Barcelona's concern over the number of penalties calculated for Real Madrid.

A few days separating Real Madrid and Barcelona El Clasico La Liga , while prevail concern areas Alkatalonea and that according to a program Punto Pelleta Spain , where in Barcelona say that the rulers of La Liga tend to favor Real Madrid , Real Madrid get this season on 3 penalty kicks and did not count any kick penalty against him , while Barcelona a penalty kick him and kick him , Neymar fall from time to time in the region without stirring a finger rulers while Bale and in his first fall awarded a penalty dubious .
Real Madrid since the 2008 season \ 2009 get 15 Penalty , consultant Russell called Rixach had a statement recently on this matter : "Throughout history the difference between the penalty spot for Real Madrid and other calculated for Barcelona is a difference ' brutal ' ," now it seems the fall of Neymar does not affect the referees , which increases the concern Catalan , and moreover they look to rule the Clasico Ondiano Maienko look pessimism , Casillas and during his interview last talked about this provision : "We Madridista our anniversary great with this provision Cup final King , whenever I see ( Ondiano ) go to him to hug him . "

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Injury means he’s played just 147 minutes for Real Madrid since his £86m transfer but on Saturday against Barcelona, it’s Gareth Bale’s MOMENT OF TRUTH

Even if you cannot make out the face behind the windscreen of the club Audi, you know it’s Gareth Bale turning into Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex; the use of the indicator is the tell-tale sign. 
It’s debatable whether you would signal in Spain if you wanted to cross three lanes of motorway and make the next exit; much less the harmless turn up the hill that leads from the gaggle of autograph  hunters to the privacy of the first-team players’ training facilities.

It’s a little early for Bale to have lost his British driving manners. And it’s still too early to judge him after an injury-interrupted first five weeks in Madrid, although his £86million transfer fee will be in sharp focus in four days’ time when he faces Barcelona in his first Clasico.

Moment of truth: Gareth Bale's first Clasico is the most important game of his career

Supporters like what they have seen so far. That 60-minute debut against Villarreal included a goal and one sprint down the right wing clocked at 25mph, not far off the speed reached by Usain Bolt.
Saturday night’s 14-minute cameo against Malaga included what the Barcelona press described as ‘Bale’s first dive’, a collision that won Real a penalty.
The debut came too early, and at a price. It was later reported he had a ‘discal hernia’, an injury often referred to in English as a slipped disc, and one that, in top athletes, usually needs surgery.
Madrid have been understandably twitchy about the injury, issuing a denial saying the player had a ‘small chronic protrusion’ between two vertebrae.
Club doctor Carlos Diez insisted a protrusion would not automatically worsen and become a hernia that needed an operation.

Early promise: Bale impressed Real fans with his performance against Villarreal

Former Real Madrid club captain Fernando Hierro was on hand to declare he played for years with a protrusion.
The plan for now is clear — make sure Bale is flying for the Clasico. If he comes through a substitute appearance on Wednesday night against Juventus, he will start against Barcelona.
No team play with a higher defensive line in La Liga so no side are, potentially, more susceptible to those explosive runs from deep. Bale could justify his price-tag in one afternoon on Saturday, certainly as far as Florentino Perez is concerned.
The Real Madrid president has been under pressure ever since breaking the world transfer record to sign Bale. In a fascinating insight into how players are bought at Madrid, he recently told Spanish radio station Cadena Ser that ‘you didn’t have to be a genius to see how good Bale was’.

Bitter rivals: And Barca possess some of the world's finest players, including Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas

Perez confirmed that from watching Bale score spectacular goals every week on the two pay-per-view channels that show five Premier League matches every weekend he decided he was what Madrid needed.
Yet others have begged to differ. Jorge Valdano used to buy the players at Madrid before Jose Mourinho had him removed. The former sporting director sees Bale’s arrival as problematic for Real Madrid’s current coach.
‘Carlo Ancelotti is still looking for his best team. You have to fit Bale in somehow but it will not be easy,’ says Valdano. ‘What made Bale’s price so high was his attacking capacity and his goalscoring. Ancelotti has to get the best out of that, but the two wings are currently occupied by [Angel] Di Maria and [Cristiano] Ronaldo.’
Di Maria scored twice in Madrid’s last Champions League game, cutting in from the right to shoot left-footed just as Bale is expected to do. The Argentine threw in a loveheart goal celebration for good measure and scored again at the weekend. 

