Real Madrid vs. L.D.U. Quito – Peace Cup Preview 4:30 PM CET Tuesday July 28, 2009
By Jason Green at Predictem.com
On Tuesday night in the Peace Cup competition the newly stacked Real Madrid from La Liga takes on L.D.U. Quito from Ecuador. Real Madrid needs to win this game to win the group, as in their first game they were shocked in playing to a 1-1 draw against Al Ittihad. If this game ends in a draw Real will go home and L.D.U. Quito will move on.
Real Madrid is still trying to come together and gel before the La Liga season starts after spending more than 200m in the past six weeks on some big names such as Kaka and Cristiano Ranaldo. Both of these stars have not had much time to train and every minute they are on the field together in this competition will help them get in tune for the upcoming season in Spain.
L.D.U. Quito will be a good test for Real Madrid and their first one in this competition. Even though L.D.U. Quito is not an elite club from Europe they are no pushover, as they have several solid players and last year they became the first ever team from Ecuador to win the Copa Libertadores. They are also unbeaten in their last 9 matches in the Primera A League in Ecuador. Oh yeah, and they easily beat Al Ittihad in their first match in the Peace Cup 3-1. Real Madrid is favored pretty big in this match, but do not be surprised if LDU can pull off a shocker, as they are more match fit.
Real Madrid is the big favorite in this match at 1.5 and L.D.U. Quito is at 7.20 with a draw at 4.40.
Real Madrid Recent Form:
7/26/09 Real Madrid 1 Al Ittihad 1 (Peace Cup)
7/20/09 Shamrock Rovers 1 Real Madrid 1 (Friendly)
5/31/09 Osasuna 2 Real Madrid 1 (La Liga)
5/24/09 Real Madrid 1 Mallorca 3
5/16/09 Villaral 2 Real Madrid 2 (La Liga)
L.D.U. Quito Recent Form
7/25/09 L.D.U. Quito 3 Al Ittihad 1 (Peace Cup)
7/20/09 L.D.U. Quito 1 El National 0 (Primera A)
7/13/09 Deportivo 1 L.D.U. Quito 1 (Primera A)
6/31/09 L.D.U. Quito 1 Club Deportivo Cuenca (Primera A)
6/23/09 Espoli 2 L.D.U. Quito 2 (Primera A)
Real Madrid head coach Manuel Pellegrini may choose to play a different lineup in each half of this game, as he looks to spread around the minutes to his squad. Veteran striker Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mahamadou Diarra are not match fit, as they are recovering from major injuries last season.
LDU is still missing their captain Patricio Urrutia and defender Norberto Araujo, who did not travel to the Peace Cup competition because of injury.
Madrid has many players to keep an eye on, as perhaps more then any other season a team from La Liga has received so much attention because of their off-season additions.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema may get significant playing time in this match, but Kaka may not. Benzema had a solid debut for his new team scoring against Shamrock in a friendly.
Look for Quito to be defensive in the first half, as they gauge Madrid to see how they play in this match.
Whoever Madrid throws out on offense they will have a tough time scoring, as LDU features Jose Francisco Cevallos, who is one of the best goalies in South America. Cavellos was the hero of last year’s Copa Libertadores and he has been solid in this season’s Primera A.
The big gun for LDU is forward Claudio Bieler, who has 17 goals in 19 Primera A matches this season. Madrid will have to keep him in check, especially on counter attacks.
Jason’s Pick: Madrid has the big money players, but LDU is match fit being in the middle of their season. However, Madrid looks to impress after their first disappointing draw so their stars may get more playing time. I see a close game, but since Madrid’s tournament hopes are on the line I see them winning by a score of 1-0 or 2-1.