Real Madrid vs Valencia

23/3- Real Madrid are on top of the points table in La liga but their form is the worst it has ever been this season out of their 6 defeats in la liga this season 4 have come in the last 10 matches played by them and they have only been able to win 4 matches in the last 10 played which is a very bad statistics for a team of this calibre. This week they play hosts to another team that is performing pathetically in comparison to the way it performed in the beginning of the season, Valencia. Valencia are currently placed on the 10^th position on the points table and they have been able to manage 2 wins in their last 10 matches where as they have lost 5 and drawn the remaining three. The last time both these teams faced each other Real Madrid while playing away from home were able to register a 1-5 victory and they would hope to repeat the performance in front of their home crowd this time as well. A brief look at the head to head records would show that Real Madrid have been the dominant side and have won 16 of the 29 matches played between the sides in the last 15 years while Valencia have managed to win only 7 times. Also while playing at home real Madrid have only lost one match this season and they would not like that tally increase.

Both teams would be down on confidence as they faced defeats in their previous matches as Real Madrid lost to Deportivo in an away match while Valencia conceded 2 goals to Sevilla at home and lost with a 0-2 score line. Real would like to get the maximum points from this match and strengthen their hold on the title this year as well.

Prediction: 2-0, Real Win

Depotivo La Coruna vs Real Madrid

15/3- Though out of the Champions League, Real Madrid are still in control of the La liga as they enjoy a 8 point lead over Barcelona and in an attempt to revive their winning form they travel to take on the 16^th placed Deportivo La Coruna, in an away tie. While the visitors are comfortable on the top of the table, Deportivo are just a couple of points away from the relegation zone. In the last match played between the sides Real Madrid won the home game with the score sheet reading 3-1. Also the overall record of Real Madrid is better while playing against Deportivo La Coruna as they have won 12 of the 29 matches played between the sides in the last 15 years while Deportiva La Coruna have managed to win just 10 matches. Deportivo are playing at home but considering their home form this season they would be ion a disadvantage rather than holding a home conditions advantage. Also Real Madrid are the best performing team in La liga while travelling and hence this would work in their favour.

After weeks of disappointment in La liga and the Champions League, Real Madrid returned to winning ways in their last match played against Espanyol at home and would be hoping to take that confidence into this match. In Raul and Ruud Van Nistelrooy they have two of the best strikers in the world. A win here can open up a 11 point gap between them and the second placed team and the La liga crown would most definitely be retained.

Deportivo La Coruna on the other hand would want at least a point against the top side in La liga to try an ensure their run outside the relegation zone. They come into this match after they managed a draw against Valencia last week and they would be expecting a similar result again.

Prediction: 1-3, Real Madrid win

Real Madrid vs Espanyol

8/3- Real Madrid are going through a horrid phase and a team that had hardly thought of defeat throughout the season have been defeated 5 times in the last 10 matches which includes a loss to AS Roma in a crucial second leg match of the Champions League. However their strong lead in the beginning of the season has kept them at the top and in a very important home tie this week they take on Espanyol, one of the sides that were able to defeat Real Madrid in the earlier part of the season. Espanyol are placed on the fifth place and were able to beat real Madrid 2-1 while playing at home in the last encounter between the sides that happened in the initial stages of this season. Real Madrid are five points clear of the second placed Barcelona and would like to keep the gap as it is or possibly increase it but Espanyol is a side that can give them a run for their money.

Real Madrid were able to defeat Recreativo Huelva in an away tie in their last Laliga match and that would be something they can carry into this home tie. They are also well clear of Barcelona and would not be posed of the threat of immediate loss of the top position. Raul seems to have found his best form and the side would be hoping to capitalise on that along with the ability of Ruud Van Nistelrooy in the front. A win here would put them 8 points clear of second placed team and hence would also put a lot of pressure on Barcelona.

Espanyol on the other hand would want to improve on their 5^th position and their confidence would be sky high after the 2-0 home win against Valencia last week.

Prediction: 2-1, Real Madrid win

Champions league: Real Madrid vs. Roma

It is going to be interesting to see how Roma go into this match. They won the first leg of this Champions League tie at their stadium in Rome by two goals to one, but traveling to the Bernabeu will prove a much tougher task for the Italian side.

Real Madrid go into this match knowing that they need to score at least once. At the weekend they won three very important points away to Recreativo de Huelva, and are now five points clear at the top of La Liga. They had more problems than predicted to overcome struggling Recreativo, and it was Brazilian sensation Robinho that proved the key ingredient. He came on in the second half and scored two vital goals for the Meringues, his first just thirty seconds after he had entered the field of play. Robinho had missed the last three matches which curiously all ended in defeats for Real Madrid, including the first leg tie against Roma. Coach Bernd Schuster will also be able to count on Portuguese defender Pepe (a wall with legs) and Guti is back after missing the Recreativo game, but it isn’t all good news for the German coach. He has some very important absentees for this match. Van Nistelrooy is still out through injury and wasn’t able to recuperate on time. Also out is Sergio Ramos through suspension which will be a great blow for Real Madrid. Robben will be unable to play for a month due to an ankle injury he picked up after an awful challenge in the Recreativo game, while Christoph Metzelder, Javier Saviola and Wesley Sneijder all have longer recovery times.

