The transfer saga has been raging for over a month now and, to make it more complicated, Real Madrid are also waiting to pounce.

“We are trying to get the maximum value for the player,” Grimaldi told Stadio Sport.

“There are good chances with Juventus, but the only thing missing is an agreement. “We are honoured to talk about Milan because they are a great team.

“Real Madrid? Yes, Amauri is also wanted in Spain, I don’t know which team is favourite to land him but they all have a chance, all of them are great teams.”

Amauri has in the past stated that it would be a dream to play for the Bianconeri but so far his future still hangs in the balance.

Ramon Calderon: “Namjeravamo nastaviti sa najvise tri pojacanja, jer je bolje ne mijenjati previse. Moramo raditi na poboljsanju igre, ali bez previse promjena, mislim da to ne bi bila dobra ideja. Trenutno postoji sjajno jedinstvo izmedju igraca, poput obitelji, te stoga mislim da ne trebamo mijenjati previse. Uz to, oni igraci koji imamo ce i dalje napredovati, jer su uglavnom mladi i bit ce jos koncentriraniji.Ranije smo imali stanje u svlacionici u kojem igraci nisu bili jedinstveni. Zelio sam da se dogodi isto ono sto se dogodilo u nasoj kosarkaskoj momcadi kad su osvojili ULEB kup i uspjeli smo u tome. Sa Schusterom smo na pravom putu. Cinilo mi se kada smo ga dovodili da bi mogao napraviti dobar posao i nije nas razocarao. Rekao mi je da je zabrinut zbog pritiska koji stvaraju novinari, ali u nekoliko navrata sam mu rekao da je to normalno u Realu, jer je ovo veliki klub koji je uvijek zanimljiv medijima.”

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A new-look Madridista squad grew confident as the minutes ticked off the clock. Robinho, who found his way back into the starting eleven in what was his100th league match, found his way around Zapater while Guti took control in the midfield. With just under 20 minutes remaining in the half, the Brazilian had a good look on goal but César prevented the ball from finding the back of the net. The deflection, however, landed in front of Ruud van Nistelrooy who capitalized on the opportunity. The Dutchman returned to action against Barcelona and scored, and on Sunday hammered home his 14th of the season after being given the start. In desperate need of reclaiming the lead, Zaragoza took charge of the match and nearly accomplished their objective, but Ramos cleared Oliveira’s shot between the posts (min. 39).

The half drew to a close, but Zaragoza came out firing in the second half. Aimar had two early chances, the first of which Dudek got a hand on and the second which found the woodwork. The entire Zaragoza outfit got in on the action: Matuzalem from the top of the box (min. 57); Sergio Fernández’s header which was grabbed by Dudek; Sergio García every which way possible; and Diego Milito, who just couldn’t strike gold. Optimism slowly faded from the stands of La Romareda.

A defensive error by the hosts in the 76th minute costs them dearly as Robinho lobbed the ball over César to put the Whites up 1-2. But Zaragoza never threw in the towel and managed an equaliser by Sergio Fernandéz (min. 87). Zaragoza proved they’re a team that belongs in the Primera Division, but Real Madrid showed why they are the worthy champions.

As was the case last weekend against Deportivo, Zaragoza are in desperate need of a win to have any chances of steering clear of relegation. Fortunately they are playing at home, where their fans will no doubt be tonight’s 12th man and where they have notched 33 points this season in nine victories, six draws, and three defeats.

Manolo Villanova will be without Luis Carlos Cuartero y David Generelo, Carlos Diogo, and Chus Herrero. The coach could, however, make six possible lineup changes now they he’s recovered Alberto Zapater, Sergio Fernández, Celades, Francelino Matuzalem, Pablo Aimar, and Diego Milito.

On the other half of the pitch will be a Real Madrid squad who left Iker Casillas, Raúl González, Pepe, Heinze, Gago, and Robben in the Spanish capital. Fabio Cannavaro did make the trip having served his one-match suspension and is likely to start.

Robinho, Higuaín, Van Nistelrooy, and Dudek are all expected to be given the green light by Bernd Schuster, and Saviola, Balboa, Drenthe, and Metzelder -his first squad list in 2008- should see significant playing time.

Squad List:

Goalkeepers

Dudek, Codina

Defenders

Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Metzelder, Salgado, Torres

Midfielders

Diarra, Guti, Drenthe, Baptista, Balboa, Sneijder

Forwards

Robinho, Van Nistelrooy, Saviola, Higuaín 

Utakmica: 21 : 00

Sudija: Pérez Lasa

Pozvani sastav:

Golmani: Dudek, Codina

Odbrana: Cannavaro, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, Metzelder, Salgado, Torres

Sredina: Diarra, Guti, Drenthe, Baptista, Balboa, Sneijder

Napad:Robinho, Van Nistelrooy, Saviola, Higuaín

Yes, we can factor in the facts that the referee was poor - and often seemed to aid Madrid, if unintentionally - and Barça were dreadful, but nonetheless, there was a sweeping dominance to the blancos’ midfield play that is very much worthy of note. For those who missed it, it was something of a 4-3-3, with Gago, Guti and Diarra forming an unorthodox central trio, and Sneijder, Robben and Raúl a bit further up.

