UEFA Champions League Preview: Real Madrid – AJ Auxerre
Resilient Madrid with nothing to play for
Real Madrid faced Valencia CF on the weekend in what was tipped to be a test of their character following the humiliating 5 – 0 drubbing in El Clasico. Much to their credit, Los Galacticos registered a 2 – 0 victory at Santiago
Bernabeu. With the victory, Mourinho and his troops have passed the test of their character and can approach this game with a free mind.
Mourinho’s men have been a dominant force on continental stage as they comfortably sit atop the Champions League Group C with 13 points from five games. Los Galacticos have nothing to play for but knowing Jose Mourinho as he is,
the Portuguese will not be happy with anything short of three points.
However, having said that, Mourinho will have his mind firmly fixed on the weekend’s match against Zaragoza and a host of key players will be given a highly deserved rest.
The Struggling French
Playing a game against Real Madrid is always difficult and even more so if the venue is Stadio Santiago Bernabeu. For French minnows AJ Auxerre, anything less than three points will see their Europa League ambitions go up in smoke.
Jean Fernandes’ men are on a poor run of form with no wins in their last three league outings. On the weekend, AJA could only muster a draw against a struggling Lens outfit and could have easily been defeated had it not been for a controversial corner that
brought around the equalising goal.
With Lady Luck not showing her grace to AJA, Fernandes will be without a host of key players for this game and it is more than likely that the European adventure will end for the French at Bernabeu.
Team News
Real Madrid
Jose Mourinho will have to do without the services of Gonzalo Higuan, Ricardo Kaka, Fernando Gago, Sergio Canales, Sami Khedira and Angel Di Maria as all the aforementioned players are out injured.
Owing much to their highly publicised red cards, Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos will be suspended while Iker Casillas will be rested for this game. Mourinho has included youth players Sarabia and Morata in the squad.
AJ Auxerre
Jean Fernandes will be without the services of Ireneusz Jelen, Delvin N’Dinga, Jeremy Berthod and Cedric Hengbart as all these players are nursing their respective injuries.
Key Players
Karim Benzema
The 35-million Euros man has failed to reproduce the type of form he regularly exhibited for Olympique Lyon. The striker has fallen down the pecking order at Bernabeu and is used sparingly with Higuain making the starting line up. However, with the Argentine
out with a back injury, Benzema will be given a chance to perform and he will be eager to impress the coaching staff.
Olivier Sorin
With AJA having problems keeping their forwards fit, a victory is out of question for the French. Real Madrid, despite playing a second string team, will bombard Sorin’s goal with intent and the custodian’s calibre will be severely tested. Sorin must keep
a clean sheet if his team is to leave Madrid with a positive result.
Prediction
Even a depleted Real Madrid are a class apart and AJA have little to be optimistic about. Jean Fernandes’ European adventure ends tonight with Real Madrid walking out a 3 – 0 victory.
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