Gimnàstic de Tarragona (19th) v Real Madrid (4th)
When: 22:00 (CET), Saturday, October 28, 2006
Where: Nou Estadi, Tarragona
Two worlds collide on Saturday evening when the star-laden, multi-millionairres of Real Madrid visit Tarragona to play Gimnàstic Club who are enjoying their first season in the top flight for over half a century on a shoestring budget.
Prevention Scheme
Despite their wealth and strength though, Madrid have shown a lack of compassion as they are prepared to prevent one of the Catalan club’s key players from facing them. During the summer break, Fabio Capello spent big, really big, to bring in players that it is believed will lift the club back to the top and another campaign without a trophy will be considered a disaster.Madrid’s hosts for this encounter had to make sudden and dramatic changes to their usual off-season planning after the team exceeded all expectations last term and garnered a place in the top tier with a dramatic post-Christmas run of form.Such are the luxurious choices facing Capello, however, that the Italian could afford to off-load a player that promised to follow in the footsteps of Raúl as he made his way through the youth ranks at the Bernabéu. Javier Portillo was widely tipped to break into the Madrid first team and then stay there, but instead he was rarely given the chance of a run in the side to gain confidence and was instead shipped out on loan.After temporary stints at Fiorentina and Club Brugge, the 24-year-old striker opted to join Nàstic on a permanent basis during the summer and he is revelling at the Catalan club. Madrid, though, have ensured that their former player will not be able to prove anything to them by inserting a clause in his contract that has seen his chances of playing wiped out.
Basically there is this clause in his contract that says if the club wants Portillo to play against Madrid you have to pay 700,000 euros. Why you may ask lemme tell u nightmares that we had….Racing Santandar MUNITIS :S, but the worst of them all…..MORIENTES kicked us out of the fuckin CL. So Madrid dont want to repeat that mistake especially from a team that just had its debut in first division football.
RECENT FORM
Gimnàstic
LOST 17/9 Osasuna (A) 0-2
DREW 24/9 Racing (H) 2-2
LOST 1/10 Valencia (A) 0-4
LOST 15/10 Athletic (H) 2-3
LOST 22/10 Sevilla (A) 1-2
LOST 25/10 Valladolid (A) 0-1
Real Madrid
WON 26/9 Dynamo Kiev (H) 5-1
DREW 1/10 Atlético (H) 1-1
LOST 14/10 Getafe (A) 0-1
WON 17/10 Steaua (A) 4-1
WON 22/10 Barcelona (H) 2-0
DREW 26/10 Écija (A) 1-1
TEAM NEWS
Gimnàstic: Without Portillo, the home side will have to find a new partner for Ariza Makukula up front. The most likely candidate is 35-year-old Antonio Pinilla, who has yet to complete a game during his four appearances so far this season.
Real Madrid: After resting several players for the cup game in midweek, Capello should have the majority of his squad back for this encounter. Sergio Ramos and Iván Helguera worked in the gym earlier in the week, along with Beckham and Cannavaro, but all four should be ready. José Antonio Reyes and Raúl have also been given the green light after shaking off slight knocks.
PREDICTION
Real Madrid 2 – 1 Gimnastic
Recent Comments