GALAXY UPDATE: REAL MADRID TICKETS GO ON SALE.

Byline: Larry Morgan Staff Writer

CARSON - A limited number of tickets for the Galaxy's July 18 exhibition match against Real Madrid at Home Depot Center go on sale at 10 a.m. today through Ticketmaster. Don't expect them to last.

Tickets are priced from $50 to $150, and Galaxy president and general manager Doug Hamilton said the buzz is building for the game against ``one of the most storied, most successful, most romantic clubs in all of sport.''

``We're very thrilled ... we must be very honest ... and we'll take the game very seriously,'' he said. ``Although a 'friendly,' for our league and our club at this point in maturation, playing well against them is important. We're still establishing credibility.

``We're saying that we've been a quality side for a while, and we're saying that our league can compete internationally. There aren't many clubs that have had the opportunity to play against the Real Madrids of the world, and we're looking forward to that.''

Galaxy officials already have asked various soccer federations to release players for the game, despite the CONCACAF Gold Cup, which began this week. Hamilton and coach Steve Sampson said they hope to have available forward Landon Donovan (U.S.), midfielder Guillermo Ramirez (Guatemala) and defenders Michael Umana (Costa Rica) and Tyrone Marshall (Jamaica). Hamilton and Sampson said they are optimistic they will be able to play, especially Donovan, although the U.S. - or any of the other players' teams - could be playing in the Gold Cup quarterfinals near Boston or in Houston that weekend.

Sampson said the game is critical on many levels, from competing against one of the world's finest teams - Real Madrid has won a record 29 Spanish League titles and nine European crowns - to providing MLS credibility with a strong performance. He said his players won't be in awe of their more famous Real Madrid counterparts, which include David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Raul, Roberto Carlos and Michael Owen.

``We're not going to be going around asking for autographs, let's put it that way,'' Sampson said. ``We know how important it is for the league. Every player that is going to be playing in front of a live audience and worldwide television audience knows what a great opportunity it is for them personally to show what they can do. And, jointly, to represent the MLS flag, quite frankly.

``And we know that's a huge responsibility.''

Larry Morgan, [phone], Ext. 2272

larry.morgan(at)sgvn.com