mercredi 23 avril 2014
mardi 22 avril 2014
Priview Match Real Madrid vs Bayern Munich Semi Final Uefa Champions League 23/04/2014
Filed: Monday, April 21, 2014 at 11:33 UK
Last Updated: Monday, April 21, 2014 at 12:34 UK
There were many neutrals that wanted these two sides to be kept apart during the recent Champions League semi-final draw, believing that it would make for the most entertaining final in Lisbon.
Yet Real Madrid and holders Bayern Munich, who have won the competition 14 times between them, will play out the first leg of their final four clash at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Both are on a history-making quest, with Los Blancos determined to lift the famous trophy for a 10th time, while Bayern are bidding to be the first team to retain the title since the Champions League's inception in 1992. If that wasn't enough, Pep Guardiola, a legend with Real's bitter rivals Barcelona, is the German club's head coach.
During his four-year tenure in charge of the Catalans, Guardiola won nine of his 15 encounters with Real, losing just twice.
He will be without Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara and Xherdan Shaqiri for the trip, but aside from that, he has a full complement of players to select from.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez missed the 3-1 victory over Manchester United last time out through suspension, but both are available and have been tipped to be included in the starting lineup. As a result, Philipp Lahm may revert to right-back, with Thomas Muller dropping down to the bench.
The big news for hosting Madrid is that their Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, a scorer of 49 goals from his 39 outings for club and country this term, is fit to feature following a recent hamstring problem.
His return could come at the expense of Isco, with Angel Di Maria moving into a deeper role as Ronaldo moves into a three-pronged attack alongside Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema. Meanwhile, if Marcelo is unable to recover from a muscular injury, Fabio Coentrao will deputise at left-back.
These two sides have met in the Spanish capital on 10 occasions, with Munich winning just twice, the last of which came back in 2001 when Brazilian striker Giovane Elber scored the only goal of the game.
Recent form
Real: WWWLWW
Bayern: DLWLWW
Possible starting lineups
Real: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao; Alonso, Modric; Di Maria, Bale, Ronaldo; Benzema
Bayern: Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Kroos, Robben, Ribery; Mandzukic
Last Updated: Monday, April 21, 2014 at 12:34 UK
There were many neutrals that wanted these two sides to be kept apart during the recent Champions League semi-final draw, believing that it would make for the most entertaining final in Lisbon.
Yet Real Madrid and holders Bayern Munich, who have won the competition 14 times between them, will play out the first leg of their final four clash at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night.
Both are on a history-making quest, with Los Blancos determined to lift the famous trophy for a 10th time, while Bayern are bidding to be the first team to retain the title since the Champions League's inception in 1992. If that wasn't enough, Pep Guardiola, a legend with Real's bitter rivals Barcelona, is the German club's head coach.
During his four-year tenure in charge of the Catalans, Guardiola won nine of his 15 encounters with Real, losing just twice.
He will be without Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara and Xherdan Shaqiri for the trip, but aside from that, he has a full complement of players to select from.
Bastian Schweinsteiger and Javi Martinez missed the 3-1 victory over Manchester United last time out through suspension, but both are available and have been tipped to be included in the starting lineup. As a result, Philipp Lahm may revert to right-back, with Thomas Muller dropping down to the bench.
The big news for hosting Madrid is that their Portuguese talisman Cristiano Ronaldo, a scorer of 49 goals from his 39 outings for club and country this term, is fit to feature following a recent hamstring problem.
His return could come at the expense of Isco, with Angel Di Maria moving into a deeper role as Ronaldo moves into a three-pronged attack alongside Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema. Meanwhile, if Marcelo is unable to recover from a muscular injury, Fabio Coentrao will deputise at left-back.
These two sides have met in the Spanish capital on 10 occasions, with Munich winning just twice, the last of which came back in 2001 when Brazilian striker Giovane Elber scored the only goal of the game.
Recent form
Real: WWWLWW
Bayern: DLWLWW
Possible starting lineups
Real: Casillas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Coentrao; Alonso, Modric; Di Maria, Bale, Ronaldo; Benzema
Bayern: Neuer; Lahm, Dante, Boateng, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Kroos, Robben, Ribery; Mandzukic
Priview Match Atletico Madrid vs Chelsea Semi Final Uefa Champions League 22/04/2014
Filed: Monday, April 21, 2014 at 10:59 UK
Last Updated: Monday, April 21, 2014 at 12:40 UK
Jose Mourinho has been here before with Chelsea. In 2005 and 2007 under his management, the Blues reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, only to be knocked out by Liverpool.
