I Heart Real Madrid

Ready or not, here comes Sevilla

Let us not kid ourselves this match against Sevilla will be crucial in our fight to obtain the league. It will be our biggest test to see if we are real competition to win this league and whether we stand a real chance against Lyon, which is only days away. This game, although some may want to see it as just another game, can ultimately set the tone for our chances in everything. Will we be the last team standing after those 90 minutes at the Bernabeu? I don’t know because if there is one thing I have learned from these games against Sevilla is that its full of surprises and of course goals, and lots of them. Some of the most passionate, electrifying, and nervous filled games I have ever experienced come when Madrid face Sevilla. I do not expect this Saturday’s game to be any different, but if I have to go through a roller coaster of emotions I hope that in the end we have kept our perfect home record and hopefully set a bit of fear in our European rival, Lyon. Fingers crossed!

Here is what you need to know:

1. Guti makes a return. After being sidelined for quite some time with a sports hernia, the always questionable Guti could make a comeback against Sevilla as he has been included in the roster. Speaking of the blonde one, he spoke to Real Madrid’s official site and said that he was anxious to play and reflect’s on how much fun playing against Sevilla has been in the past. “I have always played well against Sevilla. Our recent matches against them have been fun to watch. There have been a ton of goals and Real Madrid has tended to win. We hope this year is the same.”
2. So who’s out and who’s in? Well its the same players as the previous match that will be absent: Drenthe, Benzema, and Pepe. Those who will make it include: GOALKEEPERS: Casillas, Dudek.
   DEFENDERS: Ramos, Albiol, Arbeloa, Metzelder, Marcelo, Garay.
   MIDFIELDERS: Diarra, Gago, Lass, Xabi Alonso, Granero, Kaka, Guti, Van der Vaart.
   FORWARDS: Cristiano Ronaldo, Raul, Higuain.
3. The duel of the saints. This weekend we will see two fantastic goalkeepers go face to face. Spain’s Cuatro has seen this as the perfect opportunity to interview the Saint of Seville at a church. He appreciates the praise he gets from the fans, but he personally does not like to mix church with football. Fair enough… so who’s wings will have to do overtime on Saturday? Hopefully not the guardian of Madrid! Watch the vid (its in Spanish)here.

4. In terms of Sevilla, they will be missing the Brazilian Renato, which means that Fazio will probably pair up with Zokora in the midfield. Another player that for good fortune will be M.I.A is Luis Fabiano who still has not recovered from his injury, but we cant be counting our blessing yet because Seville still have a deadly artillary with Negredo and Kanoute up front. My biggest fear is our own boy Negredo who could rain in our parade if we are not careful.
5. Navas and Perotti are my biggest concern. Those two can and probably will drive us crazy with their runs up the flanks, so our defense needs to be top notch and fully concentrated. Unless El Mister surprises us those in the back will be Ramos-Albiol-Garay-Arbeloa in order to secure that those two stay put and as far away as possible from Iker. Let’s hope it works.
6. Like I said earlier this game is always flooded with goals and if you don’t believe me check this stat out. In this decade alone there encounters have had the most goals in the league with 70 goals in 17 games. Impressive!

Well as always I leave you with a very special video that captures the greatness of these meetings between los merengues and the boys from Nervion. If you thought Guti’s taconazo in Coruna was impressive, this one is also worthy of a standing ovation. Enjoy!