If this looks like a strange setup, that’s because it is - but only if one looks at it in rigid terms. One may ask where the right wing influence is; others may look for a true centre-forward. In fact, the beauty of the formation was in its versatility, as it operated primarily on a basis of going where Barcelona did not. When the right flank was open, there was Sergio Ramos, or even Diarra, ready to bomb up it. When a more central option was called for, Guti was ready and waiting, while Gago was not shy in lending his support.

Seeds Of Change

It was an asymmetrical showing, and one that only a side high on confidence could pull off. The fruits of it were apparent in three of the goals, too: for the first, the chance was built up the right, drawing Barcelona’s stoppers out of position before play was abruptly switched to the middle, where Guti made the magic happen. (The second, a colossal refereeing error, we’ll leave out.) Goal number three was borne precisely of all that space out on the right, which Diarra (of all people) took full advantage of, and the fourth, while from the spot, showed both dynamicism on the left and no fewer than four onrushing targets in the middle.

Thus what looked a bit like a rather defensive 4-3-3 in fact showed an ability to bloom into a 4-1-5 at times, but also to contract into a 4-2-3-1. In short, the system is without rigidity. This may not work so well away from home or against sides who aim to press forward as it can leave gaps between the midfield and attack - the kind that Barcelona have been plagued by all season, coincidentally enough - but for a game like this, it was absolutely perfect.

In no small part is that down to the players that Madrid have at their disposal.

Current Options, Future Options

Diarra, while out of favour, showed his versatility with a commanding performance - maybe the best on the pitch - and perhaps staked a claim to remaining at the club next season with action both defensive and out wide. Question marks remain over his final ball, but it’s undoubtedly true that he at least has something to offer. Wesley Sneijder, meanwhile, had a positive showing and will no doubt be involved in future, but Fernando Gago’s showing was perhaps most encouraging of all: he’s starting to blossom in the way that Madrid would have hoped last year. Diarra may have outshone him on the night, but Gago truly displayed his potential.

Further up, Robben and Robinho both showed enough confidence to cut in from the left and worry the likes of Zambrotta, while the forwards’ contributions are becoming more team-based and less reactive than they have been since the start of the season. Indeed, there was not a single bad showing in the midfield or attack for Madrid (although a couple of the back line will have questions to ask of themselves.)

Of course, there may be associated changes in summer. The club have stated that only three signings will be coming in, but they could be significant ones. Diego, for example, could change plenty of the dynamics: the Werder Bremen man would almost certainly be accomodated in the starting eleven, with changes to match.

Another change with ramifications for the midfield might be up front. Madrid’s president, Ramón Calderón, has made no secret of his desire to land a trophy striker like David Villa. Assuming that the 4-3-3 remains, it’ll presumably morph into more of a 4-3-2-1, as it began last night, with two attackERs playing off a bona-fide forward, depending on who is fit and available.

Whatever happens, it’s clear that there’ll be no shortage of talent.

Potential Pitfalls

While there is every reason for the Madridtista to be confident, there are also some snags. First of all, it’s already the case that there is intense competition for a spot in the line-up: should the likes of, say, Diego come in for Julio Baptista and David Villa replace Soldado or Saviola, then this will only get worse - or better, depending on your point of view.

Of course, it is a boon to have numerous players available in any given position: not only does it discourage “first pick” complacency but it also provides much-needed cover for injuries. The danger is, though, that too many cooks can spoil the broth. If big-names - or prima-donnas, to be less kind - are not guaranteed a first team berth, they can grow disinterested or angry.

There was a danger of this happening out on the left between Robinho and Arjen Robben, although it’s not yet come to pass. But if, say, David Villa comes in, he are surely not going to stand for being second fiddle in the centre-forward stakes (and why should he?) This also applies in the midfield, given the targets that Madrid have been linked with.

However, as we know, Robinho has been rather quiet since his dropping for Robben, and while we can speculate as to the reasons, it does seem as if both confidence and team spirit are high at Madrid. In a way, tactics aside, that may be the most important factor, and it may explain why Schuster’s men have found that winning formula for the time being.

To keep it going will require plenty of hard work, but the foundations must be considered even better than they were this time last year. There is every reason for Madrid to be confident.

What do you think? What are the key aspects of Madrid’s midfield? What formation or tactic do you think works for them? Who, if anyone, do they need to sign in summer - and who should they get rid of? Let us known your thoughts.

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