Zurich Vs Real Madrid Preview: Champions League Preview

FC Zurich vs Real Madrid

Tuesday 15 September 2009,

Letzigrund - Zurich

Kick-Off: 20:45 CET (19:45 UK Time)

Zurich

FC Zurich are being thrown to the lions immediately as they embark on their Champions League adventure.

The 2008/09 Swiss Super League winners will play host to Spanish giants, Real Madrid, on Tuesday in what must be considered a very difficult task.

Bernard Challandes may consider himself lucky to have drawn Slovenian champions, Maribor, in the third round of Champions League qualifying and then FK Ventspils in the play-offs.

But, after 5-3 and 5-1 aggregate victories respectively that guaranteed his side a place in the group stage of the Champions League, the realisation of just how difficult this competition is for “smaller” clubs will inevitably set in.

Nevertheless, Challandes and his men will relish the opportunity to go up against the goliaths of European football, and will undoubtedly give a maximum effort.

Zurich will come into the match after a relatively average start to the defence of their Super League title. The club currently sits in second place, five points behind Young Boys of Bern, but having played one game more than the leaders.

Johan Vonlanthen, who has been touted as a fantastic talent for a number of years, has joined Zurich on loan from Red Bull Salzburg and has been turning in solid performances for the club. He scored in home fixture against Maribor and again in Zurich’s 4-3 victory over Grasshoppers on Saturday.

Real Madrid

Real Madrid will travel to Zurich trying to keep their head focused on taking care of business.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side come from consecutive victories over Deportivo La Coruna and Espanyol to start their 2009/10 La Liga campaign.

After a somewhat less-than-convincing performance against Deportivo in the season opener, Pellegrini’s men turned in a much improved performance against Espanyol on Saturday, winning 3-0 after goals from Esteban Granero, Guti and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has now managed to score in both league games for Real Madrid since making his blockbuster move from Manchester United to Los Blancos in the summer.

The Portuguese midfielder’s arrival somewhat overshadowed the arrival of another star, Kaká, who will be looking to get in on the act when Real take on Zurich on Tuesday.

Prediction

This match should be nothing more than a formality for Real Madrid.

Still, seeing Zurich play in the Champions League is exciting for Swiss football after Basel have dominated the Super League in recent years. Expect Zurich to put in a committed effort, but 99 days out of 100 Real should win this.

Zurich vs Madrid Prediction: Zurich 0 - Real Madrid 4

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