For Roma this game could not really come at a better time. They are still second in the Serie A of the Italian league, and have been able to cut the lead between leaders Inter to six points. The weekend saw them crush Parma by four goals to one at home and now they travel to the Bernabeu stadium with an almost full squad. The only injury is to defender Marco Cassettia, but this could prove costly. I imagine seeing Real Madrid going for all out attack from the first minute before Roma have had time to settle into the game, and with Gago and Diarra in midfield ready to lay off the ball to Guti to pick out either Raul or Robinho, the goals will come.

I’m going for a Real Madrid victory here. With the Bernabeu full to the rafters and the fans playing their part, I doubt if Roma will be able to hold out for the full ninety minutes without conceding at least one goal.

Prediction: Home win (2-0)  

Recreativo Huelva vs Real Madrid

1/3- Real Madrid have lost their strong position and form that they had gained after hard work from the beginning of the season in a matter of 4 weeks. In the last 4 weeks they have lost three matches in Laliga and from having an 8 point advantage they have been brought down to a position where they enjoy only a two point lead over their arch rivals Barcelona. In an attempt to extend their lead at the top of the table Real Madrid travel to take on Recreativo Huelva this week. Recreativo have been in decent form and are currently on the 17^th spot after winning two of their last three matches. In the last head to head encounter real Madrid were able to defeat Recreativo playing at home and would look to repeat the same this time as well. Also Real have won 3 of the last 5 matches between the sides and hence they would hold an upper hand.

After their first home defeat against Getafe last week Real Madrid would like to make a point and there would be no better way than winning the match in a convincing and dominating style. Real have many players who can win the match for the club on their own but the fans would be hoping that in this situation all come together to give a solid performance and possibly extend the side’s lead.

Receativo on the other hand have been trying their best to move out of the relegation zone and after three weeks of consistent performance they look to be moving out of the danger zone but facing Real Madrid under such a situation would be no easy task and they would have to play their best football to ensure that the team can at least draw a point out of this tie.

Prediction: 1-2, Real Madrid win

Real Madrid vs Getafe

24/2- Real Madrid are probably trying to bring in some life to the competition as they were sailing along with a great margin and all of a sudden they lost 2 matches in a period of three matches, cutting down their lead to just 5 points. Both the losses were in matches away from home while the last match the leaders played at home they beat Valladolid 7-0, hence they would be quite confident when they take on Getafe this week. Getafe are placed 13^th on the points table and are a mixed bag team, their last 10 matches have resulted 2 draws, three wins and 5 losses while the leaders have won 8 of their last 10 matches while lost just two. The home crowd will be a definite advantage for Real Madrid and they would not be satisfied in anything less than 3 points from this match. When both these teams faced each other earlier this season Real Madrid had won 0-1, in an away tie.

Real Madrid have won all the 11 matches played at home this season and a team like Getafe does not appear to have the power to stop them. After the defeat last week the players would be on high alert as they cannot afford to give Barca a sniff of a chance. Van Nistelrooy, Raul and Robinho have been the three goal scoring players for the leading Spanish side and they would be expected to deliver this time.

Getafe on the other hand would be hoping for at least a point from this match as dreaming of beating Real Madrid at home this season is like seeing a dream. Getafe would be happy after they were able to hold Valencia to a draw in a home tie last week but facing Real Madrid away from home will be a challenge in itself.

Prediction: 3-0, Real Madrid win

Champions league: Roma vs. Real Madrid

The Champions League makes a welcome return this week and there are some mouth-watering games on offer. Roma play hosts to Real Madrid in a first leg tie that is completely up in the air. Real Madrid are showing signs of weakness when they play away from their Bernabeu stadium and lost by two goals to one at struggling Betis at the weekend. Bernd Schuster’s men only have themselves to blame, though. Drenthe scored the opener after just seven minutes and Madrid’s dominance was total for the first thirty minutes but them seemed to fall sleep, allowing Betis to turn the game around with two goals in four minutes. Madrid still have a five point lead at the top of La Liga, but maybe this is leading them into a false sense of security. They are treating away games with a blatant lack of compromise as they are under the (false) impression that they can resolve everything at home. This may be the case here against Roma as well. Madrid won’t be too upset if they were to lose this match, as long as they get on the score sheet.

