SD Huesca vs Real Madrid - Solari not underestimating rock-bottom Huesca

Posted Saturday, December 08, 2018 by PA

Real Madrid boss Santiago Solari expects LaLiga minnows Huesca to bring the best out of his side in Sunday’s clash in northern Spain.

Aragon-based Huesca, promoted to the top flight for the first time last season, are currently bottom of the table having failed to win since causing an opening-day upset at Eibar.

But Solari has demanded his players maintain the same levels of intensity they showed in Thursday’s 6-1 thrashing of third-tier side Melilla in the Copa del Rey.

📰 Solari: "I haven''t got an established starting line-up. As I''ve said in the past, I pick my team according the game in hand and each match depends on the particular circumstances at the time.''''https://t.co/QEpNspVQFy

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 8, 2018

“There’s no question in my mind that Huesca will force us to be at our best and we’re fully aware of that,” Solari told a press conference.

“We’ll have to come out and go for the win right from the first whistle. We’ll have to go there and perform and put in plenty of effort.

“We’ll need to be disciplined in defence and intense and aggressive in attack.”

Ballon’ d’Or winner Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Karim Benzema and Thibaut Courtois are all expected to return to Solari’s starting XI after sitting it out in midweek.

SD Huesca vs Real Madrid - Solari not underestimating rock-bottom Huesca — A much-changed Real Madrid put six goals past Melilla in the Copa del Rey in midweek (Paul White/AP)

But midfield pair Casemiro and Toni Kroos both remain sidelined.

“I haven’t got an established starting line-up,” Solari added. “As I’ve said in the past, I pick my team according to the game at hand and each match depends on the particular circumstances at the time.

“It depends on the players who are fit and the decisions depend on the opposition. There are many factors involved and, for me, there’s no such thing as a set starting XI.”

✔ Today''s training session is underway🔜 Tomorrow we return to LaLiga action!🆚 @SDHuesca #RMCity | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/04HnvemOm1

— Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) December 8, 2018

Huesca boss Francisco Rodriguez hopes whoever Solari picks will have an off-day at his club’s recently-expanded 7,000-capacity stadium.

“Real Madrid are one of the best teams in the world,” Rodriguez told a press conference. “We have to do things very well, (hope) they do not have their best day and that we are perfect.

“Madrid will come here for a party, but we are going to try to spoil that party because our people are proud of us,” he said.

Huesca, beaten 4-0 at home by Athletic Bilbao on Thursday, will still be without Portuguese defenders Luisinho and Ruben Semedo, while Damian Musto, Carlos Akapo and Alex Gallar are also unavailable.