SPAIN: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Real Madrid face Dynamo Kiev in a Champions League match neither team can afford to lose

Record ID: 823546

  • Title: SPAIN: FOOTBALL / SOCCER - Real Madrid face Dynamo Kiev in a Champions League match neither team can afford to lose
  • Date: 27th September 2006
  • Summary: (S1) MADRID, SPAIN, (SEPTEMBER 25, 2006) (REUTERS) DYNAMO KIEV MANAGER ANATOLI DEMIANENKO WALKS INTO NEWS CONFERENCE ROOM PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (Russian MANAGER ANATOLI DEMIANENKO SAYING: "In the first phase of the champions Kiev failed as did Real Madrid. Both teams have now played, both teams have won earlier games and tomorroWs game will be very, very interesting."
  • Embargoed: 12th October 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVA9G913S1C8ROJT14F9KWULZNC
  • Story Text: After slumping to morale-sapping defeats in their opening games, Real Madrid and Dynamo Kiev meet at the Bernabeu on Tuesday (September 26) knowing that another slip-up could torpedo their Champions League ambitions.
    For Real, which ended their preparations on Monday (September 25), it was a case of deja vu when they lost again to five-times French champions Olympique Lyon two weeks ago at the Stade Gerland in Group E.
    Despite talk of a new-found defensive solidity that would allow them to avoid a repeat of last year's 3-0 defeat at the same stage of the competition, Fabio Capello's side still lost 2-0 with the Ligue 1 side dominating from start to finish.
    After two dour victories at the Bernabeu in the league, the nine-times European champions are under heavy pressure to win, and win well, against opponents who have won just once in 10 visits to Real's home stadium.
    Real won 1-0 at Real Betis on Saturday but although they took the lead through new signing Mahamadou Diarra after just six minutes they failed to press home their advantage and settled for the narrow victory.
    The bad news for Real is that right back Cicinho suffered a torn knee ligament and could be out for six months while Michel Salgado still has not recovered from a knee injury. Raul Bravo is expected to deputise.
    David Beckham was left on the bench for the second game in succession but given Capello's rotation policy the former England captain may find himself back in the starting line-up on Tuesday.
    Up front, Ronaldo is still unavailable as he enters the final stages of his recovery programme from knee surgery following the World Cup and Ruud van Nistelrooy will lead the attack with support from Antonio Cassano or Raul.
    Captain Raul Gonzalez was aware of the importance of Real Madrid's success against their Ukrainian opponents.
    "Tomorrow, the most important thing is that we get a win. After our defeat to Lyon, anything but a victory would complicate our passage to the next phase. So, tomorrow it is vital that we can get the three points."
    Manager Fabio Capello warned against complacency: "Dynamo Kiev is a team which, when it plays away, is a dangerous team. They are very good at counter attack, they play very fast and are very good at corners and headings," he said.
    Midfielder Ruslan Rotan is out for at least a month after undergoing ankle surgery in Belgium last week and defender Vladislav Vashchuk is still regaining fitness after a knee operation.
    Dynamo managed only a 1-1 away draw in their last league match against Vorskla Poltava and their previous effort was a dull 1-0 victory against lowly Ilichevets Mariupol.
    Their dismal form has drawn heavy criticism from coach Anatoly Demyanenko who was hoping to compensate their poor domestic form with success in Europe.
    "In the first phase of the champions Kiev failed as did Real Madrid. Both teams have now played, both teams have won earlier games and tomorroWs game will be very, very interesting," he said.
    Dynamo suffered their heaviest home defeat in 12 years in the 4-1 drubbing by former European champions Steaua Bucharest and their misery was compounded by an injury to striker Serhiy Rebrov that will put him out of Tuesday's match.
    Dynamo's Romanian midfielder Florian Cernat said a win will be vital for for both teams. "I know Real Madrid is a very strong team: so the game tomorrow will be very complicated. The situation is that Dynamo Kiev cannot lose and nor can Real Madrid if they are to continue in the Champions," he told reporters before a training session at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

    Probable teams: Real Madrid: 1-Iker Casillas; 15-Raul Bravo, 4-Sergio Ramos, 5-Fabio Cannavaro, 3-Roberto Carlos; 23-David Beckham, 6-Mahamadou Diarra, 8-Emerson or 14-Guti, 19-Jose Antonio Reyes; 18-Antonio Cassano or 7-Raul, 17-Ruud van Nistelrooy Dynamo Kiev: 1-Olexander Shovkovsky; 26-Andriy Nesmachny, 6-Goran Sablic, 32-Goran Gavrancic, 81-Marjan Markovic; 7-Carlos Correa, 37-Ayila Yussuf, 44-Rodrigo, 20-Oleg Gusev; 15-Diogo Rincon, 16-Maxim Shatskikh Referee: Graham Poll (England)
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