The Lopez Caro era begins at Real Madrid with this meaningless and inconsequential game in Athens against Olympiakos. The team is going through a very tumultuous time after the sacking of Vanderlei Luxembourgo following a terrible run of form for the team.

There will be up to ten Real Madrid B players in the squad list for this game, as Iker Casillas, Michel Salgado, Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Pablo García, Zidane, Beckham and Ronaldo will all be rested.

This is the official squad list:

Diego López, Raúl Bravo, Pavón, Sergio Ramos, Diogo, Mejía, Baptista, Gravesen and Robinho, from the first team. And Codina, Arbeloa, Tébar, Barral, Javi García, Rubén de la Red, Adrián Martín, Jurado, Balboa and Soldado from the B team.

It is hard to predict what the new manager will do, especially in such peculiar circumstances but his favored formation on the B team this season has been the 4-2-3-1. Whether this system will be applied on the first team remains to be seen.

Here what I think could be the starting lineup:

--------------------------Soldado--------------

-A.Martin----------------Baptista----------------Robinho

--------------Gravesen---------De la Red------

R.Bravo------Pavon------------Ramos----------Diogo--

---------------------------Lopez---------

Even with so many 1st team players missing I still think Mardid will win 1-0.

Balboa should play IMO

This is what Marca predicts the lineup will be:

--------------Baptista----Robinho-----

A.Martin------------------------------------Balboa

-------------Gravesen-----Ramos----------

Bravo------Pavon-----------Mejia--------Diogo

---------------------Lopez----

Nothing is confirmed, and it is unkown what formation Lopez Caro will use. However one thing is certain is that Diego Lopez, Iker's promising backup, will make his CL debut.

even though this game has no bearing on standings, i am excited to see how some of these Castilla players will perform on the European stage and also how the Brazilian 'clique' will react without Lux (even if its only a couple of them). This game can hopefully be a stepping stone (kinda like Lux's first game against Sociedad but overall more successful).

2-0 Madrid (very optimistic)

Everyone will be watching Lopez Caro like a hawk. I am very curious to see what will be his formation. IMO if he has any worth as a coach, he will play a formation similar to the one he will plan on using with the first team. In Castilla, the 4-2-3-1 has been the norm and I can see that formation working for Real Madrid. Especially if they get a creative CM to play alongside Pablo Garcia in January.

It will be exciting to see the Castilla players individually, but it is unlikely that they will play together as a team. A starting 11 of half and half is very difficult to coordinate.

I just want lazy galaticos be bench in favour of youth. Let the talented players get an experience of european match & that too in greece, hell of the place to travel. Men will be separated from the boys.

Why are there so many B team players playing ? Is it rest or is it to give the Galacticos a wake up call ?

To answer your question, it is because we are already qualified and to give the Galacticos a rest.

I am sure that this will be a wake up call though, because the coach has fatih in these players and will probably get the best out of them.

I have a feeling this coach will either be very successful or a complete failure. Just by looking at him, you can see his determination and his intelligence. I am hoping he drops some big players in the next Liga game, and get us results without Ronaldo, Beckham and Zidane.

I thought excatly the same hopefully Castilla boys can show what they are made of! I have no doubts they will!

looks like a good formation except that it has pavon in the middle .
this would be my line up considering that you laft out soldado (the most recognized player in Castilla) and that his favourite formation is 4-2-3-1 :

-----------------------Soldado--------------------

A.Martin------------Robinho--------------Balboa

-------------Gravesen-----Baptista--------------

Bravo------Ramos-----------Mejia--------Diogo

---------------------Lopez------------------------

i really like Martin too he and Blboa should have no problem breaking into the first team but realiticaly they wont be given a chance

aaahhhh No Baptista shouldn't be played there. Hi should be AM.

anyone knows which channel is showing this game on pplive?

ANY ONE KNOW WHERE I CAN WATCH THE GAME ON THE NET?

I THINK OLYMPIAKOS WILL WIN....

We are looking for revenge and we will take it..

