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| Racing Santander vs Real Madrid |
Mourinho, once again, devoured the hours before the match of Real Madrid. In his press conference rejected any discussion on sport and insisted on looking enemies and renewing outrage. Somebody can say it is a strategy to release pressure to the players. The problem is that the resulting pressure is no longer on him, but that falls on a club that has not enough time to fight against so many ghosts.
The contradiction is permanent. Mourinho regrets the provocations of the enemy, but invokes them. Following the example of the Levante and the proclamations of the Portuguese coach, will be difficult for the Racing resist the temptation to entangle the game today. Perhaps the fair play remains intact by the youth of many of Racing Santander players.
Real Madrid want to prove their defeat against Levante at the Ciudad de Valencia was only an accident. Until Sunday, the Whites had comfortably won their eight previous away matches in the championship. Last season Real Madrid gave an impressive performance at El Sardinero despite the absences of Higuain, Khedira, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lass. They look to do the same tonight despite missing Pepe, Coentrao, Khedira, Sahin and Altintop.
Pepe and Coentrao both suffer from fibrilar tears and will miss the match alongside Sahin and Altintop. Khedira is suspended for the match. Despite these important absences, the team will look to give an impressive performance like last season's, which coincided with the club's 109 anniversary and gave them a 3-1 win despite missing Higuain, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lass and Khedira. Jose Mourinho has taken all his men with him to Santander and also academy goalkeeper Tomas Mejias. French striker Karim Benzema hopes to net a brace against Racing at El Sardinero, just like he did last season.
Racing are currently in the relegation zone and have only taken one point in the last three league encounters, but they are still a tough team to beat, as they proved in Mestalla where they managed to lead 3-1 at one point. Coach Cuper has kept the core of last season's side and strengthened it with the signings of Tziolis, Stuani with Sevilla academy players Bernardo, Acosta and the promising Jairo. The right end of Racing B (three goals in Third Division) has chances to come into the starting lineup, led by his talent, but favored by injuries.
This is Hector Cuper's first season at Racing and his third stint as coach in Spain. The Argentine will miss the injured Arana, Colsa, Torrejon, Acosta and Kennedy, but he'll be able to count on Diop, who was suspended for last week's match. Former Real Madrid player Munitis (36 years) is a key figure on the team and will be able to face his former side becuase recently recovered from a sprained left ankle.
Real Madrid won their previous four league clashes at El Sardinero and will look to add to this impressive run tonight. Six months ago, Real Madrid won by 1-3 at the Sardinero Stadium. Highlighted the midfield formed by Xabi Alonso and Granero, the joy of Özil and rapport between Adebayor and Benzema, authors of the goals. Those were different times: Cristiano was out and Canales (former Racing player) was part of the team.
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