Real Madrid analysis – the big need to bounce back
They are five points behind Barcelona against whom they just lost the battle, they will be without their star midfielder Kaka, and Cristiano Ronaldo is just readjusting to intensive football.
Well, Real Madrid seriously need to bounce back as quickly as possible before they get caught in embarrassment as the race for the Spanish Primera Division continues.
Los Blancos will host Almeria at the Santiago Bernabeu in a relatively easy fixture compared to El Clasico. However, with the experience that the Spanish giants have already endured this season (the defeat to Alcorcon and the goalless draw against Sporting Gijon), they will not afford to underestimate Saturday’s tie.
Instead, Real Madrid will approach the encounter with the aim of bouncing back from their disappointing defeat against Barcelona.
Los Blancos certainly deserved more than a loss last weekend, considering the way they performed throughout the game. However, be it because of unluckiness or not, Real Madrid ended with no points in their bag, leaving Barcelona to return at the top of La Liga table.
As the Blaugrana beat Xerez in midweek, the gap at the top of the Spanish Primera Division has been extended to five points. The pressure to recover is consequently high on Florentino Perez’s millionaires.
Manuel Pellegrini will need to encourage his players to take heart and play to win at all cost against Almeria despite the fitness issues concerning Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Los Blancos surely have all the players available to defeat Saturday’s visitors Almeria; there is only one winner on paper, but football matches are not always decided on paper only so Real Madrid will need to be at their best in order to satisfy their anxious fans.
Any slip up on Saturday will almost give the Blaugrana La Liga title as an early present as Real Madrid would then seem to be losing touch with the current La Liga leaders.
Defeating Almeria will cut Barcelona’s lead at the top to two points; the Catalans’ match away to Deportivo La Coruna will come just moments after the final whistle blows at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Almeria – playing to avoid relegation battles
UD Almeria are playing in the Spanish Primera Division for the first time in their short history, and for the third year running.
The Andalusia club are struggling to repeat the form that saw them finish 8th in La Liga in the 2007-08 season.
Almeria currently seat in the second half of the table as they occupy the 13th place. Hugo Sanchez’s club’s form has been absolutely worrying with their 2-1 victory in Malaga being their only win in six away fixtures this season.
Adding to the fear of losing one more time this weekend against the hungry Blancos is the fact that Almeria disastrously lost 4-1 against Atletico Bilbao last Sunday.
After being hammered by four goals in the space of 40 minutes, a converted penalty kick from Uche six minutes from time was the only way for Almeria to gain a bit of consolation.
The former second division side once recorded an amazing 2-0 victory against Real Madrid in 2008.
Should they repeat such an achievement, this time at the Santiago Bernabeu, they might not only find grace in their quest to distance themselves from the bottom three of La Liga’s table standings; in fact, they will be the cause of more troubles to endure for Real Madrid who need to bounce back from last week’s defeat at all cost.
Almeria only lost against Barcelona by a Pedro-wonder-goal to nil early in the season. Can they learn from their mistakes, get luck, and improve on that narrow defeat against Barcelona to beat the Catalans' rivals Real Madrid?
