Get set for another international friendly here in the Bay Area, as Spanish giants Real Madrid face Mexico's Club America tonight at Candlestick Park. Real Madrid has announced they will feature their full complement of stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, for the match kicking off at 8 p.m. While tickets are still available, plan ahead and arrive early to the stadium, especially given the standard practice of many fans of waiting until game day to make their purchases.
Unlike the recent visits of Tottenham Hotspur this season and FC Barcalona last summer, Real Madrid did not hold any practice sessions ahead of tonight's match for the media or the public. Being the first game of their North American tour, and the first significant friendly for many of the returning World Cup stars, expect to see many fan favorites get limited action. With another game this Saturday against the Los Angeles Galaxy, new coach Jose Mourinho is unlikely to want to risk injuries or setbacks this close to the beginning of the La Liga schedule.
Along with Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, Real Madrid's roster will include Spanish World Cup winners Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Xabi Alonso and Argentina World Cup star Gonzalo Higuain. Club America is led by Mexican national team goalkeeper Memo Ochoa and longtime Mexican national team midfielder Pavel Pardo.
Center Line Soccer will be on hand at the match tonight to provide coverage of the game, interviews with the coaches and players and a full photo gallery from the pitch.