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Author Topic: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid  (Read 1625 times)

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Offline Toppa

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Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« on: August 10, 2007, 10:27:23 PM »
Saturday 11th August

Real Madrid travel to Seville for the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup, a game which will spill the beans on who stands where as we head towards the La Liga opener in two weeks' time.

Sevilla open their league campaign against Schuster's former club Getafe - whom they beat in the Copa del Rey final in late June in order to earn their spot in the Super Cup. Madrid, meanwhile, meet fierce city rivals Atletico in a delicious opener, and know they need to run into some good form soon.

Sevilla have admittedly been the more consistent of the two sides thus far, but this is the game Real Madrid have been building towards, by their own admission.

Bernd Schuster and Iker Casillas have both separately dismissed the significance of Thursday's 2-1 defeat to Deportivo, chosing to shift the attention towards this big clash.

That means this is a make or break game for Schuster, in particular - not in terms of his future at the club, but the faith he inspires amid the Madridistas.

The fans have chosen to back the club despite the eventually unpopular sacking of Capello, but quite a few have doubts about whether the German is the man to lead them forwards. For all the talk of playing touch football in keeping with the philosophies of the club, there has little in terms of real sizzle apart from that sparkling second half in the 5-2 win over Lokomotiv Moscow.

There might be no threat on Schuster's future, but there certainly is pressure. But then that goes with being a Real Madrid coach. The early signings of Pepe and Saviola lifted some of it, but some high profile failures in the transfer market and some forgettable pre-season results meant that the scrutineers were out in numbers.

The recent signing of Royston Drenthe has once again "elevated" the mood in and around the camp, and given the team some welcome breathing space. There is some positive energy to draw from despite Thursday's defeat.

The team can, thus, actually focus on the game while the media go after Drenthe, ahead of a game which could buy Schuster plenty of time, or put him right under the microscope. If his side can come good at the Sanchez Pizjuan, the general refrain will be: "See, he told you it was all in preparation for this game!" If not, it will probably be "Does he know what he is doing?"

Sevilla, in turn, have quietly hit their stride, thanks to a very solid tour of the US and some low profile work on form and fitness. In stark contrast to Real Madrid, they did the bulk of their summer business early and without much fuss.

The only real uncertainty at the moment is over the future of Daniel Alves. Though he will be a big big loss for the club, so were the likes of Jose Antonio Reyes, Sergio Ramos and Julio Baptista. Yet, the team went from strength to strength, making sure they made great money out of those sales, and invested it wisely.

Many neutrals fear that last season was their best chance to win the title, but they actually have a stronger squad now than they did back then. However, they are now in uncharted territory in that they must compete in the Champions League, something that can take plenty out of the best of teams even during the group stages.

The likes of Celta Vigo, Real Betis and Villarreal have all paid the price in recent years, and Juande Ramos will be wary. The test starts in the middle of next week when they take on AEK Athens in the first leg of the final qualifying round.

However, all that is for later. This is a chance for them to get an early trophy under their belt, and a strong home showing in the first leg will set it up perfectly. Juande Ramos will hold nothing back, but then again neither will Schuster, making for an absolute humdinger.

TEAM NEWS

Sevilla

The news is not very good in the Sevilla camp, as Juande Ramos will be without quite a few key players. Frederic Kanoute is injured, but also suspended after being sent of in the Copa del Rey final. That will see Luis Fabiano and Alexander Kerzhakov start up front.

De Sanctis still does not have an official clearance from the Italian federation, so Palop is certain to start in goal. In defence, Escude, De Mul and Boulahrouz are all carrying knocks. Boulahrouz is expected to be fit, De Mul is considered '60-40', and Escude almost certain to miss out. If neither of them makes it, Christian Poulsen will partner Ivica Dragutinovic, with Antonio Puerta on the left and Daniel Alves on the right.

The midfield will see Seydou Keita and Adriano start, with the remaining two likely to be Poulsen and De Mul.

