RM travel to Trondheim, Norway to face Rosenborg and is looking to survive another game without the likes of Ronaldo, Baptista, Zidane, Gravesen and Pablo Garcia. Real Madrid is definitely not going through its best moments now and must struggle to stay in games and hope that a stroke of genius from Robinho, Raul, Guti or Beckham will save them.

It is encouraging however, that Rosenborg are struggling mightily this campaign and lost 4-1 at the Bernabeu in a game in which Ronaldo and Baptista were both absent.

It looks like coach Wanderley Luxembourgo will have to resort to an emergency lineup in midfield and Sergio Ramos will get his second start at CM, alongside young Uruguayan Diogo. Becks will begin the game out on the right flank and Guti will be the creative force coming in from the left. Up front, it is likely that Raul and Robinho will get the start eventhough Soldado looks like the best option at sriker (2 great goals yesterday with the B team). He is more of a classic number 9 and could work well with Raul as a support striker.

Anyway Luxembourgo has admitted that he will instruct his team to wait back and look for the counter. Now I cant even begin to describe how irritating this is to me. This is Real Madrid we're talking about, not Albacete or Cadiz or some other 3rd rate side. Also, Rosenborg aren't exactly AC Milan or Chelsea RM should ALWAYS come out to DOMINATE sides like this. Just further proof that this guy doesn't have the right mentality to coach a side like Real Madrid.

I am hoping for a win as always and I think it will happen. However I dont know if we will exactly dominate this game..... we'll see.

This is the likely lineup as both Salgado (fractured mandible, what a badass) and Becks (strained Calf) are likely to play:

---------Raul------Robinho---

Guti-----------------------------Becks

---------Ramos-----Diogo-----------

Carlos-----Woody-Helguera------Salgado

---------------Casillas-------------


Raul and Robinho have to be patient and not drift from their positions too much. They were both guilty of that against Betis as both are accostumed to playing in that role. However they must coordinate their movements and make sure that there is at least one of them putting pressure on the last man.

It looks like Helguera has gotten injured in training today and will be replaced by Paco Pavon in the starting lineup. The extent of his ansence isn't yet known and he will undergo an x-ray upon his return to Madrid to see if there is a tear.


New Lineup:

----------Raul------Robinho-----

-----Guti-------------------------Becks

------------Ramos----Diogo

Carlos--Woody-----Pavon------Salgado

------------Casillas----

I think this will be a good game to watch as Real Madrid will not have the firepower we're accostumed to, and the match will be more entertaining as a direct result of this.

Anyhow, I just posted a pic of the Venue where Rafa's initial post is (sorry Rafa ), it looks like a small stadium the size of Villarreal's, so the atmosphere will be amazing.

Luckily, it isnt too cold in Norway. It was 15 degrees Centigrate when the team arrived.

That looks great mate I used your stadium guide to find out the names of half the stadiums

I heard on TV before a commentator saying there is a rumour Becks was dropped against Betis because Lux thinks he faked injury against Depor. Is there any truth in this that anyone knows of?

The rumor I heard was that Becks faked an injury prior to the Betis game because he was angry at being substituted for Balboa so early in the Depor game.

Its clear that something shady went on....

Yes thats more like what he said mate, I didn't hear the full thing as of yet, I'm sure there will be something about it on the highlights programme tomorrow. It really doesn't seem like something Beckham would do.

Is it coincidence or me being paranoid that Beckham is re-negotiating his contract, a contract where he knows he pretty much holds the aces because he is Madrids marketing jewel, and there are then stories that would harm Beckhams image in the eyes of Madrid supporters. This would weaken Beckhams bargaining position somewhat. If it was adeliberate ploy then it could backfire horribly and Beckham may leave.

Now I'm not accusing Perez of dirty tricks, but well , it is Perez!

Ahhhhh a conspiracy theory.....

The thing is that the type of Madrid supporters that idolize Becks, wouldn't really get wind of this bit of news. And those that do get wind of it, will just throw it out as a conspiracy theory. If Florentino actually cared about what many RM fans think, Becks would have been sold by now. Possibly, he would never have been bought.

Becks has been great this season and is definitely an integral part of the team. But he hasn't really played well in his time here and he is getting up there in age (30), so his departure next season wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

Remember last time, Rosenborg scored first...and put up a rather nasty fight too in the first half. Especially with Real missing Ronaldo, Zidane, and Baptista...things looking scary for the Spanish side this time around. But I don't think Rosenborg have the power to beat Real Madrid, but this will be a low-scoring match without all the attackers. 2-1 to Real Madrid, Robinho might clinch the winner, or maybe even both.

