Real Madrid host Hercules of Alicante in a match they simply have to win if they are to stand any chance of overhauling Barcelonas imposing seven point gap at the top of La Liga. And Mourinhos side will have to do so without the aid of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo, a player who has helped himself to a stunning 27 league goals so far this season. It will be a good chance for Real Madrid to silence those who claim the side depend so much on the Portuguese number 7, although they really should have too much for a Hercules side that will go 1000 minutes without a league goal away from home if they fail to find the back of the net tonight.
La Liga Matchday 28: Can Real Madrid Win Without Cristiano Ronaldo?
And whilst the absence of CR7 will give Madrid an unfamiliar look at the top of the pitch, they will also be lining up a strange looking defence as both Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho miss out, Raul Albiol and Sergio Ramos forming the centre of defence alongside Marcelo and Arbeloa. Another interesting change from Mourinho is a switch to a 4-4-2 formation that will allow us to see if Karim Benzema and Emmanuel Adebayor
For Esteban Vigos Hercules team, a side who have been in freefall in the second half of this season and who find themselves rooted in the bottom three, they will start with ex-Real Madrid striker Javier Portillo as a lone striker, with Abel Aguilar and Farinos the two midfield pivots who will be tasked with breaking up Madrid attacks and setting up Hercules counters.
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