The Portuguese head coach will be hoping that it is a case of third time lucky against Atletico Madrid, with the first leg being played at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday night.
However, not only are Atletico unbeaten in front of their own supporters in La Liga this season, which has helped them to top the standings with four matches left to play, no English club has ever won from their trips to the Calderon.
Any positive result that the West Londoners are to achieve will have to be done so without the services of right-back Branislav Ivanovic, who is suspended. Consequently, Mourinho may recall the experienced Ashley Cole, with Cesar Azpilicueta switching flanks to cover Ivanovic's absence.
As well Ivanovic, Eden Hazard could also miss out. The Belgian playmaker has not played for two weeks because of a calf complaint, with the match in the Spanish capital potentially coming too soon.
Elsewhere, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are cup-tied, but goalkeeper Petr Cech should recover from illness to feature between the posts.
Meanwhile, Atletico's major selection dilemma heavily centres around the visitors. Thibaut Courtois is in his third season on loan with Los Rojiblancos from Chelsea, but despite having a foot in both camps, UEFA have insisted that there is no clause to prevent the 21-year-old from keeping goal for the home side.
That aside, Diego Simeone has been boosted by the news that Turkish midfielder Arda Turan is fit to feature along with leading goalscorer Diego Costa, who has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Stamford Bridge.
Atletico may have shown positive home form this term, but it's worth noting that Chelsea have not lost in Spain since a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis back in 2005 - a run that dates back seven Iberian encounters.
Recent form
Atletico: WDWWWW
Chelsea: LLWWWL
Possible starting lineups
Atletico: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe; Suarez, Gabi, Koke, Turan; Villa; Costa
Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Ramires; Oscar, Willian, Schurrle; Eto'o
Last Updated: Monday, April 21, 2014 at 12:40 UK
Jose Mourinho has been here before with Chelsea. In 2005 and 2007 under his management, the Blues reached the semi-finals of the Champions League, only to be knocked out by Liverpool.
The Portuguese head coach will be hoping that it is a case of third time lucky against Atletico Madrid, with the first leg being played at the Vicente Calderon on Tuesday night.
However, not only are Atletico unbeaten in front of their own supporters in La Liga this season, which has helped them to top the standings with four matches left to play, no English club has ever won from their trips to the Calderon.
Any positive result that the West Londoners are to achieve will have to be done so without the services of right-back Branislav Ivanovic, who is suspended. Consequently, Mourinho may recall the experienced Ashley Cole, with Cesar Azpilicueta switching flanks to cover Ivanovic's absence.
As well Ivanovic, Eden Hazard could also miss out. The Belgian playmaker has not played for two weeks because of a calf complaint, with the match in the Spanish capital potentially coming too soon.
Elsewhere, Nemanja Matic and Mohamed Salah are cup-tied, but goalkeeper Petr Cech should recover from illness to feature between the posts.
Meanwhile, Atletico's major selection dilemma heavily centres around the visitors. Thibaut Courtois is in his third season on loan with Los Rojiblancos from Chelsea, but despite having a foot in both camps, UEFA have insisted that there is no clause to prevent the 21-year-old from keeping goal for the home side.
That aside, Diego Simeone has been boosted by the news that Turkish midfielder Arda Turan is fit to feature along with leading goalscorer Diego Costa, who has been heavily linked with a summer switch to Stamford Bridge.
Atletico may have shown positive home form this term, but it's worth noting that Chelsea have not lost in Spain since a 1-0 defeat to Real Betis back in 2005 - a run that dates back seven Iberian encounters.
Recent form
Atletico: WDWWWW
Chelsea: LLWWWL
Possible starting lineups
Atletico: Courtois; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Filipe; Suarez, Gabi, Koke, Turan; Villa; Costa
Chelsea: Cech; Azpilicueta, Cahill, Terry, Cole; Lampard, Ramires; Oscar, Willian, Schurrle; Eto'o
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