Linz LASK-Real Madrid preview
First match of the season for the Whites
Arancha Díaz (Irdning) / Translation by Michael J. O'Donnell
The Linzer Stadion will be the perfect venue in which to see what shape Real Madrid are currently in. Bernd Schuster will be able to use all the men who have been training in Irdning for the past week save for Pepe, who has a bruise on his left thigh. The match will celebrate Linz LASK's centenary and will therefore begin at 19:08 CET.
Fabio Cannavaro, Robinho and Soldado are still recovering from their injuries and will also miss the encounter. The Italian centre back has made great strides in the recovery of his ankle in the past few days and may be ready to rejoin the squad for work in two weeks.
The game will be 90 minutes long and Bernd Schuster will be allowed to make as many substitutions as he wishes.
Due to Cannavaro's and Pepe's injuries and the absences of Sergio Ramos and Metzelder, the defensive line will have to be formed by Gabi Heinze and Javi García in the centre, and Míchel Salgado and Miguel Torres on the wings. The coach has many more options to come up with a solid midfield. It seems Guti, Sneijder and Diarra will be in the strating line-up, but Robben may also be used as a starter in the right wing. Schuster has positioned the Dutchman on both wings in the last two practice games. Raúl, Van Nistelrooy, Higuaín, Saviola and Baptista have the same chances of making the starting eleven.
Historical Austrian team
Real Madrid's opponent was founded in 1899 as part of an athletic club by the Austrian Albert Siems. It became a professional team after an amateur stint in the 1920s and 1930s, reaching the First Division in 1950. The team won the league title and the Cup of Austria in 1965, becoming the fist ever non-Viennese side to win the league. Unfortunately, the 1970s saw how they were relegated to the Second Division.
From then on, Lask Linz oscillated between the first two divisions. The last time it was promoted to the premier category was in 2007 and finished sixth at the end of last season. Lask Link played for a Cup Winners' Cup and a European Cup in the 1960s, never reaching further than the first stages of either competition. The team has also played in several UEFA Cup qualifying matches and fought in the 1996 Intertoto final.
The team finished sixth in the league last year and are currently the leaders in the championship thanks to three victories and only one defeat. They recently defeated SK Austria Kelag Kärnten 3-2. Their most dangerous men are midfielder Vastic Ivica and striker Mayrleb Christian.