Tuesday, September 20, 2011

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21.09. (Wed) 20:00 Racing Santander - Real

Spanish Supercup: Real Madrid vs Barcelona: Mesut Özil, Angel Di Maria
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 PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Racing (4-4-1-1): Tono; Francis, Gonzalez, Torrejon, Cisma; Kennedy, Diop, Adrian, Munitis; Acosta; Stuani

Racing


Hector Cuper welcomes back Pape Diop to his first-team after the Senegalese midfielder served a one-match suspension during the 4-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid over the weekend.
Marc Torrejon is also likely to return to the centre of defence after injury, with Osmar Barba expected to make way for the former Espanyol man.

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Ramos, Carvalho, Pepe, Marcelo; Xabi Alonso, Coentrao; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema


Sami Khedira will miss the encounter against Racing after his red card during the shock 1-0 defeat to Levante on Sunday. The versatile Fabio Coentrao is expected to drop back into the centre of midfield, with Cristiano Ronaldo returning in attack after his ankle injury. 

Jose Mourinho is also expected to recall Mesut Ozil to his starting line-up, with Kaka likely to drop the the bench.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • Racing are currently 18th in La Liga and have not won a game so far this term.
  • The club finished 12th last campaign, three points above the relegation zone.
  • The side from Cantabria are currently coached by Hector Cuper, who previously saw his Valencia team lose the 2000 Champions League final 3-0 to Madrid.
  • Racing's Pedro Munitis and Adrian Gonzalez both previously had spells at the capital club.
  • Real Madrid have won their last 62 league games in which they took the lead. 
  • The 1-0 defeat against Levante was the club's first loss in La Liga in seven games, the last being their 3-2 home reverese to Zaragoza in April of the 2010-11 campaign.
  • Sunday's defeat was also the first game in seven La Liga fixtures in which Cristiano Ronaldo failed to score.
  • When these two sides met at El Sardinero last season, Madrid won 3-1. In the reverse clash at the Bernaneu, Mourinho's men ran out 6-1 winners, with Ronaldo grabbing four goals.
Prediction
After Madrid's disappointing loss to Levante at the weekend, expect Jose Mourinho's men to bounce back against Racing, who are yet to win a game this season. Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to return to the starting line-up after his ankle injury and is sure to be a constant menace for the home side's leaky back-line.
Editor's Prediction
Racing 0 -3 Real Madrid