Major League Soccer's winningest franchise
faces one of Spain's perennial powers when the Los Angeles Galaxy plays
Real Madrid on Monday night at the Home Depot Center.
Real Madrid, nicknamed ``Los Galacticos'' because of its roster of
international stars, plays the second contest in a six-game tour through
North America and Asia.
The Spanish club, which has 29 domestic championships and nine European
titles, earned a 3-1 victory over Mexico's CD Guadalajara on Saturday
night in Chicago.
Real's roster includes three of the past five FIFA players of the year:
Ronaldo (1996, 1997, 2002), Zinedine Zidane (1998, 2000, 2003) and Luis
Figo (2001).
Ronaldo and Real Madrid teammate Roberto Carlos played for Brazil's 2002
World Cup champions. Zidane led France to the 1998 World Cup title.
The club also features British pop icon David Beckham, fellow Englishman
Michael Owen and Raul Gonzalez, who has more goals in Spain's first
division than any active player.
The Galaxy, which leads MLS with 151 regular-season victories, will not
have leading scorer Landon Donovan. The forward will play for the United
States in Thursday night's CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinals.
Three other starters, forward Jovan Kirovski (strained left groin),
defender Chris Albright (torn knee ligament) and midfielder Peter
Vagenas (strained hip flexor) are coming off injuries.
Leading the Galaxy are midfielder Cobi Jones and goalkeeper Kevin
Hartman. Jones played in three World Cups and 164 games for the United
States. Hartman has 101 career victories, 52 by shutout. |
