Real Madrid Vs. Levante, 2012 La Liga: Open Thread
by Gabe Lezra on Feb 12, 2012 8:14 PM CET
in Real Madrid CF: Liga BBVA
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***UPDATE, 20:52 CET: Sami Khedira has been left out of the starting lineup as well. His spot will be taken by Esteban Granero, who has performed well in his limited time on the pitch. Expect to see Nuri Sahin get some minutes tonight as well.
***UPDATE, 20:44 CET: Kaká will not start, but neither will Di María. Instead, Benzema and Higuaín will play for Mourinho. It is being reported that Benzema will fall to the side in the attacking midfield trivot, while Higuaín will play in his natural CF position.
Real Madrid are set to take on Levante (21:30 CET, 3:30PM EST) in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid tonight. It should be a tough, physical match, as Levante play a rough defensive style, and Real Madrid should be ready to do battle. If los blancos win, they will take a 10 point lead over rivals FC Barcelona in la Liga, and will take a giant leap towards unseating the Guardiola-era Barcelona juggernaut as the best side in the world. If they lose they will retain their seven point lead, but will have missed a sorely-needed opportunity to put another nail in Barcelona's coffin. And if they draw? Well, they will open an eight point lead over Barcelona, which is only marginally better than a seven point lead.
Consider this your space to talk about the game with other madridistas. Keep your comments polite and respectful--no overt profanity, certainly no racism, homophobia, xenophobia, or offensive language. Make sure this space is welcoming to new members (we're all one community, Managing Madrid specifically, and madridistas broadly), and polite with culés (though I doubt they'll want to come on).
While we don't have lineups yet, here are our MM projections:
Real Madrid XI: Iker Casillas; Alvaro Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Fabio Coentrão; Sami Khedira, Xabi Alonso; Mesut Özil, Kaká, Cristiano Ronaldo; Gonzalo Higuaín
Levante XI: Munúa; Del Horno, Cabral, Ballesteros, Javi Venta; Iborra, Farinós; Botelho, Suárez, Valdo; Koné
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Kaká will not start
Benzema and Higuaín will start at the head of a 4-4-2 instead
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
Hmm, it's being reported that Benzema will play in the midfield instead
I don’t really understand (though it doesn’t really matter) why it should be Karim who drops back—Higuaín has proven adept at being te second striker—why not play him there and drop him to the wing more? Ah, who cares, this match should be fun.
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
Benzema will play in the right
While Öz will do it in the middle…
So:
Benz—-Öz——CR
-——-Pipa————
Hasta el final, vamos Real.
by Lucas Navarrete on Feb 12, 2012 9:01 PM CET up reply actions
Interesting move by Mou
He might decide to bring on Callejon, Kaka and Sahin (hopefully) in the second half
by Kousha Azimi on Feb 12, 2012 9:13 PM CET up reply actions
Yah Benzema and Higuain together
Just when I complained about them not scoring enough goal, looks like their chance has arrived we needs a shower of goals in this game.
Yes!
Great move from the club
Hasta el final, vamos Real.
by Lucas Navarrete on Feb 12, 2012 9:10 PM CET up reply actions
That’s great. It’ll be nice to see him get a good farewell from the Bernabeu. He was one of my favorites.
by MychalShannon1 on Feb 12, 2012 9:13 PM CET up reply actions
Well, that figures.
Another game flat-footed, and this one costed us.
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
We'll be fine
I just wish we didn’t have to do this every effing match
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
I love how they're already trying to waste time with the diving
It’s a bit ridiculous. It’s not like wasting time now actually helps.
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
Yeah it was
Higuaín was interfering in the play, and Benz was offside when Higuaín was messing with the guy; it bounced on/next to Higuaín, making him a participant in the play. I think it was tight, but a good call.
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
Higuaín wasn't offside and he didn't touch it,
and even if he was in offside position the law only goes for the goal keeper
by Payam Fakhraie on Feb 12, 2012 9:43 PM CET up reply actions
Because Higuaín interfered in the play, he became the passer of the ball
And when Higuaín “passed” the ball, Benzema was offside.
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
But Higuaín didn't pass the ball
ESPN showed it from another angel, and the ball was half yard away from Higuaín’s foot
by Payam Fakhraie on Feb 12, 2012 9:46 PM CET up reply actions
I guess what I'm saying is that he "passed" the ball by coming between the ball and the defender
You can’t box someone out like he did without becoming actively involved in the play. And when he became actively involved, even if he didn’t touch it, he became the “passer”. I think.
