CURTAIN RAISER
Real Madrid v Atlético Madrid: Preview
PA
MADRID, August 24 (Primera Liga) - Real Madrid coach Bernd Schuster has decided against calling up new signings Arjen Robben and Gabriel Heinze for Saturday's Primera Liga curtain-raiser against Atletico Madrid.
The duo, who only joined on Thursday and have been short of match practice recently, were left out of a 20-man squad for the mouth-watering clash at the Bernabeu where Real will begin the defence of their title.
Schuster explained his decision to keep former Chelsea winger Robben and ex-Manchester United defender Heinze in the wings: ``They arrived at the last minute and they haven't worked out properly in the pre-season, so we've devised a specific plan to get them in optimum form as soon as possible.''
Heinze and Robben were two of eight summer signings at Real, and the other six - Christoph Metzelder, Pepe, Javier Saviola, Jerzy Dudek, Royston Drenthe and Wesley Sneijder - have all been summoned for Saturday's clash.
With so many new arrivals to bed in, including a new coach in Schuster, no-one can be sure just how Real will perform against Atletico.
Certainly, pre-season results have suggested Real might need more time to click, with the team having lost six of their 10 matches, including a 6-3 aggregate defeat to Sevilla in the Spanish Super Cup.
Despite that, Schuster believes the mood in the camp is good.
``They've recovered well from the game with Sevilla. Playing for their national teams has helped them. That boosts your morale. They were all rather jolly when they arrived yesterday,'' the coach said.
``I'm happy with the squad I have. One always wants to improve on what he has, no matter how good that is. I think we will be able to play at an optimum level in every competition.''
Atletico, who finished a disappointing seventh last campaign after investing heavily during the close season, have also been busy in the transfer market again.
They may have lost captain and star striker Fernando Torres to Liverpool, but coach Javier Aguirre looks to have much more strength in depth this time around following the arrivals of players such as Diego Forlan, Simao Sabrosa, Luis Garcia, Raul Garcia and former Real man Jose Antonio Reyes.
Schuster admits it is likely to be a testing evening for his side.
``I think their forwards Simao, Maxi, Forlan and Aguero are their most dangerous men.
``They also have an excellent midfield. Maniche is very good in attack, like Deco, and he has a great finishing touch. They also have five good defenders. We will have to prevent the ball from reaching the forwards quickly.''
Aguirre, whose job looked to be under threat towards the end of last season but has since penned a one-year extension to his contract with Atletico, is looking forward to getting the new campaign under way.
``We are eager for the league to start and what better opponent to do it against than Real Madrid,'' he said.
``Last year we had a good game against Real Madrid (drew 1-1), but we committed an error which meant we had to settle for a draw.
``We are not worse than them, we are going to battle and fight. We do not feel inferior.''
Reyes, who scored twice on the final day of the season last year to help Real win the title, is confident he will be the one celebrating come the end of Saturday's game.
``Atletico will win 2-0 and I will score a goal,'' the winger predicted. ``I hope to be able to score a goal in the Bernabeu.''
YES boys and girls, the wait is over the big league finally starting most of the games are being played on sunday but the curtain raiser match will be ah nice one. i expecting real madrid 2 start off as slow as manu,the club hasnt look to have settled down yet.( ok maybe is cause i am a barca fan
)
cheers to the la liga fans