Welcome headache: Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti is under pressure to find room for Bale in his starting XI

Competition for places: Cristiano Ronaldo (left) and Angel di Maria are Real's starting wingers

Di Maria will not keep Bale out of the side but his form demands his selection too, so Ancelotti is really being tested. Both could play either side of a more central Ronaldo on Saturday.
‘It is reminiscent of when David Beckham arrived,’ says Valdano. ‘He was a good right-sided midfielder but that is where [Luis] Figo was playing and Beckham ended up as a central midfielder, a position that was much harder for him. I am curious about the solutions Ancelotti comes up with.’
But Bale has received a boost from the greatest player ever to wear the No 11 shirt for Real Madrid.
Celebrating his 80th birthday on Monday, Paco Gento said: ‘We are going to win our 10th European Cup with Bale. He is a great player, a phenomenon. He will honour my No 11 shirt. We just need to be patient with him.’
Off the pitch, Bale looks set to rent the house previously occupied by Kaka. Some supporters have suggested it be cleansed by a priest of any unhelpful spirits before he settles in, such was Kaka’s misfortune on the pitch during his four-year spell at the Bernabeu.

Missed: Real fans are still questioning the wisdom of selling Mesut Ozil to Arsenal, where he has been excellent

Similar scenario: David Beckham first had to play in central midfield at Real because Luis Figo was on the right

It was still seen by Madrid supporters as a better option than moving partner Emma Rhys-Jones and baby daughter Alba-Violet into Mesut Ozil’s old house.
The less said about the new Arsenal midfielder the better.
Supporters have questioned the decision to sell him and buy Bale for twice the price. President Perez would argue Bale’s star quality makes him worth it.
In two years’ time the club renegotiate their television deal. The two companies with the broadcasting rights have suffered sizeable losses in subscribers with Spain gripped by economic crisis so it is difficult to see the annual 140m euros currently earned being improved upon.
If income starts to drop, Madrid’s €541m debt will begin to weigh heavier. Part of Bale’s job is to convince television companies at home and abroad that the product is still worth paying for.
Back last summer, when Perez was day-dreaming about all those spectacular Bale goals, he would also have been thinking about the huge poster of him that hung in New York’s Times Square advertising the launch of BT Sport.

Quick turnaround: Bale, with his girlfriend Emma Rhys Jones and daughter Alba Violet Jones, is set to rent the property Kaka (right) used to live in

‘We have taken the figurehead of the Premier League,’ was his proud boast when Bale signed. On Saturday the world will be watching as Bale gets his first run at Barcelona.
‘I think Gareth is probably the fastest player in the world at the moment,’ said Usain Bolt recently. ‘I will help him with his sprinting if he wants.’
For now, both player and club want to avoid another £86m false start. A satisfactory run-out against Juventus; and a ‘Taxi for Alves’ (or Adriano) against Barcelona and a difficult first five weeks will be instantly forgotten.

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Real vs. Juve: Xabi, Ramos, Benzema and Coentrão will play

Portugal international and FC Real Madrid (Spain) defender Fábio Coentrão, Spain international and Real defender Sergio Ramos, Spanish international and Real midfielder Xabi Alonso, and French international and Real striker Karim Benzema will be able to help their club.   

The four players will be able available for Real Madrid’s Champions League group match against Juventus (Italy), AS reports. 

Xabi and Coentrão have recovered from their foot surgery and back pains, respectively, while Benzema and Ramos have trained with the full team. 
To note, Real Madrid will play host to Juventus in Wednesday’s game.

