Liga Weekend Preview: Real Madrid-Real Sociedad
At Christmas, if somebody had told me Real Madrid would play their last match of the season trailing Barcelona by two points, I would have laughed out loud. Barcelona were a shambles and Madrid, if not imperious, were in a different class. Yet, this is the current reality. Forget the Barca of Ronaldinho and Davids. Five months ago they were a joke. The fact they now lead Madrid by two points shows just how steep the fall of the galacticos has been. While many in the media have been overcome by notions that this average Barcelona have overhauled Madrid thanks to their own brilliance, the truth
At Christmas, if somebody had told me Real Madrid would play their last match of the season trailing Barcelona by two points, I would have laughed out loud. Barcelona were a shambles and Madrid, if not imperious, were in a different class. Yet, this is the current reality. Forget the Barca of Ronaldinho and Davids. Five months ago they were a joke. The fact they now lead Madrid by two points shows just how steep the fall of the galacticos has been. While many in the media have been overcome by notions that this average Barcelona have overhauled Madrid thanks to their own brilliance, the truth is that Barcelona would be a distant third if Madrid had not experienced a collapse the magnitude of which only Greg Norman or Jimmy White could fully appreciate. True, Barca have turned their season around, but they are aeons away from Valencia in terms of balance and competitiveness. Mind you, so are Madrid, the team that threatened to take the title, before football logic restored itself and Valencia ended the season with the double of Liga and UEFA titles. For Madrid, all that remains is to finish the season, get it over with, and resign themselves to the Champions League qualifiers. Surely, Barcelona, who have come so far, will not blow it now. While Sociedad visit the Bernabeu, the Catalans need a draw in Zaragoza to ensure automatic qualification for the Champions League. Ah, Zaragoza, the team that started the Madrid demise. The King's Cup final is but a memory now, but Madrid never recovered, and limp to the finish line in an embarrassing third place, empty?handed, humiliated, and exposed. No wonder Florentino Perez was at a certain wedding yesterday. He eneds to celebrate what he can, and won't be drinking champagne anywhere else.
RECENT FORM
With three points from the last 18, Real Madrid's form needs no analysis. It's the same old story, really. When a galactico is missing, Real tend to lose. With no defence to speak of, and a powderpuff midfield, it was entirely predictable that this team would finish with egg on its face. Now that they have, they seem to think the purchase of one Walter Samuel will be the panacea to their ills. As long as certain players are more interested in "adorning" themselves with tattoos than on playing at a level befitting their salaries, this team will remain a busted flush. Beckham's latest escapade sums up the vacuous thinking behind this current team. Perez is clueless, and so, it seems, is his latest prize asset. It should not be forgotten that Beckham is the first galactico to fail to land a major trophy in his first year - unless you're counting Rabecca Loos, that is.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Real Sociedad have endured an appalling season. So close to winning the title last term, they have spent this hovering above the relegation zone. Last week's draw with Malaga ensured survival, but the effervescence of 2003 seems a mirage. The distraction of Champions League football stretched a thin squad to breaking point. With no such worries next season, we can expect to see a better domestic performance from a side that will surely have recovered from the inevitable burnout induced by last season's exploits.
TEAM NEWS
David Beckham's tattoo, Zinedine Zidane, Guti, and Michel Salggado are all suspended for Real Madrid. Mejia, Solari, Borja, and Jordi should step up in their absence.
Xabi Alonso sits this one out for Sociedad with a muscle strain.
PROBABLE TEAMS
Real Madrid: Casillas, Mejía, Roberto Carlos, Helguera, Pavón; Jordi, Borja, Figo, Solari, Raúl, Ronaldo.
Real Sociedad: Westerveld, López Rekarte, Schürrer, Potillon, Aranzabal, Alkiza, Aranburu, Gabilondo, Karpin, De Paula y Kovacevic.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Ronaldo (Real Madrid)
Top scorer for Madrid this season, injuries have blighted his spring. Still, it's the last day, and Ronaldo usually likes a few goals on the final day to tide him over the summer recess. Last year it was the Baaques of Bilbao who suffered. Those goals cost Sociedad the title.
Valery Karpin (Real Sociedad)
The great Russian mercenary should be right at home at the Bernabeu. Gifted, inspired, and temperamental, he'll either hog the limelight or disappear without a trace.