Woody To Get Champions League Call?

Last updated : 28 September 2005 By Footy Mad - Editor

Graeme Souness has had it tough, but he's still here after a year. Yet last week Real Madrid coach Wanderley Luxemburgo was facing the prospect of being sacked less than a month into the new Spanish season.

The Spanish giants had lost two of their opening three Primera Liga games and had kicked off their Champions League campaign with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of French side Lyon. Luxemburgo was therefore walking a managerial tightrope when he led Madrid into their league clash with Athletic Bilbao last Thursday.

But with a 3-1 win in that game being followed by a 3-0 drubbing of Alaves at the weekend, everything now appears rosy for Luxemburgo - at least in the Primera Liga, where Madrid are now third in the standings. His next task is to reignite the club's European campaign before it is too late.

The thrashing in France a fortnight ago certainly served as a warning shot to Madrid, who will now be desperate to pick up maximum points against Olympiakos when the two sides meet in the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday night.

Ex-Toon star Jonathan Woodgate, who endured a nightmare debut for Madrid when he scored an own goal before being sent off against Athletic, may be given another chance at centre-back although Luxemburgo is likely to stick with the Ivan Helguera-Sergio Ramos partnership at the heart of the defence.