Real Madrid (H) - CL Round of 16 1st leg, Tue 21st Feb 2023 (8:00pm)

[Trumo]

Big European game under the Anfield lights, against a genuine heavyweight. This lot have the Indian sign over everybody in this competition, winning it 8 times since it became the Champions League in 1992. That’s one more than any other club has managed in the competition’s entire history. Still, we owe them big time because they have had the better of things since the start of the last decade. That’s through a combination of them being very good, plus us either not being good enough (2014/15 group stages), or not doing ourselves justice (2020/21 knockouts), or being ridiculously unfortunate (the two recent final meetings). What is it we need to swing the tie in our favour?

 

Firepower. Urgency. Class. Know-how. Organisation. Finesse. Force of nature. Gumption. Accuracy. Luck. Audacity. Control. Tactical nous. Incision. Creativity. Obduracy. Speed.

 

I don’t ask for much.

 

Not going to harp on about the 2 finals, both of which were a real kick in the teeth. Let’s go back to 10^th March 2009 and this same stage of the competition. We had brought home a 1-0 advantage after Yossi’s late header at the Bernabeu, after a typical European away performance under Rafa. That Real Madrid team still contained a lot of obvious quality but they were being blown away by Guardiola’s brilliant Barcelona team and had already replaced coach Bernd Schuster with the hapless Juande Ramos, who’d been sacked by Spurs a few months earlier.

 

The second leg though? We utterly destroyed them. Nando’s brilliant turn and shot in the first couple of minutes were thwarted only by an alert Casillas, who also did brilliantly to tip Masch’s goalbound volley over the bar moments later. We were rampant and took the lead when Dirk fended off Real’s Portuguese loon Pepe and squared for Nando to bury the ball past Casillas. No surprise that the former Atletico boy milked the celebrations in front of Real’s travelling support. Pepe was claiming a foul but he was simply not strong enough for the directness of our forwards. Stevie got in on the act when he dispatched a penalty following a handball by Heinze. Not sure if it actually was a handball or off his shoulder, but these were the days before VAR and the way Heinze’s arm moved, it looked like it was off his arm. We were now 3-0 up in the tie, and it was basically done by half time. We weren’t, though. We came steaming out of the traps again in the second half. Babel took on and burst past Ramos down our left and pulled the ball back to the onrushing Stevie to cushion a brilliant first-time finish past Casillas. We then brought on Wee Jay and The Doss, and both made an impact. Wee Jay put himself about and almost bagged a goal. The Doss went one better, finishing at the far post after a quick counter ended up with Masch in the inside right channel crossing low across the box. It was a fortunate finish, but it made it 4-0 on the night and an amazing 5-0 on aggregate. It was to be a week to remember for the Italian.

 

 

No1 box office hit at the time? It was Race to Witch Mountain, which starred Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. He was still a few years away from definitively moving on from WWE, and was still flitting between movie roles and laying the smacketh down in the ring. I’ve not seen this film but he plays a cabbie driving around a couple of alien teenagers or something. The film was actually the last of a franchise dating back to the mid-70s, and looks like something aimed at a pre-puberty crowd.

 

 

For years now, Real Madrid have been one of those sides that are capable of brilliance but more often than not, just have enough individual quality to get the job done. They also have an abundance of high-level experience both on the pitch and in the dugout. Modric just never seems to age. Benzema has been excellent for them since Ronaldo left. Vinicius and especially Valverde look on the cusp of world class. Camavinga and Tchouameni bring youth, depth and energy to their midfeld.

 

Of course it’s important to get a positive result from this game, but I think it’s more important that we look like we are heading in the right direction. We’ve had a lot of false dawns this season and some really wretched displays at times, but this is a game where everybody needs to be on it from the off. We still possess all the tools to hurt them, we just need to show it. Let’s make their coach show off his People’s Eyebrow as he struggles to work out what the hell just happened to his lot.

[an tha]

If we play Hendo and Fabinho in this we are going to be in all sorts of bother IMHO - would be a 3rd start in just over a week and I don't trust either to be at the level we are going to need in this on that sort of workload sadly.

 

The problem is who do we field then in midfield - the options are plenty in number, but the quality is not so plentiful.

 

Therefore feel Fabinho probably has to start - only because no better option and because he should be more capable of playing a 3rd game in just over a week than Hendo.

 

It also for means have to start Keita - again wouldn't want to but who else is there? Milner maybe?  Elliott? - Just not sure these are the right opponents for him in midfield...So feel it has to be Keita....eeek!

 

 

Alisson

 

TAA

Matip

VVD

Robertson

 

Bajcetic

Fabinho

Keita

 

Salah

Gakpo

Nunez (hopefully fit)

 

[Creator Supreme]

0-50, we're fucking crap!

 

Back in my lane as per a request on the Newcastle match thread!

[TheHowieLama]

^^^^^Post a sandwich ya dumbass.

 

Bajcetic is a handy fella to have.

[an tha]

2 minutes ago, TheHowieLama said:

^^^^^Post a sandwich ya dumbass.

 

Bajcetic is a handy fella to have.

Bajcetic is first name down on teamsheet in midfield at present.

 

 

[George Costanza]

I want to fucking destroy the fuckers.  I despise the cunts

[No2]

7 minutes ago, an tha said:

If we play Hendo and Fabinho in this we are going to be in all sorts of bother IMHO - would be a 3rd start in just over a week and I don't trust either to be at the level we are going to need in this on that sort of workload sadly.

 

The problem is who do we field then in midfield - the options are plenty in number, but the quality is not so plentiful.