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Real Madrid Star Cristiano Ronaldo Set for £100m PSG Transfer

Bernabeu star preparing for Parc des Princes switch.


Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is reportedly preparing for a move to PSG next summer by taking French lessons according to The Sun.

The Ligue 1 big spenders are to make a mammoth world record bid of £100m to land the Portuguese international despite the fact that the 28 year old only signed a new five year contract last month, worth an estimated £288k a week.

The Spanish giants forked out a massive fee to bring in Welsh international Gareth Bale over the summer but would certainly fight tooth and nail to keep hold of Ronaldo, who has proven a massive success since moving to Real Madrid back in July 2009.

Ronaldo has scored a phenomenal 214 goals in 210 appearances for Real Madrid but in the course of the four and a bit years at the club he has secured just one La Liga title and may be considering a fresh challenge.

PSG are well known for pulling off big name captures having brought in the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Thiago Silva and Edinson Cavani in recent seasons however a move to bring in Cristiano Ronaldo would be a major coup that would catapult the Parc des Princes side to a new level of prominence.

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Pepe: Juve is one of the biggest clubs in Europe

 

Real Madrid defender Pepe is relishing Wednesday's clash with Juventus: "They're one of the biggest clubs in Italy and Europe. They've won two Champions Leagues and have top players. I hope it's a great match and the fans enjoy it".

"We have to respect all their players. They have big names like Buffon and Pirlo, but I think their biggest strength is their team ethic. I hope we're up to the challenge", the centre-back told 'bwin'.

"It could go either way because we're both great teams. I hope it's a good game and the fans enjoy it, and that we players can enjoy it out on the pitch. I think when that happens, it makes for a good spectacle".

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Llorente: "I've already scored twice at the Bernabéu"

On Wednesday, Fernando Llorente will play his first game in Spain since his departure to Juventus. The striker from the Rioja region of Spain will visit the Santiago Bernabéu with his new Italian side and he already knows what's in store based on his visits with Athletic de Bilbao.

And Fernando Llorente doesn't just know the stadium well; he knows what it feels like to score there. "It's always an emotional event to play in a stadium like the Bernabéu, where I've already won once and where I've scored a couple of times", he told Juventus TV.

Llorente also explained that he's pleased with the idea of playing against a team from his home country again: "I like coming up against a Spanish side, especially a great team like Real Madrid".
Llorente has played five games in Serie A so far, which have seen him score one goal, and has played just 23 minutes, against Galatasaray, in the Champions League.

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Both teams to tackle two tricky tests

 

Real Madrid and Barcelona are both facing up to their most challenging week since the season got underway, with each having a crunch clash in both of the most important competitions they are playing in.

The first big matches come in the Champions League, against Juventus and Milan respectively, where they could each ensure qualification for the next round. Having clashed with the Italian sides they will then face each other this weekend in the season's first 'Clásico'.

In preparation for their big week, Carlo Ancelotti's men showed clear signs of improvement in their convincing win over Malaga. 'Los Blancos' are continuing to build a new style and seem to be hitting top form just prior to their 'double duel', looking sharper up front and even adopting one of the central weapons used by Barcelona: dominating possession.

With Gareth Bale better prepared now and Xabi Alonso completing his recovery, the aim is for Raphaël Varane and Karim Benzema to be in ideal shape to face up to Juventus and Barça.
At Barcelona meanwhile, with his players returning to the fold after travelling for international duty, Tata Martino has continually rotated his whole squad, which is facing up to this week's two games in great form and with a fairly good understanding of the ideas the new coach has been instilling in them.

Barça is just 180 minutes away from completing what could be a massive week. This is the ideal opportunity for the Catalan club to show that it wants to win everything it goes in for.

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Tiki-Taka: Mourinho, Ancelotti warned of the danger of Casillas on the dressing room.

Journalist emphasized in the program Tiki-Taka Felipe del Campo The coach former club Real Madrid Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti warned of the danger of Captain Iker Casillas on the club's dressing room, a journalist confirmed that Mourinho contact Ancelotti last August in order to explain to him the nature of the work at the headtechnical Management for Real Madrid and will face pressure from the press and explained to him in detail the seriousness of Casillas on the dressing room.

