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Spain: Primera Liga Preview- Cadiz v Real Madrid [Sat Aug 27th, 2005]
The endless pre-season rhetoric will finally stagnate as a galvanised Real enter the crunch kickoff to 05/06 in the extreme south of newly-promoted Cadiz.
BACKGROUND
It promises to be a magnificent day for last season’s Segunda division champions, returning to La Liga after a 12-year absence. It does not get any bigger than Real Madrid at home for what, by now, will be the salivating home support. The pressure is most certainly on the visiting giants, who embark on an arduous quest to wrestle the top domestic crown back from the Barcelona revolution.
Los Merengues: Magnificent or Mediocre?
Just how good can this team be? That is the question dominating discussion on the Spanish football scene since Florentino Perez brought in the youthful Brazilian attacking duo of Robinho and Julio Baptista at considerable expense, further supplemented by squad strengthening arrivals in the shape of Uruguayan couplet Pablo Garcia and Carlos Diogo.
The recruitment drive has been very impressive, and Vanderlei Luxemburgo certainly exhibited his tactical knowledge and practical application by whipping a floundering team into title contenders midway through last season. This may only be one match, but the Spanish media are fickle.
Defeat and the constantly sharpened knives will be out. Opening day disaster is not an option, and a solid performance and points on the board will clear any lingering doubts in the Bernabeu corridors.
The Ultimate Question, Defence
Yes, that old chestnut. If there were doubts last season, there are even more now. Any sane or honest Real Madrid supporter knows the team need a quality centre back – something they thought (as did I) they had in the disappointing Walter Samuel – who has since departed.
Ivan Helguera is a certainty in the position this season, especially with a glut of central midfield players at Lux’s disposal. But who will partner him?
Relying on poor Jonathan Woodgate’s immensely questionable fitness (the 24-year -old has denied rumours of retirement every couple of months for the last year) is not a sensible option, and we all know squad stopper Pavon is not the answer.
There’s a week to go in the transfer window, and Real must use the time to sign a solution. For now, they will simply have to make do.
Flustering Fortress or Sunny Holiday Retreat?
While the former could secure survival for Cadiz, the latter will surely guarantee an immediate return to the Segunda depths. Coach Esparrago has recruited a blend of experience (Benjamin, Berizzo) and youthful promise (Uruguayan starlet Fabian Estoyanoff loaned from Valencia) and if the new boys can turn the quaint 20,000-capacity Estadio Carranza into a miniature fortress, there is every chance the club could do a Getafe and enjoy a solid season.
Cadiz fared reasonably well in a recent pre-season friendly with Barcelona, but the fun (or horror) really starts now.
TEAM NEWS
Cadiz: The hosts will likely field the experienced Oli as a lone forward, though throughout the campaign expect far more adventurous displays at home than away. A glut of debuts is likely, particularly for the three aforementioned new signings, though Esparrago could still hold back Estoyanoff for what could be a backs-to-the-wall affair for his chosen eleven.
Real Madrid: Lux has already professed that Zidane will be fielded further forward, to supply the bullets to the strikers. With a genuine dearth of wide players and the arrival of Baptista who should start, expect similarities with Lux’s formation last season with a three man central midfield, only now Raul moves up front to partner Ronaldo. The much-vaunted Robinho may have to wait, for now.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Eduardo Berizzo (Cadiz): The imposing Argentine bone-cruncher may be 36 years old, but he’s as hard as nails. The former Celta and international stopper is set to marshal the Cadiz backline this term, but a lack of pace may be exploited by Ronaldo, Robinho et al if defensive organisation is not of the highest calibre.
Ronaldo (Real Madrid): With the obvious attention reserved for Real’s new signings, the portly expert goal-getter is the most likely to trouble the opposition in this encounter. Ronaldo is clear favourite to be club top scorer, but he is aiming for more goals than ever – 35 to be exact. So he’ll have to get a move on, and there is no time like the present.
PROBABLE TEAMS
Cadiz: (4-4-2/4-4-1-1) Armando, Bertran, Berizzo, Paz, De la Cuesta, Sesma, Fleurquin, Benjamin, Pavoni, Estoyanoff, Oli
Subs: Limia, Quintana, Silva, Bezares, Ania, Medina
Real Madrid: (4-3-1-2) Casillas, Salgado, Helguera, Pavon, R. Carlos, Beckham, Gravesen, Baptista, Zidane, Raul, Ronaldo
Subs: Lopez, Diogo, Garcia, Guti, Robinho, Owen
John Rowlands
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