Liga Preview: Real Madrid v Racing Santander
Real Madrid play host to Racing Santander in a match that has all the hallmarks of an exciting spectacle.
Real Madrid play host to Racing Santander in a match that has all the hallmarks of an exciting spectacle.
The visitors are the fourth top scorers in the division, and currently sit in fourth place.
Real's goalscoring prowess is there for all to see, although on Wednesday they only found the net once when beating Partizan Belgrade at the Bernebeu. Despite this, they created several chances, and coach Carlos Queiroz was keen to take the positive aspects from the game.
"The objective was to get three points and to put ourselves in as comfortable a position as possible in the group" he said.
"It wasn't a game with much rhythm or intensity, but we did what we had to do and we created a lot of chances."
"I'm going to remember the three points, the result and the opportunities."
Nine points out of nine in the Champions League for Real so far.
Racing Santander recorded a highly impressive 4-2 win over Malaga last weekend. Moran, Benayoun, Jonathan, Bodipo were the players on target as Racing hit four for the second time in as many games. The week before they thrashed Valladolid 4-0.
Of course, attacking Real at the Bernebeu can be a dangerous game, so Racing beware.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid: Beckham has been ruled out with a thigh injury so Guti will most likely deputise in midfield alongside Helguera.
Racing Santander: Javi Guerrero has a knee injury and is unavailable. Coach Alcaraz may go with the same starting line-up that saw off Malaga.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Real Madrid: Casillas, Michel Salgado, Pavón, Raúl Bravo, Roberto Carlos, Helguera, Guti, Figo, Raúl, Zidane, Ronaldo.
Racing Santander: Ricardo, Coromina, Pablo Casar, Juanma, Neru, Nafti, Matabuena or Jonatan, Morán, Benayoun, Regueiro, Rodolfo Bodipo.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid): the Frenchman remains Real's most valuable player in most people's eyes. His displays at the Bernebeu rarely disappoint.
Rodolfo Bodipo (Racing): the striker has been talked about in the same breath as Patrick Kluivert, and the Dutchman would surely give anything to be in Bodipo's current good form.