Sunday, 8th of May, Santiago Bernabeu

Expected lineup:


La Liga is basically over unless dat legend Tamudo comes back for one last stand which is impossible. We have to play for our pride and to hold the pressure on the posers. Valencia are shit but capable of an upset like they did with Barca a few weeks ago so we must be careful.

If Rafa didn't shit on us early in the season we would be celebrating a double right now.

Yeah, Rafa made things stupidly hard though those dropped points against Malaga and Betis have definitely come back to bite us.

Anyway, Valencia would go into try hard mode so I expect another tough match for Los Blancos.

Fwiw, I totally meant what I wrote. Those two matches under Zidane I really feel we should have won despite Malaga being a complete pain in the ass usually. We win those and we would have been chilling at the top of La Liga.

Of course, so could have been said for a whole bunch of games so take it as me crying over spilled milk.

Everyone drops points against teams they shouldn't 3-4 times a year... Atleti and Barca have done it too. Problem was that we already used up our allowable quota of such games by mid January. We had to be perfect the rest of the way and we haven't been because, frankly, the team is flawed and far from perfect. Got close to it though.

This will be Arbeloa's last game for us.

http://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2016/05/06/572c4f2fe5fdeae8728b469b.html

Turok_TTZ wrote:I expect nobody to complain if by chance we lose or draw this tie. Though with CR7 back, I would expect the commandante to flaunt his legendary scrub killing abilities with extreme prejudice.

We'll see soon enough.

We all here on GL criticized Ronaldo at the beginning of the season when he was in his scrub-killing mode, but since Zidane took over, he has become a Giant killer - Giant killer with respect to the team and the importance of the game. he has been there for us at the most crucial period this season.
I think its unfair to still label him a scrub killer, at least for now.

Considering the importance of all the games left, every team is a giant that needs to be slayed.

halamadrid2 wrote:Arbeloa is going to play at some point in the game. Just hope it is not from start

He might start so he can get his goodbye walk when substituted.

Mourinho wrote:Arbeloa is not just a player for me, he is a friend. How does a player turn into a friend? By being an example of passion for his profession, for love of his club, for his dedication to the group and its objectives, for his honor with relation to those with whom he works day to day.

In the history of our great club, there are and will be many of the world’s greatest players. Arbeloa may not have that accolade, but he is surely one of those who has given Real Madrid, his fans, his coaches and his teammates everything he had, and everything he didn’t.

For Arbeloa, I only have my words of gratitude. In my 16 years as a coach I have him in my podium of the most important players of whom I have worked with. A good player and an exceptional man.

Gonna miss this GOAT for sure, having watched him picking up those *bleep* midgets was glorious

For the love of god don't play Benzema and Casemiro unless needed in the 2nd half. In fact, don't play them period. Ronaldo too. Put Vasquez with James and Jese up front. Start Isco in the midfield. Heck, put Naco as a DM so Kroos gets a half of too and split the game between Modric and Kroos (one half each).

Not a time to take any risks. We're in the CL Final ffs.

I'll miss him, will definitely miss him. The dressing room will miss him. A leader, a true madridista will depart from our club. I know he isn't the best option available but I want to see him play his last game at the Bernabeu. I know we have a very crucial game against Valencia but I just want to see him on the pitch one last time. I hope Bernabeu chants his name just like when they did on his birthday, he deserves it.

Gracias ALVARO

Z made it clear in his press conference that Ronaldo will play in both La Liga games:

The best way for Cristiano to gear up for the final is to play in both of them

As for Benzema, Z said that he's ready to play and insinuated that he'll get some playing time to see if he feels any pain or discomfort:

I don't know. He's ready to play but for how long, I don't know. That depends on how he feels in himself

The general feeling I got from his press conference is that he won't be resting his key players, if they are fit, for the title race. He's not thinking about the final, as of yet, and he'll always field the strongest XI available for the remaining league games.

My favorite quote from his press conference is this one:

Earned the right to continue? I haven't won anything yet

It's nice to see that he has high expectations; that he doesn't think that reaching the CL final is some kind of a trophy; that a manager's right to stay is predicated on silverware and silverware alone; that he doesn't have that LVG-transitional-period-BS thinking. It's nice to see that he thinks just like the club's most demanding fans.

I would expect nothing less from Real Madrid's head coach.

Modric rested against Valencia. Kroos-Case-Isco ?

James