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
I've been thinking
An 8 point lead is actually significantly better than a seven point lead. And here’s how: with a seven point lead, Barça needs to beat us in the clasico, then have us lose and draw to come level. With an eight point lead, they need to beat us in the clasico, then need us to lose twice while they win to make up the difference.
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
I would to see Mou use that 3 man back that we used in a previous game when we were down
Have Kaka on for Arbeloa
Yes!
Callejon and Kaka on, Granero and Arbeloa off. Move Benz beside Higuin, and have Ronaldo stick to the left
by Kousha Azimi on Feb 12, 2012 10:25 PM CET up reply actions
or yellow card.
He didn’t do it deliberately, it wasn’t a goal opportunities. Penanlty was enough.
by Payam Fakhraie on Feb 12, 2012 10:17 PM CET up reply actions
I mean, it was his second yellow
And it was a yellow. He handled it, keeping it away from a Madrid player, in the penalty box. Yellow and penalty.
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
Not a bad first half
But Granero needs to be a little bit faster releasing the ball.
Hasta el final, vamos Real.
by Lucas Navarrete on Feb 12, 2012 10:25 PM CET reply actions
Sigh
everytime the same they score a goal on us and we’re left to scramble around, a zillion shots but none on target, when will we learn. its so frustrating stikers are not scoring goals and just standing there hesitating.
What to do. and Ramos needs to be slapped by Mou.
I think Mou shouldn’t have started Higuain with Benz for this match and it actually showed.
Ozil clearly is out of space is being heavily marked but he still manages to make the passes between the lines we need. He tends to shift to the left all the time though, maybe he is actually getting used to this role.
by Γιώργος Σωμαράκης on Feb 12, 2012 10:31 PM CET reply actions
I want Di Maria for Higuaín
Any other substitution ideas?
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
Is Di Maria on the bench? I don’t think he is..is he? Sahin for Granero is what I wanna see.
by MychalShannon1 on Feb 12, 2012 10:33 PM CET up reply actions
We can put shahin on now
play with three defenders for example.
I know it is risky and we don’t need it, but I think it will benefit us a lot. He can shoot from behind the box, and pass long balls in and give us few new options.
by Payam Fakhraie on Feb 12, 2012 10:35 PM CET up reply actions
Di Maria just barely managed to return, maybe it's not his time yet.
And as much as I want Sahin to come in he is too much of an unsafe bet right now.
by Γιώργος Σωμαράκης on Feb 12, 2012 10:34 PM CET reply actions
I like that they all went to hug Mourinho also
Nice gesture
Editor-in-Chief of Managing Madrid
@GabeLezra
Arbeloa clearly is not capable of making a decent cross...
by Γιώργος Σωμαράκης on Feb 12, 2012 10:56 PM CET reply actions
yo, the goalie is gettin' to' up son.
by TIQUITACATACO on Feb 12, 2012 10:57 PM CET reply actions 1 recs
How exactly ?
everyone is losing it :))
by Payam Fakhraie on Feb 12, 2012 11:01 PM CET up reply actions
Great win over a team that has given us problems
Still hate that we keep conceding first. Lets just hope it doesnt come back to bite us in the CL
This is a bit worrying indeed...
And in the CL it can be fatal.
by Γιώργος Σωμαράκης on Feb 12, 2012 11:28 PM CET up reply actions
ZAMBIA WINS ON PK's IN THE ACON's!!! What an upset!
by MychalShannon1 on Feb 12, 2012 11:27 PM CET reply actions
My Take
Negatives:
1. Defending at set pieces
2. Conceding first
3. Sahin wasting and possibly loosing confidence on the bench. This has to be the biggest downside of the match for me. If he cant get minutes against 10 men and 2 goals up, when would he get the confidence boosting minutes.
Positives
1. Ronaldo (2nd half)
2. Another comeback. Barca sure can tell you how hard that is.
10 points!!
I am glad none of our fellow members here is the coach :-). Mourinho as usual is 90% good with tactics and today it showed again with the line up, formation, and tactical plans.
Mourinho calculates many variables before fielding the players and telling them where to play, how to play, what to do with the ball, what to do without the ball, etc & etc. I am sure it is very comprehensive.. Heard about the fabled dossiers of every opposition player? Mourinho is mourinho, one of a kind.
Still a long way to go in la liga. Mourinho won’t be fielding 2nd team anytime soon. Players still have to earn their spot and get to training on time and give their best.
Enjoy Mourinho’s magic show!
by Joga Bonito on Feb 13, 2012 2:28 AM CET via mobile reply actions
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