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After splurging ridiculous amounts of cash on a wealth of (attacking) players, Madrid have thus far looked good for their money. Nine out of nine points, as well as a +9 goal differential sees them sitting pretty at the top of La Liga, but their real tests are yet to come. November 29th is the date we all should have marked in our calendars, as that is the date of the first El Classico. Real doesn’t have the benefit of home field during that match-up either, so it should be a riveting game to watch. My honest opinion is that Barcelona will still have all the necessary components to make Real their play-thing all over the field again, like last season’s 6-2 drubbing, but I will give them the lineup they need to implement if they are to overcome the current kings of Spain.

---------------------Raul---------------------
--------------Kaka--------------Ronaldo---
---------Xabi Alonso---L.Diarra-----------
------------------M. Diarra-------------------
-Marcelo---Metzelder---Albiol---Ramos-
------------------Casillas--------------------

Striker: Raul
The veteran striker is the perfect combo of power and skill, which is what sets him apart from the rest. Higuain is fast and skillful, but lacks the strength, Ruud is always hurt and relies too much on service balls (lets face it, this new look for Real means MUCH less crossing to the ultimate poacher), lastly Benzema is perfect off the bench and will benefit immensely from Raul’s experience. Sure he’s getting up there in age, but Raul has proved to be one of the most reliable strikers of the modern age. He might not be able to keep up, week in and week out, but you can bet to see him in all the big matches. Plus, he has the ability to open up play for the two sitting behind him, Kaka and Ronaldo.

Center Forward/Attacking Mids: Kaka and Ronaldo
Real have a plethora of talent at this position and it doesn’t end with just these two, but be serious; would you expect to see anyone else? Ronaldo is given a roaming role, so he can pop up left, right and center should he choose, but Kaka is typically a more centrally driven player who will feed on Ronaldo’s surging runs on the outside. A lot of you may think the initial lineup seemed defensive given Madrid’s talent up front, but don’t be fooled by where Ronaldo lines up, he’s basically a center forward in this role, just pushed a bit wider.

Center Mids: Xabi Alonso and Lassana Diarra
I still believe the most crucial player Real nabbed was Xabi Alonso. The stability, passing and sheer presence he brings to the field is incredible (and I’m ecstatic to see him out of Liverpool!). His distribution and support will lead to many counter attack’s and well developed plays, something Madrid seemed to lack last season with their ramshackle midfield. Diarra has grown so much over the past five or so years he has managed to become a mainstay at the most universally famous club in the World. I loved him as a Chelsea player, though back then he was still pretty rough around the edges (he seems to have pretty much fixed his awful timing on some challenges). While Diarra is no Xabi Alonso, you won’t find a player working harder on the pitch than Lass.

Defensive Mid: M. Diarra
Diarra has had his injuries and falling outs, but he is a rock in the center, and with such an attacking lineup Real need a rock to keep from cracking in the back. He’s a bigger, but less agile Essien and while I would still take Essien any day of the week (and even without my Chelsea bias I feel many of you will agree with me on that one), just being mentioned in the same sentence as the Ghanaian proves he’s the real deal.

Defense: Marcelo, Metzelder, Albiol and Ramos
This is the best and most defensive I can possibly make Real look. Without a whole lot to work with let me explain myself, Metzelder is hands down a better defender than anyone else on Madrid. Why he doesn’t start week in and week out is beyond me, but the big German is essential to stop the bleeding that is their Swiss cheese looking defense. I will admit I don’t know much about Albiol, but he has performed decently thus far for Madrid and I really hate Pepe, so he gets the start. Ramos is amongst the best right backs, though his defensive presence is debatable, while Marcelo is in a similar boat, they are much better than the alternatives (Drenthe).

Goalkeeper: Casillas
The easiest decision of course, Casillas is the only reason Madrid ever holds a shutout. Even against the weakest of teams Casillas seems to be thrown into action, but he rarely fails to impress. A great keeper on a team with great aspirations, I only hope his defense doesn’t strand him like they did against Barca last spring.

Subs:

Dudek: Not exactly someone I consider to be reliable, but he pulls of the incredible from time to time and is a decent #2.

Guti: A solid veteran center mid that any team would love to have on their squad. While he doesn’t fit in with the wealth of talent they have to start, he has plenty coming off the bench.

Benzema: Young, powerful, skillful. The perfect striker, almost. Needs some fine tuning, but behind Raul he will get plenty of useful tips. Guaranteed action off the bench, plus a few lesser starts.

Pepe: I may hate him, but Real’s lack of defense leaves me little choice but to add him to the bench.

Drenthe: I don’t care about all the hoop-lah last season about him not wanting to play. Sure he was pretty much a flop, but as an attacking back he really isn’t that bad. Plus he is damn fast.

Higuain: No doubt the kid is talented, and he should be starting, but the arrival of Benzema, Ronaldo and Kaka sees his playing time dwindle.

Gago: An incredible talent, Gago is another kid that needs just that little bit more refining before making it big as a Galactico starter.

Coach: Pellegrini
I know about as much about Pellegrini as I did when Avram Grant became manager at Chelsea, nothing. Upon further research (read: Wikipedia) I found out he is Chilean and used to manage Villareal. Since I have a great respect for Villareal because they employ Giuseppe Rossi, who is the cause for great anger from Biggy, I will say this manager is OK by me. Realistically do I think he has a chance? No, just like Mark Hughes I think he bit off much more than he can chew. But I could be wrong.