Monday, November 21, 2011

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22.11. (Tue) 20:45 Real - Dinamo Zagreb

Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid
Cristiano Ronaldo - Real Madrid

PROBABLE LINEUPS

REAL MADRID


Casillas
Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo
Khedira, Diarra, Xabi Alonso
Ozil, Ronaldo
Higuain
DINAMO ZAGREB


Loncaric
Vida, Tonel, Cufre, IbanezLeko, Kovacic, Badelj, Alispahic
Beqiraj, Krstanovic
Jose Mourinho will be unable to call upon flying winger Angel Di Maria, who remains sidelined with a knee problem. Elsewhere, Sergio Ramos continues to deputise for Ricardo Carvalho in the centre of defence, with a back injury giving the Portuguese stopper cause for concern. And the Portuguese coach also confirmed in Monday's pre-match press conference that Kaka is still out and won't return to training until Thursday.

Meanwhile, Fabio Coentrao sat out the 3-2 weekend win over Valencia with a thigh injury sustained on international duty, and Marcelo should keep his place on the left of the defence. The only other selection dilemma plaguing Mourinho will be in attack, where both Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain continue to score on a regular basis. With Benzema starting on Saturday at the Mestalla, expect the Argentine to come back into the side.

Zagreb have been dealt a blow with the news that Josip Simunic's calf injury will prevent him from featuring at Santiago Bernabeu. Ivan Kelava is also struggling with a knee problem, meaning Filip Loncaric could deputise.

DID YOU KNOW?

  • The weekend victory at Valencia represented Jose Mourinho's 50th La Liga game in charge at Real Madrid.
  • Cristiano Ronaldo has struck 24 goals in as many games for club and country so far this season, building on his astonishing 40 league strikes in 2010-11.
  • Los Blancos have notched victories in their last 11 matches in all competitions.
  • Dinamo Zagreb are the only side yet to score in this season's Champions League group stages.
  • Indeed, their nine goals conceded represents the joint-highest total in the competition.
  • The record is in stark contrast to their domestic form, where they have conceded just five times in 15 league matches.

Prediction
With Zagreb missing key personnel in defence and Madrid in formidable form, this should prove to be no more than an evening stroll for the Spanish side, with qualification to the next round already ensured.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 4-0 Dinamo Zagreb