La Liga
Huesca vs Real Madrid Preview
The first ever meeting between Huesca and Real Madrid will kick-off at 10:15 AM EST on Sunday. Estadio El Alcoraz: Huesca’s home stadium since it’s opening in 1972, will be the venue for the fixture.
The home side currently sit in last place on 7 points in what has been a disappointing first season in Spain’s top flight. Meanwhile, ‘Los Blancos’ are 5th, sitting five points off leaders Barcelona.
Team News
Huesca manager Francisco Rodríguez has no new missing players coming into the match. However, defenders Luisinho and Ruben Semedo continue to be out with injury.
The Aragonese club have only tallied twelve goals so far in 2018. Three of those belong to top scorer Alex Gallar. The Spanish forward will most likely be accompanied by David Ferreiro and Cucho Hernandez in attack.
Similarly, Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari will have to do without two key midfielders. Already injured Casemiro is now joined by fellow midfielder Toni Kroos in the sick bay.
While midfielders Dani Ceballos and Marcos Llorente are set to cover those positions, much talk will be about who will join Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema in the final third.
Isco, Marco Asensio and Lucas Vasquez have each scored two goals in the last three matches. As a result, all three Spaniards are potential starters and Solari will be pleased to have the difficult decision of choosing one.
Lineups and Prediction
Huesca:Jovanovic; Miramon, Pulido, Etxeita, Akapo; Musto, Gomez; Gallar, Rivera, Ferreiro; Hernandez
Real Madrid: Courtois; Carvajal, Ramos, Varane, Marcelo; Ceballos, Modric, Llorente; Vazquez, Benzema, Bale
It would be difficult to predict anything other than victory for Real Madrid. The Spanish giants appear to be hitting their best form of the season. Furthermore, under-performing players are finding their form.
The current European champions are showing defensive grit under Solari. In fact, opponents have only hit the back of the net three times in the Argentine’s eight games as coach.
Huesca have conceded twenty-nine goals in La Liga. More than any other side. The hosts now welcome a Madrid team that scored six times mid-week, albeit against lesser opposition.
Only three points behind Rayo Vallecano, Francisco’s men have a good chance of making it out of the bottom three. However, Sunday’s match will not help achieve that goal.
Huesca 1 – 5 Real Madrid
Photo credit to Real Madrid via Flickr
