Clouds forming over Real as disappointment looms
Real Madrid head into their clash with Shakhtar Dontesk at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu low on confidence after a truly inept display at the weekend, deservedly defeated in their own backyard by Cádiz. The Ukrainian giants arrive in the Spanish capital bullish about returning far east with at least something for their efforts from the Champions League group opener. Read our preview here:
Ramos' return?
Club captain Sergio Ramos was one of the casualties from the aberration last time out, being forced off at half-time as head coach Zinedine Zidane tried desperately to roll the dice. Half a dozen players are out of contention for Wednesday evening, and added to that, many of those expected to be performing much better are not meeting expectations from within and without the corridors of power. On the pitch, someone needs to show the right kind of leadership to encourage his team-mates to do better, as fans are unlikely to tolerate many more performances where a number of them seem to be playing within themselves, and winning alone is never enough by itself. Karim Benzema will lead the line in attack, and he needs support from those around him to unlock Shakhtar's defence.
Tetê-a-Tetê
Hirnyky should take great comfort from their start to the Ukrainian Premier League, and look much more in sync with each other than their hosts. Granted, facing Real is more than a step above their average opponents, but there are more vulnerabilities to exploit than is often the case. Midfielder Viktor Kovalenko has hit the goals trail, and Brazilian Tetê has been pulling the strings impressively behind the forward line. The usual meld of imports from South America and home-grown graduates is serving the club well, as evidenced in their 5-1 demolition of Lviv. The hosts much prefer to play on the counter, but are unlikely to get their wish under the watchful eyes of head coach Luís Castro, who led his charges to the title in his first season in charge. Tetê in particular will look to operate in between the lines of a back four with a high block, and a midfield trio rarely known for their defensive proclivities.
Zidane without a plan
Naturally, any Real side worth their salt will always have a chance in any competitive fixture they play. Currently however, they don't have the same aura about them, as was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt at the weekend. Derision is increasing from the sidelines, and Madridistas are not renowned for their patience. Shakhtar are well placed for a share of the spoils, and Betfair are offering generous terms of 5.5 for them to achieve that feat.