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Supplement draw uefa about madridista from the face of each on their way to the World Cup

 
The results of the draw for the World Cup playoff in Europe, which includes teams: Portugal, Sweden, France, Iceland, Ukraine, Croatia, Romania, Greece - for wounds confrontation between Portugal and Sweden, which will witness a confrontation between Cristiano Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic.

Lottery conducted today in Zurich for qualifying matches on 15 and 19 November and also put the French team in the face of Ukrainian and this match Taiv of minds to meet the European Cup final in Ukraine - the game stopped for a long time due to heavy rains, and will face Croatia Modric team Icelandic.

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EUFA appoints German rule Manuel gravy to lead Madrid vs Juventus

The EUFA set the German rule Manuel gravy to lead the game between Real Madrid and Juventus in the third round of the role of the groups of the Champions League on the stadium Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, the owner of the 40-year-old won the emblem International in 2009 and will lead on Wednesday for the first time match tip Real Madrid

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On Aldivnsa: Madrid close the deal Gondogan.

 


DefensaCentral site said that negotiations between Florentino Perez and Borussia Dortmund in an advanced stage; Madrid 'pressure' in recent weeks to complete contract with Gandogan, before entering the "Manchester United" in the deal in light of their interest in annexing midfielder.

But Peres did not want to wait much longer to complete the transaction and have already approached the deal from the end, paid 20 million euros and the final sale of Nuri Sahin of Borussia, who has a contract with Madrid until June 30, 2017.

With the signing of midfielder Turkish - German, with Carlo Ancelotti will have a season next player is capable of defending and excellent playmaker.

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FC Barcelona News: 21 October 2013; Barca Travel to Italy to Face AC Milan, El Clasico Follows on Weekend

FC Barcelona's big week in detail | FC Barcelona

Starting this Monday, FC Barcelona will face one of the most important weeks of the season. On Tuesday the Blaugrana will face off against AC Milan in the group stage of the Champions League, and on Saturday they will host Real Madrid at the Camp Nou for the first Clásico of the 2013/14 season. Only three points separate the Barça from Madrid.

Allegri's new AC Milan: overview of the Italian team | FC Barcelona

AC Milan, Barça’s next rival in the Champions League, are continuing with the policy to rejuvenate their roster which started two seasons ago. The Blaugrana got a taste of it last season, when the two teams faced off in the Round of 16 of the competition. This season there a few new faces in the squad managed Massimiliano Allegri.

Zubizarreta: "Milan is Milan" | FC Barcelona

Director of sport Andoni Zubizarreta knows what Barça can expect in Italy. "Milan is Milan. They’re a historic side, they know how to play competitions like this and make the most of all the positives in their favour. And they also know how to cancel their opponents’ virtues", he said.

Del Piero v Real Madrid and 10 of the greatest Champions League performances - Hristo Stoichkov v Manchester United - Goal.com

Barcelona duly took full advantage, with the strike pairing of Hristo Stoichkov and Romario tearing the Red Devils apart. The former of that duo struck twice and the Brazilian once, before Albert Ferrer's strike rounded off a 4-0 group stage hiding of Alex Ferguson's side.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s bizarre new ‘Celestial’ boots | Early Doors - Yahoo Eurosport UK

Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't lack confidence. Just to reinforce this fact, Nike decided to use the new Mercurial IX CR7 boot and 2013 CR7 Collection to compare him to "a celestial body that radiates energy." In a frankly bizarre and astonishing stream of blurb, Nike compare Ronaldo to a "limitless" star that "burns brighter than others". They clearly had a lot of fun writing it, and it's very entertaining to read too.

Alonso resumes full training | Football Espana

Xabi Alonso has been granted the medical green light to resume competitive action for Real Madrid, after months on the sidelines. The midfielder has been out of action since the end of last season, when summer surgery on a persistent groin injury was then followed in August by a further operation required on a fractured metatarsal.

