16/09/2005
Real Madrid looks to bounce back

Last year the nine-time European champions went to Montjuic for the third league match of the season on the back of a 3-0 mid-week defeat in the Champions League to Bayer Leverkusen.

Coach Jose Antonio Camacho watched his side lose 1-0 after an appalling performance and then decided to throw in the towel, apparently deciding his players were unmanageable.

Real head into the match against Espanyol this time around in even worse form.

They were fortunate to beat Primera Liga newcomers Cadiz 2-1 in the opening game of the season and lost 3-2 at home to another promoted side, Celta Vigo, last weekend.

They were then put to the sword 3-0 by Olympique Lyon in their opening Champions League match on Tuesday, Sept. 13, Spain's equivalent to Friday the 13th.

With the club having spent almost $111 million on new signings in the close season, manager Vanderlei Luxemburgo has become the target for heavy criticism.

The former Santos coach has been condemned for his decision to play several of his key players out of position and for insisting the team adopts a Brazilian-style tactical formation without "extremos" (wingers).

CONGESTED MIDFIELD

His decision to move new signing Julio Baptista to an unaccustomed slot on the left and to play David Beckham in a narrow right position has congested the midfield and made it difficult for the club's powerful forward line to shine.

But the feisty Luxemburgo has no intention of following Camacho's example and walking away from the club.

"I'm certainly not going to throw out a system just because of what happened this week," he said. "I'm not going to change because people criticize it -- just take a look at my record and the trophies I've won."

Despite his comments, Luxemburgo may well include ball-playing midfielder Guti at the expense of the more destructive Thomas Gravesen, while the team will be boosted by the return of Ronaldo after the Brazilian missed the Lyon match through suspension.

Although much of the attention will be on Real Madrid, the most appetising fixture of the weekend will see champion Barcelona travel to Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Barcelona was the only one of four Spanish sides in the Champions League to win its opening match and will be keen to beat an Atletico side who held it to 1-1 draw in the corresponding fixture last season.

Only two Primera Liga sides still have a 100 percent record after two games of the season and both hail from Galicia.

A rejuvenated Celta will be favourites to hold on to the leadership when they host Racing Santander, who have yet to earn a point, while Deportivo Coruna will face a tougher task in preserving their record when they visit Valencia.

17.09.2005 07:28 +0400
si.com