La Liga fixture: Real Madrid versus Levante - Preview
As Los Blancos prepare to host the Granotes at Santiago Bernabéu stadium on 19
February, 2011, let’s take a look at how both the Spanish sides will line-up on the upcoming Saturday.
Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho’s team gear up to take on Levante one more time this season after thrashing the Spanish league minnows by eight goals to nil in their Copa Del Ray tie earlier in the season.
Still in the second place spot in the La Liga rankings, Madrid are chasing Barcelona for the first place spot at the moment. Last week, Barcelona drew against Sporting Gijon whereas Madrid won against Espanyol, thus the men in white closed the gap at the
top of the table down to just five points.
Out of their last five competitive fixtures, Mourinho’s men have won four and drawn one. Their only loss came against Osasuna. With Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League round of sixteen tie against Lyon on the horizon, Mourinho might not play some of his
first team players at the weekend.
Nonetheless, another blip in the La Liga title race will surely spell doom for the former European champions as Barcelona will be trying their best to keep up the pressure on Madrid.
Levante
Talks of revenge have already begun in Levante’s camp as the Granotes are still seething from their eight goal thrashing by Real Madrid in Copa Del Ray. Out of their last five competitive fixtures, Levante have won three and lost two. The two losses in question
came against Sevilla and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Real-Zaragoza-c40344 in late January, 2011.
Presently at the fifteenth place position in the Spanish Primera Division, Levante have only accumulated twenty-four points from a total of twenty-three matches. Luis Garcia’s team have failed to perform on their travels thus far in the La Liga season.
Out of their twelve away matches, Levante have lost eight, won two and drawn two, which reflects their inability to function away from their home turf and as the Real Madrid tie approaches, one can’t help but wonder that another beating is in store for the
Spanish league minnows.
Team news
Real Madrid’s captain and first choice goal keeper is set to miss the encounter against Levante as http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Iker-Casillas-c16815 was sent off in Real’s win over Espanyol. Gonzalo Higuain is also due to miss the match on Saturday but Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Mesut Ozil and
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Xabi-Alonso-c37045 are all fit for the weekend’s matchup against Levante.
Expected Real Madrid line-up: Adan, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Pepe-c29670, Carvalho, Marcelo, Alonso, Khedira, Ronaldo, Ozil, Di Maria, Benzema
On the other hand, Levante might be without their star midfielder Iborra. The Granotes’ number ten suffered a knee injury during his team’s one goal win over Almeria, in their latest Spanish league encounter. Del Horno and http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Xisco-c37090 are both expected to be fit
for the match as well so Luis Garcia has various selection options at the moment.
Expected Levante line-up: Gustavo, Juan Garcia, Ballesteros, Del Horno, Venta, Lopez, Xisco, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Montero-c26784, Torres, Caicedo, Rocha
Key players
Real Madrid will be banking on http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Cristiano-Ronaldo-c9629 to fire them through to a win on Saturday. The Portuguese winger has been phenomenal for Los Blancos in the 2010-2011 La Liga season as he currently leads the goal scoring charts with thirty-four goals.
Mourinho will no doubt want his team to effortlessly wrap up the win against Levante as soon as possible due to their round of sixteen tie against Lyon on Tuesday night next week.
Alternatively, if Levante are to gain anything from their tie against Real Madrid, Xisco will have to take up the midfield reins yet again.
Previously, the Spanish playmaker has been an integral part of Levante’s squad but his effectiveness of late has been in question amongst the Granotes fans.
Prediction
Real Madrid are outright favourites to win this matchup against Levante. Prediction: 2-0 to Real Madrid.
The views expressed by the writers are his own and do not reflect the editorial policy of
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