UEFA Champions League | Shakhtar Donetsk vs Real Madrid [Away]

Tomorrow, we will be taking on Shakhtar on their own turf. If we win, we'll automatically qualify for the round of 16.

In order to finish top of the group, we need to pick up more points than Gladbach in the final two rounds. A win against them on Matchday 6 in Madrid would likely mean we finish top of the group. If Gladbach fail to beat Inter in Matchday 5 and we beat Shakhtar, we would need just a draw to top the group in the final round.

This team is so hot and cold.

Amazing against inter then just absolutely terrible versus Alaves

Hopefully Odegaard starts.

I would love to see the formation and the same midfield that started against Inter.

If we want to play great attacking football start 2 strikers and bench Toni IAlwaysPassItBack Kroos

Shakhtar are nothing special, really. By far the worst team in the group and I have no idea where did Madrid get this unparalleled talent of losing games they should be cruising.

I watched them against Inter and there were absolutely dreadful. If Inter had taken even half of their chances, the game would've ended in 5-0.

Then I watched them get reduced to atoms against Gladbach in a two-legged tie that ended in 10-0 on aggregate.

If Madrid doesn't win tonight, they really should all hand over their resignation.

Asensio plays but Mariano doesn’t... lol... benzema has to do it all alone or we lose I guess

If Ødegaard is going to find form this year, now would be a good time. Part of me wishes he had stayed at Sociedad for another season, so that he could've avoided this shit show.

- I was surprised to see that Sociedad are top of the table, but then I noticed that they have played a match more than us, and two matches more than Atletico Madrid in second.

We have our confirmed starting XI:

Courtois, Vazquez, Varane, Nacho, Mendy, Modric, Kroos, Asensio, Odegaard, Rodrygo, Benzema

The Demon of Carthage wrote:We have our confirmed starting XI:

Courtois, Vazquez, Varane, Nacho, Mendy, Modric, Kroos, Asensio, Odegaard, Rodrygo, Benzema

Same as the Inter game.

Zidane starting to realize that he can't have Kroos and Casemiro in this system.

Kroos is a pass master. His control of the midfield is too good to leave him out.

The team looks better with Odegaard and Kroos. Player who can control the ball really well.

Hopefully Asensio can rediscover his past form. Zidane is trying to play him into form.

Odegaard the best player this half

Mendy is terrible offensively

Everything is going so damn sloa. Without Ramos none of our defenders are taking initiatives to start plays themselves. We become so God damn predictable because Kroos has to drop deep every single freaking tims

Unappealing first half of football. It has become really difficult to watch Madrid these days. I hope we improve our display and soon.

Play two strikers Zizou.. just take the L and stop being stubborn if you wanna keep your job..

halamadrid2 wrote:Odegaard the best player this half

Mendy is terrible offensively

Everything is going so damn sloa. Without Ramos none of our defenders are taking initiatives to start plays themselves. We become so God damn predictable because Kroos has to drop deep every single freaking tims

This is actually how defenders are supposed to play.  The fact that we're playing proper positional defense is exposing the weaknesses of the midfield and the attack...  that's the issue.  

No imagination or athleticism in the midfield + very little attacking power.  We actually counted on Hazard to solve some of these issues up front.  We were also hoping for someone to emerge to take over the right wing.  Neither has happened (hoping Odegaard takes over on the right)+ Benz is dinged up.

We're a very average team right now.

Its alarming how many betas are in this team. Its a very serious issue.

Hopefully this shows how important an inform benzema is to this team.. if he’s not on it we have nothing. Zidane has a player selection issue, if he doesn’t stop the favoritism it will get him fired

Replaces Benzema but keeps Marco f*cking Asensio

5 million crosses to who?!?!??!

Full-time. 2-0 to Shakhtar.

Please, resign. All of you.

Varane is atrociois. He is about to get yet another manager sacked

Next summer it's time to say goodbye to quite a few players

We have had some greart times with them but enough of this now

I'm done brothers. When we don't make the UCL knockouts Zidanes contract must be terminated as well as the contracts of every single beta on this team

Its about time the club moves on from the old guard. We cant keep microwaving this dish.

titosantill wrote:Its about time the club moves on from the old guard. We cant keep microwaving this dish.

I'm afraid most of the young guards aren't that good either, tito.

Perucho21 wrote:I'm done brothers. When we don't make the UCL knockouts Zidanes contract must be terminated as well as the contracts of every single beta on this team

I’ve hardly watched any of our matches since this season started, so I’m in no position to judge Zidane’s tactics or general influence at the moment. I don’t know what he does behind the scenes, anyway. I wrote so many rants to challenge the seemingly popular opinion on here that bringing Zidane back would fix our piling personnel issues.

I really don’t think sacking our manager again would fix any of our persistent problems - because they’ve stayed the same since he returned.

Our youngsters can compliment the team with their respective talents while they hopefully develop into future starters with more qualities to bring to the table, but they’re unlikely to take on the burden of actually carrying this team. They shouldn’t be expected to, either. We’re halting their development by having them play with the uninspired seniors who are supposed to ease them into becoming future starters.

Underperforming seniors, youngsters with no clear sense of direction in the team. Recipe for failure.

Marco and Rodrygo don’t have the pace or athleticism to play as traditional wingers on their strong foot.. they’re not giggs and Beckham and even then we don’t have a striker to take advantage of those kinds of crosses besides Mariano who we didn’t play until the end.

Kroos starting. Modric not being rested. Benzema rushed in. Playing with no striker. Not giving the time to let Ode settle in and no one can score.
Zidane player selection boggles my mind

Hope the messi fans can also see that Ronaldo was such an integral part of not only the goals but his hold up play and one touch passing as well as excellent movement.. benzema can’t do it alone

Thimmy wrote:

Perucho21 wrote:I'm done brothers. When we don't make the UCL knockouts Zidanes contract must be terminated as well as the contracts of every single beta on this team

I’ve hardly watched any of our matches since this season started, so I’m in no position to judge Zidane’s tactics or general influence at the moment. I don’t know what he does behind the scenes, anyway. I wrote so many rants to challenge the seemingly popular opinion on here that bringing Zidane back would fix our piling personnel issues.

I really don’t think sacking our manager again would fix any of our persistent problems - because they’ve stayed the same since he returned.

Our youngsters can compliment the team with their respective talents while they hopefully develop into future starters with more qualities to bring to the table, but they’re unlikely to take on the burden of actually carrying this team. They shouldn’t be expected to, either. We’re halting their development by having them play with the uninspired seniors who are supposed to ease them into becoming future starters.

Underperforming seniors, youngsters with no clear sense of direction in the team. Recipe for failure.

My problem with Zidane is that he literally cannot think of any other tactic other than crossing over and over again to non existent Aerial threats, and he is one of the all time greats that has played alongside some of the greatest teams this sport ever had. And all he can think of is cross cross cross and more crosses?