Real Madrid vs Club America: Preview and Prediction
Real Madrid will take on Club America in their second pre-season fixture on Tuesday at Oracle Park in San Francisco, United States of America.
The champions of last season’s UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid did not have a particularly bright start to their pre-season campaign. They faced their arch-rivals, Barcelona in a friendly El Clasico, where Xavi’s team handed them a 1-0 defeat.
On the other hand, the football season has already started in Mexico, but Club America is still playing friendly fixtures as it serves as an excellent opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the biggest teams from Europe. They have lost their last two pre-season games, but the performance on both outings was quite satisfactory.
Current Form
Before the start of the 2022/23 La Liga season, Real Madrid’s biggest and the only consequential game will be against German side Eintracht Frankfurt, in the 2022 UEFA Super Cup. However, with momentum and a good start being key factors to a good season, they will look to do the best they can in their pre-season campaign in the United States.
Unfortunately, in their first match, which was an El Clasico against Barcelona, Los Blancos were far off their best. Carlo Ancelotti’s team suffered a 1-0 defeat, as the Catalans’ new signing Raphinha scored the winner.
On the other hand, Club America has got off to a mixed start in the Apertura 2022 phase of the 2022-23 phase of Liga MX. They have played three matches and have won, drawn and lost one each of those matches.
Besides their regular season, they are also playing against some big teams from Europe in friendly encounters. Fernando Ortiz’s team suffered a 2-1 defeat against Chelsea on 16th July, and then in their last fixture against Manchester City, the exact same scoreline was repeated. Henry Martin scored the goal against the Cityzens, whereas their goal against the Blues came from a Chelsea played in Reece James.
Head to Head Record
Real Madrid and Club America have crossed paths twice previously – once in a friendly encounter and once in a FIFA Club World Cup match. On both occasions, Los Blancos have emerged victoriously.
The previous meeting between these teams was in the semi-final of the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup. Real Madrid handed the Mexican side a 2-0 defeat in that match, courtesy of goals from Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Team News
Karim Benzema will be available for this match after regaining match sharpness
This match will be the first pre-season outing for Real Madrid’s last season hero and one of the biggest contenders for the Ballon d’Or –Benzema. The French striker missed the El Clasico owing to the lack of match sharpness after an extended summer break, but Ancelotti has confirmed that he will be fit to feature in this game.
However, the same cannot be said for Dani Carvajal. The Spanish right-back missed the clash against Barcelona owing to an ankle issue, and the same injury is expected to keep him on the sidelines in this match as well. Besides that, everyone else is fit and available.
As for the Mexican outfit, Ortiz will have the privilege of picking his team from a full-strength squad, as all of Club America’s players are fit to feature. They are likely to line up in a predominantly defensive set-up, given that their opposition is the best team in Europe currently.
Colombian frontman Roger Martinez is expected to be the lone man up front for Ortiz’s team, whereas a lot will be dependent on the performances of two players who are expected to provide double pivot in the midfield – Jonathan dos Santos and Richard Sanchez. Alejandro Zendejas, Diego Valdes and Alvaro Fidalgo are all expected to line up behind Martinez.
Squads
Real Madrid: Thibaut Courtois, Andriy Lunin, Luis López; Lucas Cañizares, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militão, David Alaba, Jesus Vallejo, Nacho, Antonio Rüdiger, Ferland Mendy, Alvaro Odriozola, Tobias; Toni Kroos, Luka Modrić, Casemiro, Federico Valverde, Lucas Vasquez, Aurelien Tchouameni, Dani Ceballos, Eduardo Camavinga; Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Vini Jr., Rodrygo Goes, Mariano, Latasa.
Club America: Guillermo Ochoa, Oscar Jimenez; Luis Fuentes, Jorge Sanchez, Sebastian Caceres, Nestor Araujo, Bruno Valdez; Miguel Layun, Jorge Mere, Salvador Reyes; Pedro Aquino, Jonathan dos Santos, Alvaro Fidalgo, Diego Valdes, Santiago Naveda, Alejandro Zendejas, Richard Sanchez, Jurgen Damm; Roger Martinez, Jonathan Rodriguez, Henry Martin, Federico Vinas.
Prediction
Club America tried their level best against both Chelsea and Manchester United, but unfortunately, it was proved that their best was not enough to beat some of the biggest names in world football Hence, despite their poor start to the pre-season campaign, Real Madrid are expected to have it easy in this fixture.