The second game in quick succession and a tough one it is too. We face a Racing side who had a remarkable season last time round and ended up in the Uefa Cup. Although they lost their manager Marcelino to Zaragoza they will still be a stern test. They put it up to Real Madrid at the weekend and were perhaps unlucky to be on the end of a 2-0 defeat. One player to look out for is Jonathan, the frontman is on loan at El Sardinero and has had a superb start to his loan career there including a late equaliser at the Nou Camp. Ezequiel Garay is also a quality player, very strong at the back.
Villarreal have called the following players, notable absentees are Cani and Cygan through injury and Jozy Altidore and Edmilson for technical reasons. It's the first time both Nihat and Rossi have been in the squad this season. Bruno returns.
Diego López, Viera, Javi Venta, Ángel, Gonzalo, Godín, Fuentes, Capdevila, Senna, Eguren, Bruno, Cazorla, Matías Fernández, Pires, Ibagaza, Guille Franco, Joseba Llorente, Nihat Kavehci y Rossi.
I shall update this more tomorrow....
Well alex was right regarding Jonathan Pereira, he is not in the Racing squad. I think we have finally learned that our players on loan generally cause us problems. Remember Caceres last season?
Heres their squad :
Toño y Coltorti,Pinillos, Garay, César Navas, Marcano, Christian, Lacen, Colsa, J. Gonçalves, Sepsi, Edu Bedia, Canales, Oscar Serrano, Luccin, Valera, Juanjo y Tchite.
Their veteran striker Pedro Munitis hasn't made the squad either so it will most likely be Tchite up front with the pacy Oscar Serrano giving support.
We should line up 4-4-2 I reckon. The usual goalkeeper and defense with Senna and Bruno/Eguren in the middle. Possible Mati and Santi on the wings. Hopefully Nihat and Rossi up front but it's more likely to be Llorente plus one of them. It's hard to predict Pellegrini's exact eleven so I'll leave it at that. If we get our game going we should have more than enough to take this Racing side apart. Patience will be important because I expect they will shut up shop. However I'm confident of a win.
Prediction : 2 - 0