Open Thread: December 9, 2020.

Hola Madridistas!

The Open Thread/Daily Merengue is a place where you can discuss anything and everything related to football. Feel free to discuss the topics presented here, or start your very own discussions! The Open thread will be posted every day by one of the mods: Valyrian Steel, Felipejack, YoSnail or Oscnar.

It’s an actual “final” today in the UCL for Los Blancos.

Real Madrid faces Borussia in a must win game. Ramos and Carvajal are back with the team, but Odegaard, Mariano, Jovic, Valverde and Hazard are all out of the game. The 21 player squad list for today’s game is:

In his pre match press conference Zidane stated that he wouldn’t be surprised if club sacked him if Real Madrid were to crash out of the Champions League but went on to state: “I am not thinking about that, I’m thinking about tomorrow’s game. The club will do things as it always has. I don’t think about that, honestly.”

Casemiro also weighed in stating “What can you say about Zidane and the history he has made at this club. You don’t realize what he’s done and what he’s doing. This year is a strange year, not just for Real Madrid, a lot of teams are having ups and downs... All of the squad are 100% with the boss.”

Other results from yesterday’s Champions League action.

Manchester United have crashed out after losing 3-2 to RB Leipzig. The red devils conceded two goals within the first 13 minutes due to some atrocious defending. Justin Kluivert added a third in the second half and despite Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba clawing two goals back, United left it too little too late and will now play in the Europa League.

There was controversy in the other game of the group between PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir with racist implications when fourth official Sebastian Coltescu was accused of directing a racist term towards Basaksehir’s assistant coach Pierre Webo. The game was stopped in the 13th minute at the Parc des Princes and ultimately suspended as both teams walked off. It is expected to be played today.

Barcelona meanwhile managed to lose 3-0 at home to Juventus thus ending up in second place in Group G. Cristiano Ronaldo scored 2 penalties, 1 that he earned himself and another from a Lenglet handball. USA international Weston Mckennie scored the goal of the game with a stunning scissors kick from a Cuadrado cross.

Jovic injured.....................Again!!

As covered by Lucas Navarette Luka Jovic has another muscle injury and will miss the game against Borussia Monchengladbach and Atletico Madrid on the weekend in all likelihood. Jovic’s career in Madrid has been extremely underwhelming so far.

Transfer rumors.

Don Diario are reporting that Brahim will return to Los Blancos at the end of the season and at the moment the most likely scenario is that he remains with them. They cite ‘sources close to the Real Madrid management’ and claim that they believe the 21-year-old has proven that he has the ability to play for the first team and possibly occupy the position that Isco Alarcón will leave vacant ahead of the 2021-22 season.

The Pogba saga is back. According to AS, Pogba and Camavinga will be available in the summer to sign with Real Madrid. Perez favors the signing of Camavinga, while Zidane still wants Pogba AS states. Marca reported that Pogba’s agent desires to make a ‘great operation’ with Real Madrid, after the relationship between him and the club normalized as a consequence of the Areola loan deal. Raiola, Pogba’s agent, said it’s over for him at Manchester. However, Marca stated that Real Madrid won’t jeopardize the club’s finances, so the door is closed for the moment.

ICYMI: Churros y Tácticas Podcast: Cadiz, the big team slayer.

Kiyan Sobhani and Diego Lorijn discuss a while range of topics in this podcast ranging from Cadiz slaying the big guns to what happens if Barca go broke. Do give it a listen.