Ole ole ole oleeee yayaaaaa tourrreeeeee

1-3

Baptista 2 Soldado getting 1 too.
Some guy for olympiakos

This will be a very interesting game to watch. I'm thinking of a similar result like last time, a 2-1 win.

Yeah very intresting to see some Castilla players and the new coach. To see how hi likes to play

Considering the facts and players available for the game, I am going to have a result that is somewhat humble.

0-1, goal by Soldadito.

i love to see castilla players in the lineup. hopefully they show us something to be proud of!!!

I think Jurado is playing, if he is watch out for the trio: Soldado, Balboa, and Jurado, they are the best the Cantera has to offer IMO.

Id ad De la Red to that. Damn id want Jurado to start hi seems very promising playmaker with just the right attitude

VS



GK 13 Diego López
DF 21 Diogo
DF 22 Pavón
DF 24 Mejía
DF 15 Raúl Bravo
DF 4 Sergio Ramos
MF 35 Balboa
MF 16 Gravesen
MF 36 Jurado
FW 8 Baptista
FW 10 Robinho



Odd formation to some, but it does indicate a change of times in the squad.

We have Ramos as the 5th defender, and probably as a drop back Midfielder, also with Gravesen in the mix, and the much awaited appearance of Jurado and Balboa.

Soldado will more than likely start out in the bench, and will go in for Baptista, or even Robinho. This is the most likely starting line up, and the most innovative thing thus far is the fact that he has lined up 5 defenders.

UEFA.com has this lineup shown:


Diego Lopez (GK)

Diogo / Pavon / Ramos / Bravo

Balboa / De La Red / Gravesen / Robinho

Soldado / Baptista

Yeah thats the one from Realmadrid.com and actually, I like it. I love the fact that he is playing De la Red at CM rather than Ramos. I think that it is going to be like a 4-2-3-1 with Baptista as the AM.

What do you know about Balboa?

Balboa is pacy, and plays ala Vicente, skilfull feet and decent passing.

Pavon is captain

He has been a pleasant surprise as Juanfran's replacement. Hes been one of Castillas best players. Pacy, skillful winger but at times a bit inconsistent.



Game started.

anyone have a link for PPlive?

RM is in fact playing the 4-2-3-1 with Robinho on the left.

Great Pass by Ramos for Robinho who beats his man and puts in a cross. Defense clears

GOAL RAMOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Balboa draws a foul on the right and Ramos scores the header!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ramos scores

1-0 Balboa earns free kick on right; Bravo takes and Ramos heads home easily

Raul Bravo took the free kick very well!! Ramos rose high and scored!

Nope, not for this match. TVants has a chan though. Not very good quality though. Get the program TVants, then go to:... hmmm, hold on, I'll update this post once I get the link for the channel.....

GOOOOOOOOOOOOL REAL MADRID!

RAMOS OF A FK from Raul Bravo!!!!

Ramoses first at RM !!!!!

Nice block by Pavon in the middle of the box on a Rivaldo strike

I have the free stream working via TVants. Once you have the program installed, click this link:

tvants://fanshoptv.no-ip.info/tvants/?k=d58b7b439d442164

Dangerous freekick at the edge of the box for RM. The Beast is playing very well today

BAPTISTA OFF THE POST!!!!!!!!!!!! WHAT A GREAT STRIKE!!!!!!!!!!

Toure looks like an excellent player for Olympiakos...

Baptista fouled on edge of box after a few Robinho stepovers. takes free kick and strikes the crossbar. I find that RM have more players back than usual even though Olympiacos are finding some space. RM are counterattack well also

thanks.

The beast scored quite a few goals for Sevilla off free kicks

Thats to my liking hopefully ha can get back to his Sevilla form. He definedly should be played as striker like hi is now

Actually it's not working..

Right now he is playing in the center of a 4-2-3-1 formation. He looks good today.

Are we playing well??? are they outting any effort????


btw why isnt ronaldo playing??

Great work from Diogo down the right. Cuts it back to his left and puts in a cross for Soldado but his header goes wide

Lopez Caro is very animated on the sideline...

Toure yellow for a late foul on De la Red

Diego Lopez gets the best of Rivaldo from the free kick...