 

Therefore feel Fabinho probably has to start - only because no better option and because he should be more capable of playing a 3rd game in just over a week than Hendo.

 

It also for means have to start Keita - again wouldn't want to but who else is there? Milner maybe?  Elliott? - Just not sure these are the right opponents for him in midfield...So feel it has to be Keita....eeek!

 

 

Alisson

 

TAA

Matip

VVD

Robertson

 

Bajcetic

Fabinho

Keita

 

Salah

Gakpo

Nunez (hopefully fit)

 

It would be 3 starts in 8 days or also 3 starts in 2 months, they have been subs for 6 weeks. Shouldn't be any issue playing the same team again once Darwin is good.

[VladimirIlyich]

Ancelotti seems to have Klopp's number in one off games. Maybe a two legged affair will be better for us?

[ZonkoVille77]

We're fuckin shite.

[an tha]

13 minutes ago, No2 said:

It would be 3 starts in 8 days or also 3 starts in 2 months, they have been subs for 6 weeks. Shouldn't be any issue playing the same team again once Darwin is good.

They have shown time and time again this season that when asked to play 2 or 3 games in a shortish period that they have been way off the pace.

 

I just don't think Hendo can cope with that sort of workload anymore - and midfield is where Real Madrid are strong 

[TheHowieLama]

5 minutes ago, an tha said:

midfield is where Real Madrid are strong 

And old.

[an tha]

10 minutes ago, TheHowieLama said:

And old.

Modric and Kroos for sure aye - Kroos is injured isn't he?

[Section_31]

We should play them early afternoon while they're all asleep.

[Aventus]

Here we go, the big one we were looking forward to, then dreading, now we've hit something resembling a decent run of form so I'm looking forward to it again. 

 

I think we'll win this game, how the tie plays out in the second leg is another story. 

[an tha]

Would be fucking great to hit them with one of those opening 25 minute or so assaults we used to hit teams with and rattle in 3 goals.

 

Been a while since been a big one, Tuesday would be a great time to dig one out.

 

Fucking hate these.

[Denny Crane]

Real Madrid in Europe are like the horror movie villain who can't be killed. One journalist said even the most senior players get starstruck playing Real Madrid, it makes no sense but results seem to prove it. Bajcetic was 3 when Modric was named as part of the best team in Euro2008. 

 

 

Maybe our performance today was the strategy for Real Madrid, shame Thiago is out as this would have suited him. Even though Madrid are going through their own problems can't see them shitting the bed. Our best hope of a result is to be far more cautious than we would normally be. 

 

[Reckoner]

38 minutes ago, Denny Crane said:

Real Madrid in Europe are like the horror movie villain who can't be killed. One journalist said even the most senior players get starstruck playing Real Madrid, it makes no sense but results seem to prove it. Bajcetic was 3 when Modric was named as part of the best team in Euro2008. 

 

 

Maybe our performance today was the strategy for Real Madrid, shame Thiago is out as this would have suited him. Even though Madrid are going through their own problems can't see them shitting the bed. Our best hope of a result is to be far more cautious than we would normally be. 

 

‘One journalist’. He was probably on the Madrid payroll, loads of sycophants in the Spanish media especially. They are a horrible club, a myth with cheesy shiny shirts. Built on corrupting those early European finals combined with facism and backing by the royal family. Star struck my arse, If I scored at the Bernabeu I’d celebrate by taking a shit in the centre circle. Cunt club.

[s(k)aturation]

2 hours ago, ZonkoVille77 said:

We're fuckin shite.

 

Real Shite.

[s(k)aturation]

31 minutes ago, Reckoner said:

‘One journalist’. He was probably on the Madrid payroll, loads of sycophants in the Spanish media especially. They are a horrible club, a myth with cheesy shiny shirts. Built on corrupting those early European finals combined with facism and backing by the royal family. Star struck my arse, If I scored at the Bernabeu I’d celebrate by taking a shit in the centre circle. Cunt club.

 

Yeah that, and they've been quite good.

 

 

 

[s(k)aturation]

 

... and Franco's influence has somewhat waned in recent times.

 

Ever since he had all the rats shot.

 

 

 

 

[AngryOfTuebrook]

The toughest and most important game since last time we played these cunts.

 

Just get these beat, Reds.

[Reckoner]

I’m hoping for a whirlwind kind of opening, obviously. But a suppose a draw wouldn’t be a bad result at all. Knocking them out would be so sweet…

[3 Stacks]

They'll probably beat us pretty comfortably because we can't defend transitions and the quality of the midfield is so beneath theirs. Even in this upturn, if you can call it that, we'll lose the ball and then we can't defend after that.

 

The thing with them is they'll know how to take advantage of our very obvious vulnerabilities. Their style is all about picking their spots and knowing when to throw people forward.

 

We'll need a big Anfield effect and some players really surpassing themselves. 

[Jairzinho]

21 minutes ago, 3 Stacks said:

They'll probably beat us pretty comfortably because we can't defend transitions and the quality of the midfield is so beneath theirs. Even in this upturn, if you can call it that, we'll lose the ball and then we can't defend after that.

 

The thing with them is they'll know how to take advantage of our very obvious vulnerabilities. Their style is all about picking their spots and knowing when to throw people forward.

 

We'll need a big Anfield effect and some players really surpassing themselves. 

 

We're also going to need Vinicius to fluff all the big moments because he's essentially going to be playing against a non existent right back at times.

 

He's gone from being a bit of a joke, and someone most Real Madrid fans wanted to get rid of, to one of the best players in the world.

[Scott_M]

Well fired up for tomorrow night.