Will the 'Real' Madrid Please Stand Up?

"I believe this game should have ended 0-0” – these were the words from Juande Ramos, and probably the thoughts of many Madridistas around the world after the first leg of the CL tie between Liverpool and Real Madrid. But it did end in a 0-1 score, after a Yossi Benayoun header in the 80^th minute. The game gave the Reds the win and that so important away goal.

You could argue that the Madrid coach was right, as the Blancos were the more active party throughout the match, but you cannot overlook the fact that their possession failed to materialize in real chances most of the time. It was not the first time this season, and you could not help but think of two things:

Firstly, Real Madrid has a hard time against teams who give them little space in the middle of the field. Secondly, they are lacking the creative spark in midfield.

Just like in the group stages against Juventus, or yesterday in the first half against city rivals Atlético, Madrid could do little with their possession. With their strikers and wingers closely marked, their game restricted to passing around, the odd ball forward, or hoping for Robben to solve it on his own.

This exposed all their shortcomings: attacking players out of their depth, a double pivot – while being sound in defence – unable to create chances, and no one being able to be a threat from the range.

Still, it is hard to see how Juande Ramos could change his starting team for the second side. There can be no doubt about the defense, as the backline of Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Cannavaro and Heinze did always start when all four were available for selection. The striking duo of Raul and Higuaín is also as good as given.

El Capitano is without a doubt not as commanding as he once was, and delivered his latest great showings playing as a trequartista rather than a classic striker. The young Argentine still failed to score a single goal in the Champions League, but there is no selection available - Ramos clearly has no trust in Saviola, who only got minutes of play under him, while the only other options are cantera products Alberto Bueno and Ádám Szalai. One wonders how the more physical Klaas-Jan Huntelaar could fare with the Reds defense, would he be available to play.

Guti, Wesley Sneijder and Rafael Van der Vaart would be the alternatives on midfield, who could maybe offer more creativity, and some long distance firepower. Unfortunately neither of them has been in great form lately. The vice-captain has been taken off after 55 minutes and a totally anonymous showing yesterday. Van der Vaart is barely on pitch after his promising start to the season, while Sneijder has delivered such dreadful performances lately that you cannot help but wonder if he is still the same player, who he was in Euro 2008.

This means that it will most likely be the same 11 players facing Liverpool at Anfield, who lost out in the first leg. One could say that Ramos was right; after all it was just a momentary lapse of concentration from the Madrid defense. However starting from a goal down will be very different to starting from 0-0. Liverpool can play the same no-nonsense football, as they did in the Bernabéu. They will occupy the midfield, pressurize the Blancos, and hope for a chance to counter. Seeing the second half of yesterdays Derbi madrileño, it could work out just fine.

Madrid will have to try and push from the first seconds to the last. Playing away takes some of the weight off their shoulders – should they concede a goal, scoring two will take them to the next round. To be able to do that, they primarily have to make sure their passing is as precise as can be, and that there is always movement up front.

Their wide men have to have the support of the full-backs joining the attack, and will have to win some crucial 1-on-1s to create chances. The strikers will have to come further back to pick up the balls, and by pulling their defenders with them create some space for the wingers to move into. Should they succeed, they will surely have the chance to move things around. Otherwise, we might be up for another clueless showing from the Madrid side, which will result in them failing to reach the last eight in Europe once again.

My prediction: realistically a 0-0, with a perfectly defending Liverpool, a Real Madrid, which is getting more impatient by the minute, and some fine saves by Casillas. Being a Madridista however, I have to say 1-2 in a thrilling match, with goals scored by Gerrard, Raúl and Sergio Ramos.