Roma meanwhile are doing very well in the Serie A and are in second place, with a huge eleven point gap between leaders Inter. They have only lost three league games all season, but two of those have come in February, including a one nil away defeat at the hands of Juventus at the weekend. More importantly though is the fact that Roma haven’t conceded a goal at their Olímpico stadium since the one – one draw against Manchester United at the beginning of December.

Madrid will be without some key players in this first leg. Central defender Pepe is still side lined with a calf strain, and Robinho, Wesley Sneijder and Marcelo will also be absent. Roma on the other hand have an almost fully fit squad for coach Luciano Spalletti to choose from, with only Juan and Mirko Vučinić on the sidelines, although the latter may be fit enough for this clash.

Real Madrid have never lost in Italy against Roma, but curiously have only won one Champions League away game in nine attempts. I’m going for a narrow one – nil home victory here and I can see Madrid going through to the next round with a good win in the Bernabeu stadium.

Prediction: Home win (1-0)

Real Betis vs Real Madrid

16/2- Real Betis are going through a phase of matches against tougher oppositions, the team placed 16^th on the points table is just a point out of the relegation zone and would need to put up a great performance against the league leaders, Real Madrid. After two losses in a row Real Betis would get ready to take on Real Madrid at home. The visiting team are in ominous form and are under no pressure as they have a comfortable 8 point cushion over the second placed Barcelona but the home team is struggling and fighting to avoid relegation. In the encounter between both the teams earlier this season Real Madrid defeated Real Betis 2-0 in a home encounter and would be looking to repeat the same performance this time as well. Looking at the last 10 matches between the sides Real Madrid have not lost a single match playing at home or away while they have managed to win 6 times.

Real Betis have lost their last match against Valencia in an away tie and they would like to make up for it with at least a point in the home tie however it would not be that easy, especially against an opponent like Real Madrid. Pavone is their leading striker and has scored 6 goals this season and would be expected to play a key role in this match as well.

Real Madrid on the other hand would be more than eager to take on the field again after they devastated Valladolid 7-0 last week, playing at home. It seems as though the loss to Almeria got them going again. With Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Raul in great touch the club and the fans are almost assured of retaining the title, the question now is that how far ahead they would be at the end of the season.

Prediction: 0-3, Real Madrid win

Real Madrid vs Valladolid

10/2- The league leaders received a terrible shock last week when they were defeated by Almeria in an away tie. Real Madrid were cruising along this season with the top position and a 9 point lead over arch rivals Barcelona before Almeria put a halt on their winning streak. From last 10 matches played this season Real Madrid have won nine and lost one. Real Madrid would be looking to prove a point to the home crowd and would be eager to stamp their authority over the championship once again. Valladolid on the other hand are placed on the 12^th position and have been experiencing a bad phase themselves, they have lost their last two matches, one against Deportivo La Coruna in an away encounter and last week they lost against Valencia playing at home with a 0-2 margin. A look at the head to head between the two sides would suggest that Real Madrid have been the dominant side with 12 victories in the 22 matches played in the last 15 years of which 7 were draws.

Real Madrid have not lost a single match playing at home this season and to think that they would lose this tie against Valladolid is out of question, the best that the Valladolid team could possibly do is hold them for a draw but considering the fact that Real Madrid have lost the last match they would be on full attack in order to gain all the three points from the match. A lot can be expected from the tri of Van Nistelrooy, Raul and Robinho as they have been highly effective this season.

Valladolid on the other hand would be hoping to avoid a third consecutive loss as that would put down the moral of the entire side and the fans supporting them as well but looking at the situation a loss is something that looks inevitable.

Prediction: 2-0, Real Madrid win

Almeria vs Real Madrid

2/2-Almeria have performed well this season and an 8^th spot on the points table is highly creditable but their performance is not that impressive as the league leaders Real Madrid. Almeria have been in great form as well as they have won their last three matches and they have been quite decent playing at home as well however their opponents this time have won their last 9 matches and have been equally good playing at home as well as away from home. The sides played against each other in the first half of the competition and Real Madrid playing at home routed Almeria 3-1. Almeria get into this match after a win against Valencia in an away tie, the win was not by an overwhelming margin but just 1-0 however it gave the side the full three points and continued their winning streak.

Almeria would be hoping that with the home crowd cheering for them they can give Real Madrid a run for their money. As Real Madrid enter the match after a hard fought win in the home match against Villareal they would be expecting similar competition in this away tie. Almeria have natural strikers in Sanchez and Milo and they have to be on full throttle against their Madrid opponents. Almeria would also be aware that a win here could help them keep away the teams below them and possibly help them compete for a higher spot so that they can possibly fight for the European competition.

Real Madrid on the other hand cannot ask for more from their players, they have given the team a 9 point cushion over second placed Barcelona. Also in form of Ruud Van Nistelroor, Raul, Robinho, Sneijder they have prolific players in the front end of the field and an equally competent of back strength but Almeria would not be just a walk over for them.

Prediction: 0-1, Real win

Next Page »