After a thrilling week of international football marked by celebrations, relief, and tears, club football returns in Europe.
In Spain, Real Madrid host Valladolid at the Santiago Bernabeu and Manuel Pellegrini’s men will be keen to bounce back from the 2-1 defeat which they suffered in the hands of Sevilla before the international break.
Lass Diarra back but six players to be missing
Los Blancos will have to deal with the absence of the phenomenal Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese winger, who featured for his country against Hungary, is set to spend up to one month on the sidelines.
Other players who aren’t expected to be shortlisted in Manuel Pellegrini’s squad for Saturday’s match against Valladolid are Guti, Alvaro Arbeloa, Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Fernando Gago, and Christopher Metzelder. All these players are following fitness programs in order to recover from injury.
Meanwhile, Chelsea and Portsmouth former midfielder Lassana Diarra should be part of the squad that will play this weekend at the Bernabeu.
Lassana Diarra was ineligible to feature for Les Bleus against Austria on Wednesday due to suspension. After requesting to leave the national team’s camp, the number 10 was granted the permission to join Los Blancos in Madrid.
His early arrival in training should benefit the Spanish Giants who will have to do without several key defenders amid other star players.
Real Madrid vs Real Valladolid
Match scheduled:Date : October 17, 2009Time : 18:00 until 20:00 (GMT)
October 17, 2009 - 2:00pm (US/Eastern) Spain La Liga LiveReal Madrid vs Real Valladolid live streams and TV channels
Ezekiel Garay on the importance of beating Valladolid
One man who is expected to improve the level of his game this weekend is Ezekiel Garay. The Argentine is conscious about reality after Real Madrid’s defeat to Sevilla.
With Barcelona showing no signs of weakness so far this season, the pressure is well and truly on Los Blancos never to lose again in the Spanish Primera La Liga.
Real Madrid stand the chance of erasing their disappointing 2-1 defeat against Sevilla in Andalusia with a victory against Valladolid. The hosts certainly are hot favorites to clinch all the three points. However, defender Ezekiel Garay is wary about Real Madrid’s upcoming opponents’ threat.
"The match against Valladolid on Saturday will be difficult. We need to take three points," he mused.
"We can’t afford another defeat or to drop more points. We will play at home, so we must try hard to earn a good result. We must be strong at the Bernabeu.
"Morale must always be high and confidence even more so. We are training hard and focusing on winning on Saturday."
Real Madrid could reclaim the top spot in La Liga with a victory at home to Valladolid on Saturday if Barcelona lose to Valencia and if Sevilla do not beat Deportivo La Coruna by a wide a margin in the days’ other matches.
