Alright folks, matchday 2 is upon us. For the first time in ages, our treatment room is empty and Benitez has the whole fleet at his disposal. Last week, we dominated but we couldn't break into Sporting 10-man wall. Let's hope Saturday's game will see us shatter the bad luck and turn it into a gripping assault of soul-crushing death.

Latest news:

1. Karim Benzema is available but, for precautionary reasons, he won't play the whole game.
2. Bale has been given all-clear and is ready to be unleashed.

Probable Lineup:


I have nothing else to say except: put on a performance worthy of a ten-time European Champion.

I really hope Benzema plays because we looked so headless out there last weekend, and I would imagine that could/would help

Just hoping for improvement on the last game... So the bar is set nice and low

If Benzema starts then it's a routine win. But even without him, I highly doubt Madrid will have problems against Betis at home

Another chance to see what Bale brings as the SS. And hopefully Ronaldo is not playing half the game at RW

That's what I thought about Gijon. The team is all out of sorts tbh

We just lack any type of direction. If Benitez cannot put together a game plan with a clear vision we will see another goalless draw.

But then again if any of Ronaldo/Bale/James or Isco can get their head out of the sand we have the opportunity to score 3+ goals and really run away with it.

Could go either way Imo

as long as players actually try to hold their positions, instead of cramming the box, then a win should happen going by rafa comments benz ain't gonna start, so 1-0 by HT is a must at least.

So will Bale get Rafa sacked like he did Ancelotti? Playing in the middle instead of Hamez

Just to put the Gijon draw in perspective...  Gijon has been deprived of any players purchases for the past 2 years due to their debt.  So the team that drew Madrid was the same as the one who was in Adelante last season

Sporting isn't actually an easy to play in Gijon but the talent gap is way too big for the team to put such an awful display. But a new matchday awaits and I'm excited yet again.

Rafa probably got these men to understand what he wants just a little more so I expect a better performance. Benzema was needed badly though Isco and James could have easily fill in that ACM spot but whatever. It's fairly easy to slot the right players in the right positions honestly but again, whatever.

Bale was decent last week, I hope he does well in front the Bernabeu. They won't accept anything less.

sportsczy wrote:Just to put the Gijon draw in perspective...  Gijon has been deprived of any players purchases for the past 2 years due to their debt.  So the team that drew Madrid was the same as the one who was in Adelante last season

Only hoping my compatriot Juan Vargas has a good game, but regardless this should be 3 points

Just to manage expectations... Benz has played 2 friendlies a month ago and his last competitive game was in May.  So i don't expect him to be very sharp or in game shape at all.  I just hope he helps.  He's probably a month away from being all the way back as he's just starting his preseason in essence.

I'm not going to get my hopes up, but if Bale plays it's gonna be 10v11 again. Can't they just give the guy an assistant coach position and he would technically still be on the team? Here's hoping James starts...

10v11 was a blessing in disguise.

the moment u realize he will release his aura in the central of pitch and made it 1v11.


btw, bunch of players having shit play last week, not fair to blame only him.

Am I the only one who thinks Bale MIGHT thrive as number 10?

Yes!

The Demon of Carthage wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Bale MIGHT thrive as number 10?

What I don't get is playing players out of position who are world class in their natural position. Why? Him coming to the center means pushing Hamez to the flanks right?

terrance511 wrote:10v11 was a blessing in disguise.

the moment u realize he will release his aura in the central of pitch and made it 1v11.


btw, bunch of players having shit play last week, not fair to blame only him.

Fair point. I am with you on that. The entire attack was disjointed and we can't scape goat Bale every week

LeSwagg James wrote:

The Demon of Carthage wrote:Am I the only one who thinks Bale MIGHT thrive as number 10?

What I don't get is playing players out of position who are world class in their natural position. Why? Him coming to the center means pushing Hamez to the flanks right?

That's undeniable. James as 10 is much better than Bale. Come to think of it, James is better than Bale in pretty much every single department.

Problem is, playing Bale on the right is a waste. I think we can all agree on that. So we have to find him another position that he might thrive in.

On paper, he doesn't have what it takes to be a number 10. He has limited vision, mediocre short passing and poor game reading. But one can only hope... that he pulls a Di Maria and goat there.

the main reason i got from bale being played at 10, its just a ploy for him to get off better shots, without doing too much work but since he is in the heart of the attack it makes him look active in the match without being affective, end of the day goals won't be enough to keep him at 10.

Confirmed Lineup: K. Navas; Danilo, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Kroos, Modric; James, Bale, Cristiano; Benzema

Ok, why is he insisting on playing Danilo week in and week out? I honestly believe Carvajal to be superior and more than capable to rotate with this guy. Anyway...

Danilo and Bale

Danilo getting a bale like rock star treatment what a facking farce

I think Bake deserves all the flack he gets because he is not performing better than the players who sit on the bench and have to watch him play like crap almost every game.  Any player, Ronaldo included, should not be unbenchable or unsubbable.  We will continue to play like crap if our number one priority is shirt sales and revenue...

James already making a difference. Why can't we build the team around his amazing talent?!