A couple of interesting things about this matchup. The only time Rosenborg has beaten Real Madrid was in 1997, that was Iker Casillas' first call up to the first team. Also, that was the year Real Madrid broke a 32 year drought in the European Championship. The Lineup for that game went like this:

---------Mijatovic-----Moro----

-----------------Raul----------

---Seedorf------------------Victor

--------------Redondo----------

Karanka--Hierro--Sanchis---Jaime-

-------------Cañizares----

Ahhhh the good old days...... not the current 'galactico' squad. Now THAT was a team that played together and left it all out on the field. Will we ever see times like that again? I hope so.....

Anyway hopefully this team can put it together and achieve similar success.

We definitely should win. If Olympiakos beat Lyon, it's going to be a tough race at the top.

stream links anyone?

Damn school is holding me back again. I guess i'll have to watch this later tonight. Hala Madrid!

Roseborg Lineup (confirmed):

E. Johnsen; Basma, Riseth, Kvarme, Dorsin; Solli, Strand, Braaten, Storflor; Skjelbred y Frode Johnsen


Braaten seemed like their best player in the first game.

Real Madrid's starting lineup (confirmed as well):

Casillas; Michel Salgado, Woodgate, Pavón, Roberto Carlos; Sergio Ramos, Diogo, Beckham, Guti; Robinho y Raúl.
Subs: Diego López, Mejía, Raúl Bravo, De la Red, Soldado, Jurado y Valero.

No surprises here. I am really hoping to see Soldado in action once again. He was on fire this weekend with the B team and is the only real striking presence on the squad. Sergio Ramos will man a very uncreative but powerful central midfield. Guti will be in charge of linking up play but coming in from the left side. Becks will look to bang in crosses and long balls. Hopefully, Raul and Robinho will actually be target men.

has somebody a stream link? :-)

Olympiakos are a goal ahead against Lyon, Haruna Babangida is the scorer.

How we playing right now?

Seems like (through the play by play) that RM is dominating the game.



Thats great news

Thanks Carlos, i am using match play to see the this game too cause all my soccer channels are either showing the liverpool game or cheslea game

Isn't it just, whats more, with a big win here, we could top the group through goal difference, provided Lyon lose.

Yeah, I'm bored as hell at work but none of the streams I've got are showing me a damn thing

1 - 0 to Madrid!

Sweet!
Was it an OG?

It says Dorsin.

which match update you using, there is some problem with uefa.com

1 - 0 Madrid, Mikael Dorsin own goal.

In other games: Chelsea, AC Milan and Inter all losing by 1 goal.

Was a good set up from Guti for Robinho, Robinho tried to pass to Raul, but keeper got a hand to it, then Defender kocked it in from the rebound... bad luck for Rosemborg, but good play by Guti to open the chance up.


BY THE WAY LIGA FANS, BETIS up 1-0 on Chelsea (but down two injuries already Olivira and Nano out of match already).

Just checked our possession, it is 62%

Robinho is staring to look a bit dangerous

Any news on Oliveira's injury ROGA?

Nope, looked painfull though...... strentcherd to the locker room with hand over face....

that is bad, wat happen?

Thanks ROGA.

DORSIN OG:

Last post from me on this OFF TOPIC: He was running for a ball, Carvalho took him out....... that is the biggest cheat in the game of futbol IMO.

liverpool and schalke both up 1-0 now

Come one, guti

What do u expect from Chelsea

Guess who scored for Liverpool....... El Moro

GUTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2-0

Sorry about my previous post, guti just scored for us in the 41st minute and it is 2-0 to Madrid

Guti doubles the lead for Madrid.

From BBC Sport:

Real get a second goal just before half-time. David Beckham plays in Robinho, whose touch lets him down, but Guti is on hand to fire past Rosenborg keeper Espen Johnsen.

An easy win for madrid tonight - Hope all 4 spanish teams have a win tonight

Lyon are back and winning. Unbelievable. 2-1

Don't be sorry, i started the off topicness.

Anyhow, Guti doing great, so is Robinho I guess..... looks like Real are through for sure, as expected (but not wanted by me )

Guti almost went to Arse-anal, I'm very glad he didn't.. I bet Arse Wanker is hating seeing him explode this season.

To be honest, he has been the perfect ZZ replacement.

Lyon are 2 - 1 now after being losing 0 - 1 ... The match between lyon and madrid will be the best

lol I take it you don't like Arsenal then? Thats good cause neither do I, arrogant french tosser's imo, good to see Guti doing so well tohugh.

first goal was a freekcik and second was a carew strike. We really need to stop down in bernabeaue next time round.

GUTI 0-2:




Well it's halftime now, and to speak of another game I must say that Junhinho is taking the crown as the free kick master. Yet another goal from a FK, this guy is amazing.. careful Lyon, RM might steal him

Juninho with the free kick goal I think... that guy is great!

nah enough brazilians, well I'd take Kaka...my subscription site is down so I cant watch this ...

(I love the new stuff on the forum!)