UEFA Champions League
Real Madrid vs Viktoria Plzen Preview
Julen Lopetegui will be aiming to save his job when Real Madrid host Viktoria Plzen in UCL Group Stage action on Tuesday at 3 pm EDT. The Spanish giants will welcome a distraction from La Liga where they currently sit 7th. Having not won a match in a month, Los Blancos also sit 2nd in group G with their win-less streak including a loss to CSKA Moscow on match day two.
Viktoria play the European champions for the first time in history. Unlike their opponents, the Czech club sit second domestically winning 9 of their 12 matches so far. Although, Plzen will be searching for their first ever victory on Spanish soil when they visit Madrid. Manager Pavel Vrba will look to his team’s draw with CSKA Moscow as evidence of it’s ability to gain a good result against a struggling Real Madrid.
Team News
Right back Dani Carvajal is the only player still unavailable for Lopetegui. Despite starting in Saturday’s loss to Levante, midfielder Isco appears to be less than 100% and is expected to sit. On the other hand, Karim Benzema should return to the starting lineup alongside Bale and Marco Asensio. Effectually seeing Mariano and Lucas Vasquez reprise their role as substitutes. Defender Nacho will most likely replace Alvaro Odriozola in defense.
Viktoria top scorer Michael Krmencik will continue to lead the line for his team’s visit to the Spanish capital. Defensive pair Radim Reznik and Lukas Hejda made returns from injury in domestic action on the weekend providing more options for their manager at the back. Midfielder Jan Kopic should continue to be the team’s only absentee after sustaining an ankle injury last month.
Lineups and Prediction
Real Madrid: Courtois; Nacho, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Casemiro, Modric, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Asensio
Viktoria Plzen: Kozacik; Limbersky, Hubik, Hejda, Reznik; Prochazka, Hrosovsky; Kovarik, Horava, Zeman; Krmencik
As previously stated, Tuesday’s match is an important one for Lopetegui. As a matter of fact, the manager enters a season defining week with El Clasico awaiting on the weekend. After a nightmare sequence of matches, the former Spain coach faces the ax if his men cannot win both matches.
Marcelo’s goal on Saturday effectually ended the host’s scoring drought. However, the BBA (Bale, Benzema & Asensio) continue to struggle. Plzen qualified automatically for the UCL this year after winning the league title and are currently on good form. This is also the Czech’s best opportunity to topple the giants of Spain.
Having lost to Levante, Alaves and CSKA Moscow, few would find another Madrid loss to inferior opposition surprising. Nevertheless, Vrba’s men have never progressed further than the group stage and do not possess experience at this level.
Although Real’s return to winning ways has been incorrectly predicted several times, this may actually be their moment. With Bale fully recovered, expect the Welshman to score and/or assist. Additional goals may follow from teammates, setting up Lopetegui for El Clasico, the ultimate deciding factor.
Real Madrid 4 – 0 Viktoria Plzen
Photo credit to Real Madrid via Flickr
