Real Madrid CF [CM2006] (Real Madrid 1:0 Chelsea)

[MWaugh]

Isnt Cicinho a naturally right sided player though?

Raul Bravo has played on the left in RC's absence in previous times.

im pretty sure he will start on the left in this match (he is right sided though). thats the benefit of having 5 friendly matches. it gives the manager (guus) the opportunity to look at players playing in positions that they might not normally find themselves playing in. this may push them and help them improve

 

[Wildwil]

I would buy Bastian or Gerrard

 

[MWaugh]

Thanks very much to everyone for their replies. Especially sid and bala. Very much appreciated. Match will be posted tomorrow. Please keep up the responses its all very encouraging

MWaugh

 

[Bala]

Demolition Job on the cards!

It seems that the match has been suddenly rescheduled to tomorrow.

 

[MWaugh]

Real Madrid CF vs FC Metz at Stade Saint Symphorien

July 10, 2005

The Teams:



Metz: Manager Joel Muller went into the match with an attacking 3-4-1-2 formation, playing Ouadah and Djiba in a defensive midfield role to assist the back three while Obraniak would be used as an attacking midfielder to play in the strikers.

Real Madrid: Manager Guus Hiddink employed a cautious 4-1-2-1-2 formation. The flat back four pairing allows Cicinho and Salgado to push forward from their deep defensive duties. Tomas Graverson was rested from the first match, with defender/defensive midfielder Ivan Helguera used as a defensive midfielder infront of the front 4. This allowed Beckham and Guti to play wide and Zidane to complement Raul and Ronaldo up front.

The Match:

1st Half



8 min: Real stunned after only 8 minutes when Ouadah made the most of a slight error from Iker Casillas to net home the breaker after a cross from the left hand corner. Real showing signs of the nervousness early in their first match out this season.



30 min: David Beckham restores order for the former Spanish Champions with a trademark free kick from just outside the box. Metz keeper Wimbee did well to parry the ball but could only force it into the left post and then into the back of the net.



40 min: Beckham strikes again with another magical free kick. Standing over the ball from over 10 feet outside the box, Beckham again forced Wimbee into a diving save, however the keeper could only get fingertips to the ball, as it cannoned into the far post. Real looking far better as Beckham does as he does best.



44 min: Raul nets just before half time after Cicinho, playing on the left in the absense of Roberto Carlos, produces a perfect cross infront of his new manager for Zidane to head goalwards. Zidane nodded the ball to Wimbee who could only parry it to ground where Raul completed Real's 3rd goal.

Half time score is 1-3 and Real look far more in control of the match after a shaky start early.

Real Madrid CF vs FC Metz at Stade Saint Symphorien

July 10, 2005

2nd Half

45 min:


Cassano, Robino
Ronaldo, Raul

Hiddink makes his first change as Raul and Ronaldo make way for Cassano and Robinho. Hiddink giving his strike quartet the best opportunity to impress and develop some match fitnessed.

66 min:


Graverson
Zidane

Hiddink brings off his most creative midfielder Zidane to give Graverson a run. Guti pushes forward to the attacking midfielder role while Graverson plays on the right, with Beckham controlling the left, Hiddink attempting to push Beckham out of his comfort zone in a different position.

73 min:


Baptisa, Pavon, Munabres, Raul Bravo
Beckham, Woodgate, Salgado, Cicinho

With Real leading comfortably, Hiddink pulls 4 of his charges to allow Baptisa, Pavon, Munambres and Raul Bravo to test their feet in the final 25+ minutes of the match. David Beckham had an outstanding match playing on the left hand side of midfield, scoring two goals from two sensational free kicks.



76 min: Robinho puts the result beyond doubt to complete a measured display from Real. Robinho doing well in the air to latch onto a free kick from Guti just outside the 6 yard box to head in on the near post.

83 min:


Mejia
Sergio Ramos

Hiddink makes his final change with Sergio Ramos making way for Mejia in the defensive. Mejia slotting into the centre of defence next to Pavon.