Probable Line-Up: Palop - Alves, Boulahrouz, Dragutinovic, Puerta - Poulsen, Keita, De Mul, Adriano - Fabiano, Kerzhakov.

Real Madrid

Schuster will be without Gonzalo Higuain, Christoph Metzelder and Ruud van Nistelrooy, and is expected to go for a 4-5-1 formation (or a 4-2-3-1 depending on how you look at it).

Casillas will start at the back, with Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro and Torres forming what is pretty much Schuster's first choice defensive setup at the moment. Fernando Gago will be thrown into the middle alongside Diarra as Schuster reverts to a double pivot for an away game.

Robinho will start on the left, with Balboa having earned himself a spot on the right after some impressive displays. Guti will play just in front of Gago, and help link up the attack and the midfield, with Raul keeping Saviola on the bench.

Probable Line-Up: Casillas - Ramos, Cannavaro, Pepe, Torres - Balboa, Gago, Guti, Diarra, Robinho - Raul.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sevilla: Alexander Kerzhakov

The Russian international's power and pace will pose the sternest test yet for Pepe and Cannavaro, and how this particular contest goes could decide the tie.

Real Madrid: Balboa

I was tempted to choose Robinho, but it is the young right-winger whose performance will be crucial, particularly in light of whether or not he is ready for a regular first team role. The friendlies are one thing; this is the real test, agains a physical Sevilla side.

PREDICTION

It won't be a game of chess, that is for sure! Sevilla have certainly had the better of the pre-seasons, and Real Madrid have not yet looked assured at the back, so I fancy Juande Ramos' boys to put at least a couple past Madrid, with Robinho or substitute Saviola pulling one back to set up a very evenly balanced second leg. However, don't rule out even more goals!

Sevilla 2-1 Real Madrid

Abhishek Thakur
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Offline Small Magician aka Wazza

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #1 on: August 10, 2007, 10:41:48 PM »
lets go sevilla

Offline Toppa

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2007, 11:20:01 PM »
www.westindiantube.com

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Offline Toppa

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #3 on: August 11, 2007, 02:09:52 PM »
Anybody know what time is 21H00? That's now, right?
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Offline Bakes

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #4 on: August 11, 2007, 02:29:08 PM »
Anybody know what time is 21H00? That's now, right?
If dat is 21:00 (21 hundred hours) then that's 9 pm.


About time La Agua (cue de diving) start back...

Offline Toppa

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #5 on: August 11, 2007, 02:39:22 PM »
Anybody know what time is 21H00? That's now, right?
If dat is 21:00 (21 hundred hours) then that's 9 pm.


About time La Agua (cue de diving) start back...

Game going on right now. 1-0 to Sevilla and it's still in the first half.
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Offline Bakes

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #6 on: August 11, 2007, 02:51:15 PM »
Anybody know what time is 21H00? That's now, right?
If dat is 21:00 (21 hundred hours) then that's 9 pm.


About time La Agua (cue de diving) start back...

Game going on right now. 1-0 to Sevilla and it's still in the first half.

Maybe it's 9 pm over there.... :)

Offline D.H.W

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #7 on: August 11, 2007, 03:11:45 PM »
lets go Sevilla we want a win  :devil:  :beermug:
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Offline Toppa

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2007, 04:43:07 PM »
FT 1-0 Sevilla  >:(

There's still second leg in Madrid.
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Offline Small Magician aka Wazza

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #9 on: August 11, 2007, 05:19:39 PM »
FT 1-0 Sevilla  >:(



what i tell yuh

lets go sevilla

Offline D.H.W

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Re: Spanish Super-Cup Preview: Sevilla vs Real Madrid
« Reply #10 on: August 11, 2007, 07:36:13 PM »
FT 1-0 Sevilla  >:(

There's still second leg in Madrid.

shit team  :devil: :devil:
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