Real comeback stuns Sevilla | Sky Sports Football

The visitors appeared on course for a regulation victory when they eased into a 2-0 lead inside half an hour through Carlos Bocca and Alberto Moreno. However, they were shocked by goals in the 81st and 84th minutes from Mateus Manucho and Patrick Ebert as the hosts somehow clawed their way back into a game Sevilla had completely dominated.

Getafe see off 10-man Granada | Sky Sports Football

A Jeison Murillo own goal and Pedro Leon's third strike of the season shortly after half-time sealed a 2-0 win to continue Getafe's flying start. Granada slipped to a fourth home loss in five - they have been goalless in each of those defeats - and their work was cut out for them once Diakhate was sent packing on 31 minutes for his second caution.

Away joy for 10-man Rayo | Sky Sports Football

The centre-back struck on 78 minutes to put the Madrid side ahead, only 15 minutes after centre-back Saul Niguez had been sent off for two bookings. Paco Jemez's side move well clear of the relegation zone and up to 13th thanks to the result, their second successive win, while Almeria stay stuck to the bottom of the Primera Division and still without a victory all season with nine games now played.

Elche survive Betis onslaught | Sky Sports Football

The visitors scored twice in quick succession in the first half through Manu del Moral and Fidel Chaves, but Jorge Molina's goal put Pepe Mel's side back in contention before the break. Dominga Cisma was sent off one minute into the second half for a second yellow card but, even with an extra player, Betis' search for an equaliser proved in vain thanks in no small part to the heroics of Elche goalkeeper Manu Herrera.

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Questions to Answer for Barcelona and Real Madrid as Clasico Looms Large

 

It’s that time again. The Clasico, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid—probably the most eagerly awaited, most-watched club fixture in the world.

And while Madrid may not have had the best of starts to the season—and will probably struggle to reach the highest peaks, due to the lack of an out-and-out striker that fits their style—they will go into the match slightly the happier.

Barcelona dropped their first points of the season at Osasuna while los Blancos finally brought a smile to manager Carlo Ancelotti’s face, with probably their best performance of the season to see off Bernd Schuster’s Malaga.

Ancelotti should be happy with the application and attitude of his players, but he's still had precious little time to do much tactically and he still faces a number of problems.
They include what he's going to with Angel di Maria—his best player at the moment—when Gareth Bale is fully fit, and whether or not he’s going to try to lure Luis Suarez away from Liverpool to solve his striker problem.

 

Suarez would be perfect, but the money is not available at the moment. He is the type of striker that would suit what Real Madrid is trying to do—mobile, a natural goalscorer and a hardworker. Another difficulty for Real Madrid, of course, is that Liverpool do not plan to sell this season. So far, that one is not a goer, and it looks like Alvaro Morata and Karim Benzema will have to do.

But, first things first. If Ancelotti wants to have the best possible chance of getting something from the Nou Camp, he could do a lot worse than take a look at the tactics used by his predecessor, Jose Mourinho, against the Blaugrana.

A third midfielder placed just about where Lionel Messi starts his runs, and a high defensive line that suffocates Barcelona in the middle and puts them out of their comfort zone did the trick more than once for Jose, who, towards the end of his tenure, looked to have the Catalan club's number.

 

But Ancelotti will probably do what he normally does, which is stick six men behind the ball and trust in his stars to do the business at the other end.

Barcelona come into the game having dropped just two points all season.

That said, there isn't the tactical rigour there was under Pep Guardiola. There is much improvisation, and the side doesn't look to have the solidity that it had. Without the tactical demands and obligations that made them so special a few years back, Barca are a team who depend too much on individual performances.

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Preview: Real Madrid vs. Juventus

Real Madrid will attempt to make it three wins from three Group B matches when they welcome Italian champions Juventus in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Wins over Galatasaray and Copenhagen have left the Spanish outfit top of their section, but it has been a struggle for Juventus thus far with back-to-back draws against Gala and Copenhagen leaving them with just two points at this stage.