90 min: Full time and Real Madrid have earnt themselves an impressive and calculated first up 4-1 victory to hand Guus Hiddink his first victory of the season.

 

[m_vaughan]

Good to start with a win, and against a decent opposition. The fact that you gave chances to a number of players, will help during the season, especially during injuries to the main guys.

 

[Brett_Lee]

Great win there mwaugh. This story is looking really good. First time ive read it and its getting better and better each update!

 

[Deleted member 13648]

Good win for Real Madrid, Beckham doing well it looks like it, Robhinos goal also sounded good with the header. Good win MWaugh

 

[Wildwil]

Good win there for Real. Well played

 

[Bala]

And a demolition job it was. Oh well Becks is good atleast here!

 

[Left_Hander]

Nice start. Good luck for the rest of the tour!

 

[MWaugh]

Les Murray Talks Football

July 10, 2005



Despite a scare early, Real Madrid always looked comfortable against the Metz. Real won the free kick count 26 to 6 and they made their opposition pay, the class of David Beckham really came to the fore with the free kicks just outside the box, the England captain will definatly be a threat from the dead ball situations in this coming season.



David Beckham claimed man of the match honours for his side with two superb free kicks and an excellent performance playing uncharacteristically on the left side of the midfield to allow Guti some space on the right. Beckham aside, the midfield combination of Zidane, Guti and Helguera were solid at best, an area that is sure to improve with more matches.



(David Beckham produced 2 perfect strikes to earn the man of the match award)

 

[MWaugh]

Campos Speaks To Realmadrid.com

July 11, 2005

Fresh from his side's 4-1 victory over FC Metz in France, Real Madrid assistant manager Paulo Campos has recapped on the clubs first performance under new manager Guus Hiddink.

"We were quite pleased with the result from the all the players involved in the Metz game. It was always going to be tough with the first game of the season and especially playing under a new manager but everybody really did well in sticking to the game plan.

We had an early set back with a goal in the opening 10 minutes but appart from that i though the defence played rather well. We only allowed the home side to have 2 shots on target in 90 minutes so that is a very promising sign.

Guus played David Beckham suprisingly on the left, mainly to see how he would perform in a position that he is not used to. This seems to be a trait of Guus, to take players out of their comfort zone to see just how strong they are, both physically and mentally. David really shone yesterday, he underlined just how dangerous he is at free kicks but also his work rate in the middle was superb."

(David Beckham executes a near perfect free kick against FC Metz)

A very good start from the Real Madrid team but their first real test of the season will be when they take on french Liege 1 Champions Lyon in three days time.

 

[MWaugh]

July 11, 2005

Hiddink and his staff employed a relatively easy days training for the players after yesterdays 4-1 victory in which the majority of players had a run on the pitch. The morning was spent in the pool recovering with a light kick about in the afternoon. With the light session in the afternoon, the team had the opportunity to travel to Lyon, where they will prepare for Thursday?s much anticipated clash with the French champions.

July 12, 2005

After arriving overnight in Lyon, Hiddink pressed his troops for the first time since the French tour began. The emphasis was based on fitness, with all involved aware of how long the Spanish domestic and European season can be. Roberto Carlos sat training out to avoid risking further injury to his foot.

(Guus Hiddink organises training in Lyon)

July 13, 2005

Hiddink again pushed the players in the heat of France to build stamina and longevity on the pitch. Tomorrow is planned to be a far quieter day ahead of the tough and demanding match with Lyon. Training was again focused on fitness, with Hiddink also trying to push different formations that he has used in the past to achieve so much success at domestic and international level.

At the end of the day, Hiddink also announced his team for the match against Lyon. The only man that will miss tomorrows match is Roberto Carlos, and Hiddink indicated that he wants to start with his best side in this friendly to truly gauge where the team is at. Uruguayan defensive midfielder Pablo Garcia has returned to the squad after being on International duties in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in America.

 

[m_vaughan]

Good to see Pablo Garcia back with the squad. Holding midfielders have a very crucial role to play at Madrid, and even though Garcia hasnt been as impressive as Makelele, is one who has the ability to improve, especially under Guus Hiddink.