Levante UD v Real Madrid CF match preview

It has been too much writing for the blog this past week with the match against Getafe, then Zagreb and now we’re already on the eve of the match against Levante and we have even more interesting posts lined up for you in the coming week.

Dinamo Zagreb v Real Madrid

The match against Dinamo was a hard fought affair and just as the preview predicted, the team didn’t find things going too easy. Real Madrid struggled to make a breakthrough, but to be fair, had the finishing been up to the level of a Champions League encounter, we would’ve found ourselves leading by two goals at least. Anyway, this isn’t really an in-depth match review, so I’ll be brief.

After a half fraught with heart wrenching misses in front of goal, and Dinamo’s dogged pursuit to hold on to a clean sheet led in particular by their Keeper, Kelava, the Angel finally provided God’s saving grace in the 53^rd minute after some slick interchange between Marcelo, Ronaldo and Benzema saw the ball find Di Maria in free space. Di Maria then curled the ball into the far post to put Madrid up. He’s been often called Noodle or Fido Dido due to his thin physical stature and that is quite alright. He has also been berated for the lack of maturity in his game which is true to an extent. However it is guys like Di Maria who keep trying something audacious in the game, which is exactly why they lose the ball often. Give me that over the never ending rigmarole that is the passing of Barcelona. And Boy, did you not love him that night when he scored the winner?

In what is fast becoming a habit for our players (egged on by their coach, no doubt), Ronaldo cut a sorry picture after the match by lashing out verbally against the match referee. To be quite honest, the referee made one bad call the entire game; the savage two footed lunged by Leko on Ronaldo from behind which deserved a straight red. Unfortunately this particular tackle left Ronaldo with a bloodied ankle which required three stitches and understandably he wasn’t too pleased.

“I don’t understand a thing. I’m sad because I hear referees saying they will protect skilful players, but while some are untouchable, it seems I can be mauled”

Suffice to say, Ronaldo risks getting banned by UEFA who are always quick to anger to any words being uttered from Mourinho’s camp even as the team prepares to take on Levante.

Levante v Real Madrid

What: La Liga | Jornada 4

When: 20:00 Hrs CET, September 18, 2011

Where: Ciutat de Valencia

Personally, I like Valencia a lot. Lots of sun & sand and two of the most entertaining teams of late (for different reasons): Villarreal & Levante. While I like Villarreal for their expansive gameplay, a Pellegrini characteristic, I like Levante for a completely different aspect: the bonding between the team and the fans and its very existence.

This modest team from Valencia is a motley collection of has-beens, castaways, loaned out players and journeymen and has been so for the past four seasons. A team whose annual budget is lesser than Lionel Messi’s wages. A club which has spent close to just 2 million Euros over the last four seasons on transfers, and is yet one of the most active clubs in the transfer market. A club whose players recorded a music video in their bad voices last season to let the fans know that they appreciate their support. A club whose ex-coach paid his own buyout clause worth 1 million Euros because the buying club would not do so and he knew the plight of the club. A club which made 7.5 million euros out of the sale of their most prolific striker of last season, only to see that money going to serve the administration machine and not being re-injected into the transfer market. A club which has teetered on the edge of relegation for past couple of seasons only to stay up in top flight at season’s end and is now with a new coach, having drawn their first two matches and back in the rut of relegation threatened positions. Suffice to say, our opponent isn’t exactly an illustrious one even though it is romantic. So a quick look at the head to head record will tell us more.

Head to Head

If you analyze Real Madrid’s matches last season which ultimately contributed towards Real’s losing of the pole position in the league, the match against Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia comes out on top. We drew 0-0 there in what was one of the most appalling displays from Real Madrid. It was only the fact that Levante were toothless in attack that Real did not lose that match.

A look at the other head to head stats shows us that the Ciutat de Valencia has not really been a good stadium for the club to play at. Of the last 3 matches to be played at the stadium, Real has won 1, drew 1 and lost 1.

Team News

Real Madrid

A lot has been made in the media about Raul Albiol & Granero falling out with Mourinho as they did not make the bench for the match against Zagreb despite not carrying any injuries and have now been left altogether out of the squad that travels to Valencia. Ronaldo’s then bloody and now stitched ankle has given cause to concerns about his fitness for the match. Mourinho has quelled the disquiet saying that they’ll take a decision on Ronaldo at the very last. Khedira is back to match fitness, and Kaka might make the squad as well.

Nuri Sahin continues to be unavailable through injury; Hamit Altintop has resumed training but will not make the squad until Mourinho thinks he is ready.

Form Chart: W-W-W-W-L

Levante UD

Las Granotas (The frogs), as they are called for the profusion of frogs in the home stadium of Gimnastico CF (Gimnastico was what Levante was originally named), have had a lot of changes in the squad from last season. The club has seen the departure of 10 of its team mates, the most notable being the two top scorers Felipe Caceido & Stuani. Unsurprisingly, Levante has been toothless in attack drawing their first two matches against Getafe & Racing. Eight players have joined in to fill the void, which means that the squad which takes to the field will be new and raw.

Coach Juan Igancio Martinez has a few headaches deciding who will lead the attack for the side. Defensively, the players are pretty much decided with Nano and the bulky Ballestros making the CB pairing while Juanfran and Javi Venta may be relied upon to provide wings. The defensive double pivot of Ibarra and Xavi Torres doesn’t look to change as well, though Martinez might try to slot in an extra central midfielder in Miguel Pallardo. In attack, Martinez has several options, none of them too brilliant.

Kone will most probably lead the line with Aranda or ex-Liverpool Nabir El Zhar coming on as a substitute in case Levante need goals. Wellington Silva, on loan from Arsenal, hasn’t featured as yet this season, but might be deployed as a wing forward to attack Real on the counter provided Kone or Aranda play well with their back to goal. Juanlu and Barkero are other wide attacking options that Martinez has alongwith Ruben Suarez in case Levante want to go all out with attack.

However, attacking Real Madrid right from kick-off would be suicide as Luis Garcia found to his cost last season, so Martinez would decide to park the bus with the two banks of defenders and defensive minded midfielders, stifle Real’s attack and hope to grab a goal or two on the counters.

Form Chart: D-D-L-D-D

Expected Team Line-ups

Real Madrid

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI: Casillas, Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo, Khedira, Alonso, Callejon, Ozil, Di Maria, Benzema

Mourinho might be tempted to start Coentrao in Di Maria’s place given his latest comments that Coentrao started as a central midfielder due to the lack of other options in that particular area of the field but would now be open to other positions since Khedira is back.

Levante UD

Formation: 4-3-3

Starting XI: Munua, Venta, Nano, Ballestros, Juanfran, Ibarra, Xavi Torres, Wellington Silva, Ruben Suarez, Barkero, Kone

Prediction

Levante will wisely play the “Come, get me” game in this match, so it is up to Real Madrid to break Levante’s defensive organization. I feel this will be a tough game for Real Madrid with few goals. 0-2 to Real Madrid.