The two sides have met each other 14 times in European competition, with Madrid's home record reading won five and lost two. The pair also clashed in the final of the European Cup in 1998, when a strike from Madrid's Predrag Mijatovic secured their seventh European title.

The last time the two European heavyweights met was in the group stages of the 2008-09 campaign, when Juventus won 2-1 in Turin, before Alessandro Del Piero scored twice in a 2-0 win for the Italian outfit in the Bernabeu.

Madrid, who currently sit third in La Liga, enter the match off the back of a 2-0 win over Malaga in the league on Saturday. However, Juventus, who are third in Serie A, were thumped 4-2 by Fiorentina on Sunday.

Iker Casillas is expected to replace Diego Lopez between the sticks for the home side, while Raphael Varane could also start in the middle of defence. However, the match has come too soon for Xabi Alonso, despite the Spaniard returning to first-team training.

Gareth Bale is also expected to be named on the bench as he continues his recovery from a muscular injury, while Karim Benzema could take the place of Alvaro Morata, who started the league win over Malaga at the weekend.

Juventus have no fresh injury concerns from their defeat to Fiorentina on Sunday. Arturo Vidal will be hopeful of coming into the XI alongside Sebastian Giovinco, with Simone Padoin and Fernando Llorente both dropping out. Meanwhile, striker Fabio Quagliarella is unavailable with a thigh injury.

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The Madrid deal

Carlo Ancelotti assured that we would see a different Real Madrid against Málaga, and his team proved him right. Not just in terms of how the players looked - there are figures to back up this affirmation.

On practically all fronts, Real improved with respect to the team's average in the league. It shot on goal more, it was more aggressive, more intense, and had more possession.
Ancelotti knows that the best attack starts with a good defence. Against Málaga we saw a much keener, eager Real. At last here was a Real side that tackled more and got the ball back from Bernd Schuster's men. 81 successful tackles in all, compared to the average of 65 that the team has so far this season.

This improvement in tackling has meant that Real enjoyed more possession of the ball, which was also above its average (67% instead of 62.48%). This is something that Ancelotti's teams have always had. The manager said on his arrival at the Bernabéu that the team needed to display some spectacular football in line with its history. And possession is one of the best indicators of just that.
Real has developed its game, as Ancelotti wants. For instance, the team gave more good passes than in previous games - 580 in the Málaga game against the average of 506. The idea of putting Illarra on next to Khedira also worked in every way, both in creating moves as well as getting the ball back off the opponent.

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Ancelotti: Attack, attack and attack

"We can lose, but we can't continue playing like this", Ancelotti told his closest assistants. The Real Madrid manager repeated these words to his players in the days leading up to the game against Málaga and in the pre-match talk.

"Attack, attack and attack", repeated Ancelotti, who was well aware that three crucial points were at stake, as well as the support of the Bernabéu faithful, who had began to question the team's style of play.

The players' response could be clearly seen in the game: they played with greater intensity, they were more united, more focussed and put on a better display. It was a real team performance, both with and without the ball, to the delight of the Italian coach: "We defended well and were much more aggressive. I hope to see the same intensity in the coming games".
The Bernabéu fans applauded this intensity that has been so characteristic of Real Madrid over the last three years. This could be seen when Morata received a great ovation. But the team did not just have intensity - it played good football. It attacked more and better than in any other game this season.

Only the sensational performance by Willy Caballero prevented Real from scoring another bag-full of goals – the team producing 15 shots, averaging one every six minutes, when the side's average in La Liga had previously been eight shots on target per game.

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Iker is now even greater than before

Iker Casillas and Gianluigi Buffon have played many a match together, and this Wednesday they will face each other once again in the Bernabéu. Two living legends between the sticks.

Question. What memories do you have of past games against Real at the Bernabéu?
Answer: It's a special game. The Bernabéu is a great stadium with a lot of fans. The last time we played there we won 2-0, and I couldn't be there as I was injured. I really don't want to miss it this time around.

