Showtime — Salt Lake vs. Madrid: competitive, not intimidated

Shortly after purchasing his Major League Soccer franchise in the summer of 2004, and months before he'd decided what to name it, Dave Checketts was hobbling around Madrid, Spain, with a torn ACL trying to convince Real Madrid executives that an exhibition match against his unnamed team was a good idea.

It seemed foolish, but his persistence paid off.

Tonight, the club in the Rocky Mountains which unapologetically borrowed its name from Real Madrid, actually hosts its unofficial big brother in one of the biggest sporting events in Utah since the Olympics. European super club Real Madrid takes on Real Salt Lake at Rice-Eccles Stadium tonight at 7:30, a match that puts the finishing touches on its U.S. Tour 2006.

After that, Real Madrid returns home with two weeks remaining until its season opener, whereas surging Real Salt Lake jumps right back into the stretch run of the MLS season.

Both would definitely like to do so on a winning note.

"They're a good team obviously, but I'm sure there's some issues with fitness and cohesion, and we've been playing together for six, seven months now, and I think we're a good team," said RSL's Jeff Cunningham. "It should be a good match."

Cunningham, whose 13 goals leads MLS, entertained the press with witty one-liners for nearly 10 minutes following Friday's training session.

As Real Madrid warmed up on the temporary grass pitch, Cunningham walked out of the locker room and over to reporters and asked, "Who are they?"

Admitting he was a little star-struck like most of his teammates, Cunningham proceeded to guarantee he'd score one goal, and then joked that the defender beat for his goal could have Cunningham's No. 74 jersey after the game.

As for which Real Madrid jersey he had his eye on, isn't it obvious?

"We already did a pool, who gets whose jersey, and I got Beckhams," joked Cunningham.

This is actually the second-straight year Cunningham will have suited up against Real Madrid. Last summer, in the final tune-up match for Real Madrid prior to its season opener, it beat an MLS Select Team 4-0 in Spain. That team included current RSL players Cunningham, Jason Kreis and Douglas Sequeira.

"I got my chance to play there at Bernabau, that's by far the best experience of my playing career," said Cunningham. "Now they're on my turf, my home town. I'm looking forward to possibly getting a win for our fans."