Preview: Real Madrid vs Zaragoza

Real Madrid vs Zaragoza

After a day of rest, after the third of the Classics, semifinal round of the Champions League in which Real Madrid was defeated at the Bernabeu Stadium by 0-2, the white template has become to work today to prepare the league match in which, team will play against Zaragoza on Saturday, 6 pm. In a session that started with almost twenty minutes late, Wednesday starters made ​​recovery work apart from the rest of the group. Mourinho had 24 players, including homegrown players Juanfran and Nacho Fernández. Just missed the injured Khedira and Gago, the rest exercised normally in the Sports City of Valdebebas.

Real Madrid coach, Jose Mourinho, has decided to leave out the call for technical decision; Cristiano Ronaldo, Lass, Xabi Alonso, Albiol and Pedro León. In addition, Gago and Khedira will lose the match due to injury. Accordingly, it is probably that Mourinho plays the game against Zaragoza with a team very similar to that used in Valencia. The defense would consist by Arbeloa (a physical portent), Ramos, Garay and Nacho Fernandez, who would play again to rest Marcelo. In the middle of the field would stand Pepe (suspended for the Champions League match as Ramos He needs no break), with Granero and Canales. And up front, the magical trio ofMestalla, Kaka, Benzema and Higuain.

Real Madrid training

Maybe the Portuguese does any test to the important match against Barcelona, but at press conference, where he spoke indirectly about the controversy of the last European match, has indicated the opposite: "I only think about the approach of tomorrow's match and the team is to try to win against Zaragoza, and will not be a test to Barcelona. Xabi Alonso and Lass will not play because they are "dead". They played alone, 11 against 10, too much time. We need to give them conditions to recover and return in good condition. About Albiol, he does not have to play when Pepe and Sergio Ramos are suspended for Barcelona by these criminal acts they have done. But everyone else will play just thinking about Zaragoza, because we want to play seriously as against all teams. Zaragoza is risking its life and we must do the same, because we have to dedicate the "Copa del Rey" to the fans.The absence of Cristiano is my business, we have Benzema, Kaka, Higuain, Di Maria ..."

But not only the physical aspect is important. After a tough loss, the mental aspect can influence the development of the game against a team like Zaragoza that is fighting to stay alive in the first division. About that, Mourinho says: "We are fine in every way and the season does not end until late May. I'm not sure of the date, but just then we have a couple of friendlies, and when Real Madrid plays, even a friendly, we are not on vacation".

In Zaragoza, coach Javier Aguirre locked himself yesterday at the Sports City in search of the formula that could harm Real Madrid, but that formula is not defined yet. Firstly because Bertolo and Boutahar, starters on Monday against Almeria, did not work on the same pace as the rest of their teammates and, secondly, because the Mexican coach has hidden his cards and tactical plan, waiting for news. In addition, Ander, guide of this squad, is unavailable due to suspension.

It seems more likely that tomorrow at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Aragonese team will be formed with a crowded defense, hoping to have some competitive advantage in attack throughout the ninety minutes. Neither the coach nor the players are wary of the 'substitutes' of Madrid and are not funny having to fight against a hurt rival after the defeat in the Champions League.