Real Madrid (A) - Build Up Thread

[The Erectile Banana]

So, after the doom and gloom of the weekend how are we all feeling about our trip to Madrid?

They're on a **** hot run; 9 wins in a row and Robben is on fire.

We're not on a **** hot run and look rather vulnerable truth be told. When the draw was made we were in good form and they were struggling. Back then I was highly confident we'd thump them. Given our recent form and their excellence (they won 6-1 at the weekend with all six goals in the first half!) I am not feeling particularly confident now.

Whatever happens it's going to be very tight but with the way Madrid play I can see there being plenty of goals.

[Kinell]

I think we will get the result needed in Madrid to be able to give ourselves a great chance to win the tie back at Anfield. I have full faith in Rafa in Europe and with Alonso and possibly Gerrard back we'll grab an away goal and even possibly a win.

[Joe King]

They are ultra confident at the moment. Marca were commenting on how they were quite cocky on the training ground not only because of their form but looking at Liverpool's horrible 'title contending' form.

[Matt]

I hope we'll step up and play like we've done in past European games otherwise we could find ourselves in Real (sorry) trouble.

I'll predict 1-1.

[Kenneth]

I think we'll lose in Madrid but do well at Anfield. Who knows whether we'll do enough but I'm a lot less confident about this round than I was when the draw was made.

[The Erectile Banana]

I hope we'll step up and play like we've done in past European games otherwise we could find ourselves in Real (sorry) trouble.

I'll predict 1-1.

If we get a bad result tomorrow the headline writers will have a field day.

I think we're going to lose tomorrow night but with an away goal then bring the ****ers back to Anfield and brutalise them.

As you said though we do no need to step things up a gear. We often do seem to find our best form under Rafa in big European nights though and I can see this happening again.

[SK]

we'll raise our game and beat them over the two legs, but it's going to be tight.

we seem to do well against teams that attack against us, so with captain fantastic back, and xabi organising our attack and delivering searching balls to torres running behind their defence, i see us having a decent chance for a good result even at the bernabeu.

[SB]

I think we'll lose in Madrid but do well at Anfield. Who knows whether we'll do enough but I'm a lot less confident about this round than I was when the draw was made.

I think the team performs better away from home TBH

[dww]

I'd really like to see Agger play - I think his ability to move the ball out of defence is a real boon and allows us to play higher up the pitch. Away from home against an in form Real that would make me feel a lot less tense.

I have a good feeling about the tie overall but they are a good team so it was always going to be tough no matter what the relative league forms of the teams. Under Rafa our CL form has largely been disjoint from that in the league any way.

[PTP]

bizarrely, with liverpool, this is just the kind of game we need at the moment. A massive european game, we are in our perfect role as the underdogs which we seem to relish in. Plus a guarenteed massive Anfield european night coming up which will raise the spirits of the fans and players.

It will be tough in Madrid, but i think rafa can set us up to get a result, but the key is Gerrard we need him fit for BOTH games if we are too go through. Providing he is ready for this game, then we should be able to field our strongest XI in probably our best formation/tactical set up which may be ****e at home against wank teams who put 10 men behind the ball but is ideal for tough away ties in europe against big teams

reina

arbeloa carragher skrtel aurelio

mascherano alonso

kuyt Gerrard usually riera but imo Yossi has been one of best players recently?

Torres

[BFG]

Have a strange feeling we'll beat them away and draw at home. I'm usually wrong with these things though, ask Ladbrokes.

[dww]

RAMOS SETS THREE-GOAL TARGET
Posted 24/02/09 08:54 [football365]

Real Madrid manager Juande Ramos has set his team the target of securing a "decisive" three-goal advantage in the first-leg of their Champions League tie with Liverpool.

Unperturbed by Liverpool's reputation for boasting one of the most formidable defensive units in Europe, the former Tottenham coach has predicted that winger Arjen Robben will be the key to unlocking Rafa Benitez's side.

"Arjen has been spectacular since I arrived. He is different to the rest and has those very rare qualities of speed and an ability to get past defenders," declared Ramos.

"I am looking for a three-goal advantage because that could be decisive and would make going to Anfield that much easier."

Ramos also downplayed the news that Steven Gerrard had been named in the Liverpool squad for the tie despite not featuring for the past three weeks, claiming that he always expected the midfielder to feature.

"Ever since the injury happened and they gave him a three-week recovery period I interpreted it as a strategy. At no point did I think he might not play," he said.

[dww]

High five! Real Madrid chief Boluda forecasts hammering Liverpool

By Christopher Davies Last updated at 9:34 AM on 24th February 2009 [Mail]

Vicente Boluda, the Real Madrid president, had predicted 5-1 aggregate victory for his club over Liverpool in the Champions League.

'We will win 3-0 in the Bernabeu which will be a great party,' he said. 'Then we will win 2-1 in Liverpool.'

No one could accuse Boluda of lacking confidence in the players or coach Juande Ramos.
On the eve of the first leg he said: 'We will go on to win the Champions League.'

And despite trailing La Liga leaders Barcelona by seven points Boloda insisted: 'We will win the League, too. I have been saying this for weeks and I'll say it again now.'

Boluda's predicted success would be good news for former Tottenham manager Ramos whose contract ends at the end of the season.

'Ramos is a great coach and I support him completely,' said Boluda. 'As I believe we are going to be champions his contract would be renewed automatically.'

[PTP]

Cheers ramos - quite simple now, post this along with the quotes from van der vaart and any other person connected with Real on the walls of the changing rooms and let our players read them.

Oh and stick ****ing mascherano, man to man on robben and tell him to kick the little diving beaut of the park in the first 10 mins and it will be game over.

[dww]

Robben ready for Reds revenge

Last updated: 24th February 2009 [Sky]
Arjen Robben is gunning for revenge against Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League and believes Real Madrid need to secure at least a two-goal head start.

Robben was a member of the Chelsea side which lost a semi-final against Rafa Benitez's men in 2005 before also crashing out on penalties at Anfield in 2007.

And the Dutchman has added incentive to sink the Reds after seeing his spot-kick, Chelsea's opener, saved by Jose Reina in the shoot-out setback two years ago.

"I want to beat them because I have lost against them in two semi-finals and Reina saved my penalty," the winger said in the Daily Mail. "I want a chance to take another against him and score."

However, after witnessing Liverpool's strength on home soil in the past, Robben - who left Chelsea for Real in 2007 - has warned his current club they will need a first-leg advantage.

Robben feels that Real will need a safety net at the Bernabeu on Wednesday ahead of their trip to Merseyside on 10th March.

"They are very strong," he added. "The coach is tactically excellent. The most important thing is to score at the Bernabeu.

"We have to beat them by more than two goals at home because the second leg at Anfield is going to be very tough."