Real Madrid v FC Zurich – A Piece of Cake for Los Blancos?
The first leg of this clash produced seven goals, with five going to the Spanish giants and two to the world’s most expensive player – Cristiano Ronaldo.
Will there be more of the same on Wednesday or will FC Zurich convincingly recover from the 6-1 defeat which they suffered in the hands of Marseille on match-day 4?
Statistics putting Real Madrid well on top
Real Madrid are heading Group C on goal difference with seven points ahead of AC Milan. Having scored the biggest amount of goals in the group, Los Blancos have the advantage on the Italians even if they’ve conceded six compared to AC Milan’s five.
Meanwhile, FC Zurich occupy the fourth and last place in the table and their historical victory at the San Siro is the only thing that brought them a few points.
FC Zurich have a disastrous defensive record with an average of exactly three goals allowed per match. At the other end of the field, they’ve found the net only four times in four games.
Besides these statistics, the anticipated presence of Cristiano Ronaldo on Wednesday offer Real Madrid more favor against the Champions League debutants FC Zurich.
The Portuguese winger defied all the Swiss home fans that jeered him in the first leg by beating FC Zurich’s goalkeeper twice with his trademark free-kicks.
Real Madrid might benefit of Cristiano Ronaldo’s fire again on Wednesday night but this is only a possibility and not a finality as FC Zurich could make another giant killing as they did at the San Siro against AC Milan on match-day 2 of the UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid: Complacency not allowed
Manuel Pellegrini’s Blancos are those who have been the victim of the biggest upset so far in Europe this season.
Their 4-1 aggregate defeat against third tier side Alcorcon in the Copa del Rey simply underlined some great aspects: that anything is possible in football, that money doesn’t automatically give positive results, and that Real Madrid are yet to become an unbreakable force.
Therefore, complacency will not be allowed on Wednesday evening when the Spanish giants take on FC Zurich at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Looking at the current position of the rest of the teams in Group C, it is clear to see that the fate of Real Madrid in Europe is far from being decided with two more games to go.
Everything is possible, and everyone knows it.
Los Blancos – who’d like to play the in the final of the Champions League that will take place at the Santiago Bernabeu – need to think of qualifying from the group stages first.
Mathematical analysis ahead of Real Madrid v FC Zurich
Mathematically, the fear of missing out on a top two finish for Los Blancos exists whereas the hopes of qualifying for the Europa League at least remain for FC Zurich.
After dismantling both Marseille and Zurich in their first matches, Real Madrid looked set to secure qualification into the last sixteen as early as Chelsea and Manchester United did. But the double header against AC Milan offered Real Madrid only one point from a possible six.
Los Blancos are now still looking to qualify, and especially, keep hold of the first spot in Group C. At this point, even a win on Wednesday night against FC Zurich will not be enough for Real Madrid to progress into the last sixteen straight away.
Should Marseille and Milan draw against each other in the group’s other game, it will come down to Real Madrid leading with ten points, while AC Milan will be lacking behind with eight points, and Marseille with seven.
In such a case, nothing will be decided for Los Blancos as a trouncing defeat (like the 4-0 loss which they suffered away to Alcorcon) against Marseille will see them miss on a top two finish if AC Milan are to defeat FC Zurich in the last match-day.
In general, those statistics will push Manuel Pellegrini to seek only one thing from his players on Wednesday night: a victory.
However, Real Madrid could instantly qualify for the last sixteen of the UEFA Champions League if things go their way.
This means that they’ll need to beat FC Zurich and hope that AC Milan beats Marseille. Meanwhile, FC Zurich will see their first ever European season end quickly if they lose at the Santiago Bernabeu. Even an Europa League promotion might be a dead dream and consolation.
