Real Madrid

Javier Coloma / Translation by realmadrid.com

FC Zurich’s visit to the Bernabeu doesn’t come at the best of times for the Swiss side. Without the chance to automatically clinch a berth in the qualifying rounds of next year’s Champions League through their domestic competition, Zurich visit the top team in La Liga who they have never beaten on three previous attempts. Their victory against Milan at San Siro gives them reason to believe, and coach Bernard Challandes is very optimistic.

They stunned Europe by winning in San Siro and FC Zurich are still alive in the Champions League. Their last two UCL matches, however, ended in defeat; first at home against Olympique de Marseille (0-1) followed by a drubbing against the same opponent in France (6-1). Coupled with their first leg defeat against Real Madrid, the Swiss side are currently fourth in Group C.
 

Group C	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
AC Milan	4	2	1	1	6	5	7
Real Madrid	4	2	1	1	11	6	7
Olympique de Marseille	4	2	0	2	8	6	6
FC Zurich	4	1	0	3	4	12	3

Things aren’t much better in the Axpo Super League, where after 16 of 18 total matches FC Zurich are eighth out of ten with 20 points resulting from five wins, five draws and six defeats. They have no chance of receiving and automatic bid to the qualifying rounds of next year’s Champions League. Their last league match was a 1-0 defeat against FC Luzern.

	Axpo Super League	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
1	BSC Young Boys	16	11	2	3	40	20	35
2	FC Basel	16	9	4	3	38	23	31
3	Neuchatel Xamax	16	7	5	4	34	23	26

	Axpo Super League	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
8	FC Zurich	16	5	5	6	29	28	20

History against Real Madrid isn’t on FC Zurich’s side either. The teams have met on three occasions, all of which have been won by the Madridistas. The first two encounters took place in the 1963/63 European Cup semifinal. The Whites won the first leg in Switzerland 2-1 and then outplayed the Swiss to a 6-0 victory at home. The third meeting was in Matchday 1 of this year’s competition, which ended in a 5-2 victory for Real Madrid.

Head-to-head	W	D	L	GF	GA
Real Madrid	3	0	0	13	3
FC Zurich	0	0	3	3	13

Nevertheless, coach Challandes is very confident in his team and thinks they can pull the upset. “We can beat them. We can pull the upset if they don’t play well,” said the coach.

Zurich’s four goals in the four previous UCL matches were scored by Alexandre Alphonse, Silvan Aegerter, Xavier Margairaz and Hannu Tihinen. Real Madrid is the top scoring team in the Champions League with 11 goals scored by Cristiano Ronaldo (4), Raul (2), Higuain, Benzema, Kaka, Guti and Drenthe. Only Group E’s Fiorentina has scored as many as the Madridistas.

Three of their four goals have been scored via set-pieces (two corners and one penalty).  The Whites have scored four set-piece goals (two free kicks, one corner and one penalty). Additionally, they have scored another four through collective efforts and one via an individual play.

Zurich take the third fewest number of shots (29) in the Champions League, while Real Madrid are second with 91 and first when playing on the road with 44.