Sun May 18, 2014 11:32 am

RealGunner wrote:So is Morata actually good or what?

Morata is great. He was ignored at the start of the season to support Benzema in his very bad start to the season and was then ignored by Carlo again so that he could test Isco as a false nine which failed miserably. And after Jese's injury he only got time on the wing even when benzema was not available and instead played ronaldo as a CF so understandably he did not show his true qualities. And now with all the niggling injuries of our players he has gotten time as a CF and surprise surprise has scores regularly.

There was a time a couple of games ago when Morata ignored Ronaldo choosing to shoot instead when it was a better option to pass. The shot flew high and wide and Ronaldo went completely berserk. We were chasing a winner so I could understand the frustration. He did the same against Espanyol yesterday and sections of the crowd booed him with the other section singing his name. The kid needs support and only the players are showing it to him with the coach treating him like collateral damage. I am glad DiMaria was unselfish and teed him up twice to get his confidence up and Ramos running up to him to support him

I would be absolutely fine if he was a regular starter for us because he is that good but I don't think he will be in Carlo's plans next season so I hope he is loaned out to a team where he will regularly start

@fu$bal gtfo trying to brag about Barca's position indirectly Proud

by Valkyrja Sun May 18, 2014 11:51 am

I really don't want Morata to leave. He is young, has potential and is a different striker from Benzema.

by futbol Sun May 18, 2014 3:31 pm

halamadrid2 wrote:

@fu$bal gtfo trying to brag about Barca's position indirectly

Huh? ... Oh ... ohhhhh .... I didn't even noooootice that when I was just trying to give RG some information about Castilla. Proud

Maybe RG also wants to see the general level in Segunda to get a better picture of the league. I will just pick a very random game from this week. Let me seeee:

Proud

by titosantill Sun May 18, 2014 11:31 pm

i guess now people can keep quiet about suggesting we promote any and every player from castilla just because they want to see another raul at all cost....every team has its time when it comes to introducing new talent; but it shouldn't be forced. i always say, the best time to promote youth talent is when the team is doing very very well or when the team is doing very poorly, you don't just promote youth players for bragging rights...if the youth team was doing well in castilla and high on the table it would make sense to incorporate them into the first team, but if castilla us coming 20th on the table, then you can't reward them for that...jese, nacho, casemiro, morata are enough...the other guys have to work harder

by halamadrid2 Mon May 19, 2014 7:06 am

I think there are a couple of Castilla players who are good enough for promotion. for example bi think jose Rodriguez was and is ten times better than Casemiro, llorente is good enough for the first team starter let apone on the bench and burgui is also good enough for the first team. Then you have the younger ones like Medran wh can get promoted in like 2 seasons

the rest are average or need to show they have the quality they posess

funny how all the castilla players we promoted have been beyond excellent this season with not a single one who dissapointed. Promoting players is just fine as long as its not done for the sake of it

barca might be up there but last time we met we beat them to pieces. We have difficulties holding leads because our defence is bad not because wee don't have good players, next time you might want to watch our games before maaking conclusions

by titosantill Mon May 19, 2014 10:13 am

if after 38 games a team is 20th, then i think the problem boils down to more than just defense.....and NO, i do not watch footy at any level below the professional level, just as i do not watch the real madrid basketball team (for basketball the nba more than satisfies my needs).....however, i care about our first team, and in this day and age when a draw in spain is like a loss, i'd rather top players with the necessary mental fortitude represent us. i'm not saying youth talent should not be promoted, hell, i saw raul on his debut 20 odd years ago....besides where will they even play? i'm only suggesting they make a name for themselves first and then be incorporated slowly....we still have top players on the madrid bench who are fighting for minutes, imo they are of more priority than some of these lads, unless the lads are that talented where i hear about them from coaches and scouts before hand....and 20th on the table does little to help that cause....besides, if they were that great i'm sure carlo will have no problem calling them, he's the coach he monitors the situation day in, day out

by halamadrid2 Mon May 19, 2014 1:51 pm

If you dont watch them then don't have an opinion on them. Simple

If you have bothered watching us you'd know in the first half of the season we lost or drew games because the referee disallowed our goals, called penalties against us that shouldn't have been, failed to give us penalties etc. I can think of at least 6 games where we were robbed of a win. in the second half of the season we would go one up but then eithe draw or lose it in the last ten minutes. I.e we have difficulties closing games when we have a lead

even looking at the table we have lost as many or just one more than those teams in the top four yet we are nearly bottom and they are at the top. We have too many draws and those are due to us losing leads not because we lack quality

even last season we finished a couple of places over the relegation but when it came to the big games we stepped up winning 5-0 against Villarreal who finished in the top ten in laliga just to name one example

Again as I said, if you don't watch us and only went by the table you'd think we were Atletico B or something but that can't be further from the truth because we have excellent players scattered everywhere on the pitch but they have been let down by some others around them and they have had to pay the price.

by FalcaoPunch Mon May 19, 2014 3:28 pm

His opinion isn't being based on how they play, you realize that Hala?

Tito is saying he does to watch Castilla and he watches the first team and has been for quite some time now. He's all for promoting youth but it has to make sense to do so.

If we incorporate Jose Rodriguez for example where would he play and for who? If it's in the midfield would he bench Isco, Modric, Di Maria, Kheidra, Alonso, or Illara? You say he's better than Casemiro and that's cool and all but Casemiro doesn't even get minutes.

In this day and age with what is expected of Madrid it's very tough for youth players to break through the first team except for special cases and players aka Jese this season.

I think it's best for some of our youth to go abroad with the option to purchase back. And if we need them and they've proven themselves we will

by halamadrid2 Mon May 19, 2014 7:51 pm

You do realize J-Rod IS a midfielder (CM) and not an attacking player who is being taught to play CM ala Isco. Casemiro was a dm for Castilla, not CM. Both Khedira and dimaria are b2b Illarra is a CDM so essentially we only have one true CM, Carlo was forced to play Illarra or Casemiro at CM because of one or two injuries to our starters. We already saw what happened when either dimaria or modric were injured we became very one dimensional in midfield, the others simply don't have what it takes to play CM (yet) and it is rubbing off on our results

Next season we are going to require a massive squad especially if we win CL because we are going to play alot of games so there is going to be enough minutes for everyone. I am not saying promote everyone because there are kids there who I would pick last if I played in the park with them, just saying there are some who deserve to get promoted despite the league position

For example I'd rather we promoted J-Rod than got Pogba not because I think he is better but because if he played for another team we would be buying him due to his amazing qualities and there is less risks with him not to mention he is hungry to do well. I am not going to lie and say he has had an amazing season because he hasn't but you can spot quality when you see it in Segunda trust me

Basically long story cut short, you shouldn't judge players on league position especially those who play for teams that very seldomly buy players instead loaning some cheap dead wood from other teams. You should judge them by watching them play. And for someone to go and say "well we are in relegation zone therefore it's stupid to even consider anyone for promotion" is very ignorant and narrow minded

by chad4401 Mon May 19, 2014 7:56 pm

morata is garbage smh Laughing

by halamadrid2 Mon May 19, 2014 8:10 pm

chad4401 wrote:morata is garbage smh

This is coming from the same guy who said DiMaria is shit and is hindering Benzema Laughing

Wouldn't take your opinion on anything Real Madrid related even if your opinion was the only one available Rolling Eyes

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