Records, revelations and Isco

The challenge has been laid down: Madrid are looking for their record number of consecutive victories (16) at a ground where nobody has managed to win this season, not even Barcelona 0-0. It’s hard to imagine a more exciting match for a rainy Saturday afternoon. The team dominating the League (and having won every match in the Champions so far) visiting the side that’s been the revelation of the championship so far, Javi Gracia’s Málaga, sixth in the table.

And there are yet more attractive points, that wouldn’t fit in a first paragraph. Isco, the talk of the town, returns to his native Málaga, where he was born, grew up and was first noticed by the world. Returning home triumphantly is a pleasure reserved for only a few lucky members of our species. In his case, there’s only one way to act when back on the home soil that gilded his art: play well, say sorry for the goals scored and buy a round in the bar after the match. By the way, Isco, without Modric on the pitch, is the Madrid player who recovers the ball the most.

Málaga aren’t lacking their merits either. As our colleague Carlos Cariño recalled, the team have four points more at this stage than Pellegrini’s Málaga that qualified for the Champions League. This time round without any player bigger than Amrabat (currently injured). What money can’t buy, the youngsters are providing. Samu Castillejo (20 years old, 20 million euro buy-out clause) is the latest product of a youth set-up that continues to produce players with a certain magic.

The miracle of Javi Gracia is that youth hasn’t meant weakness. The team know how to protect themselves, as shown by the fact that La Rosaleda is yet to be successfully raided, like the Calderón, Mestalla and Pizjuán. Today it faces a stern test. And it has to do it without Camacho (suspended) and Juanmi (injured), and still missing Amrabat. With the Moroccan out for four weeks (hamstring), Málaga lost to Atlético (3-1) and broke their record run of five wins on the trot.

For Madrid, there’s not much new. Khedira continues to have generalised niggles and Kroos will be at the tiller once again, though he’s warned he’s getting tired. Up front, we find the usual brigade of geniuses, led by Cristiano, whose 20 goals are more than enough for the club to defend him to the hilt.

And a final record: Javi Gracia as coach of Osasuna last season didn’t lose at home to Madrid, Barça or Atlético. If he manages that this year they’ll have to come up with a trophy for him. Made of gold.

from Últimas noticias | Diario AS http://ift.tt/1HMz9x6

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