Q. You have faced Real with the likes of Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo...Now you're up against Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale, Benzema...
A. There's not much of a difference. The philosophy 10 years ago is the same as it is now: buy great players, entertain the crowds and maintain the prestige and great history that Real Madrid has.
Q. Would Buffon have paid 100 million for Bale?

A. Gareth Bale is a great player and young. If he stays at Real Madrid for many years, he´ll pay for himself.
Q. Do you understand what is happening to Casillas?
A. I admire Iker a lot, and even more so now with everything that is going on. Casillas' reaction to it all as a man is just fantastic and I believe that he is now even greater than before."
Q. This year he's still a substitute.
A. It's odd having to see him on the bench, but you also have to fully respect Diego López, who is a phenomenal goalkeeper.

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Morata, in Raul's bootsteps

A Real Madrid-Juventus game was the scenario back in March, 1996 upon which Raúl confirmed himself as a superstar on the European stage. The nº7 had already made an appearance that season in the Champions League during the group stage – in which he scored five goals -, but it was in that great clash of titans in the quarterfinals that the legend began.

It was the game that put his name in the mouths of everyone. Firstly, because of the goal that brought the Italian giant to its knees at the Santiago Bernabéu (1-0). Secondly, because of the picture that was published throughout the world – Raúl, just 18 years old, defiantly squaring up to Vierchowod, a 36-year-old battle-scarred veteran. Forehead against forehead, the Real player didn't budge an inch, refusing to be intimidated. Finally, it was Vierchowod who backed off and walked away.

Thanks to games like that one, Raúl became Morata's idol, back then just a wee 3-year-old toddler. As the young youth player grew, so did Raúl's fame. Morata has tried to emulate his idol's style of play, doing his very best to follow in his bootsteps.

Nearly 18 years on from Raúl's coming of age, it is now Morata's turn. The same rival, the same competition, and in the same stadium. This will be Morata's first step along Raul's road - a road littered with the 71 goals he scored in this European competition, and upon which can be found three Champions League Cups...

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Cristiano-Karim: Juve fear the biggest attacking threat in the CL

It’s Champions League time again and Madrid go into their next game full of confidence and boasting the deadliest attack in the competition. Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema have scored seven goals in the first two games played in the competition since Carlo Ancelotti took charge, against Galatasaray and Copenhagen. This they can consider their main trump card as they go in search of their third win in the group stages of the competition.

‘Los Blancos’ will take on Juventus on Wednesday in the Santiago Bernabéu (20.45 hours CET) equipped the Portugual and France internationals, barring any last-minute changes. The Champions League has certainly been their stomping ground, starting with the trip to Turkey and the 1-6 thumping of Galatasaray that saw Cristiano score a hat-trick and Benzema a brace. Fifteen days later the Portuguese forward netted another two against Copenhagen at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Meanwhile, Manchester United’s trio of Rooney, Welbeck and Van Persie are the closest rivals in the top scoring stakes, along with Barcelona (Messi has three and Fàbregas, their false nine, two). Close behind are Manchester City’s Negredo, Dzeko and Agüero, with three goals between them, the same number as the Galatasaray front line of Umut Bulut and Drogba, PSG’s duo of Ibrahimovic and Cavani, and Olympiacos striker Mitroglou.

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Varane trains with the group as Benzema remains in the gym

Real Madrid have begun preparations for Wednesday’s  
Champions League clash against Juventus at the Santiago Bernabéu (20:45 CET).

Following Saturday’s 2-0 La Liga win over Málaga on Saturday, Carlo Ancelotti’s squad were put through their paces at an 11:00 training session at Valdebebas, the club’s training complex. The starters against Málaga trained at a lower intensity than their colleagues.

Raphael VaraneVaran now over his injury issues, trained with the rest of the group and looks set to be available to face the Italian champions. Meanwhile, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema and Diego López remained in the gym.

Xabi Alonso underwent a session on a separate pitch as he continues his recovery from a metatarsal injury in his right foot.

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