Paul's Expert's Take:
February 5, 2007
If he were not such a 'professional' professional footballer, David Beckham would probably have uncorked a bottle of champagne in his VIP box at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium last night, sat back in his comfy seat and laughed.
Or maybe cried...
After all this is a player that Fabio Capello is doing everything possible to force out of the club before his contract is up in June. We all know Becks is LA bound in June, but Capello (or perhaps the club's) insistence that he will not play again for Madrid and the excuses they use to justify it, are becoming pathetic.
Beckham was out of the squad for the defeat to Levante. Capello said he had picked up a 'knock' in training, but couldn't say where.
"I was on the other side of the pitch," he explained.
So he called Miambres, who hasn't played for 2 years onto the bench and recalled Nieto, who was due to be substitute for the B-team (yes - you did read 'substitute') to make up the numbers.
As it was with Madrid trailing 1-0 to a side faced with relegation, Capello had nobody to bring on to turn things around. With Beckham in his VIP box, there was not one player with attacking ability, or able to take a decent free kick, or a decent corner on the bench...And Madrid lost the game and all the cameras in the ground focused on Beckham, who will probably have the last laugh.
The Madrid fans all called for Ramon Calderon to resign as club president, and when people call for the president's head, it usually means someone else loses their job (it works in politics as well, just ask Donald Rumsfeld!) So Capello is on very thin ice indeed and may not even survive the week.
Could Del Bosque come back to Madrid as the savior to turn them around?
Can anyone turn them around?
Well we should know more next Saturday when they travel to San Sebastian (hurrah) to face Real Sociedad, a Real Sociedad who improved vastly to take a point from Sevilla on Sunday a result that gives them a glimmer of hope. A win against Madrid could kick start their season and if ever Madrid were there for the taking it should be now.
Did I say it would be a Battle Royale? Alas, that monster known as "logistical problems" has reared its ugly head and instead of strolling around the beach in San Sebastian before enjoying a glass or two in the old town, Mr Sid Lowe and myself will make our way across the building site that surrounds the Vicente Calderon stadium to bring you another fascinating game.
If Real Sociedad - Real Madrid is a battle royale, we can call this an Athletic contest: Atletico Madrid - Athletic Bilbao.
Both sides need points, Atletico because they have dropped 5 in their last two games and Athletic because they lost 2-1 at home on Sunday and Levante's win over Madrid means they are again on the brink of the relegation zone.
It promises to be interesting, Atletico are struggling at home, while Athletic do quite well away, although they tend not to win in the Calderon - maybe the referee will be a factor: Pino Zamorano, not the best around, and a man who has admitted he is an Atletico Madrid fan.
I for one will be keeping a very close eye on the man in yellow (I say yellow because Athletic's change strip, which they have to wear in the Calderon, is all black).I for one hope it is not a black of mourning.
See you there 9pm Spanish time
Cheers PAUL
Atletico Madrid vs.
Athletic BilbaoThe live broadcast begins 2 minutes before the game.
