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Real Madrid take on Manchester City hoping to extend their winning run and put one foot in the final of the Champions League.

Zinedine Zidane is expected to display his usual starting lineup, as Cristiano Ronaldo and Daniel Carvajal have both completely recovered from their injuries.

The only doubt for the Frenchman is whether he will be able to display Karim Benzema, who is suffering from muscle problems. However, the latest reports from Spain suggest the striker will be ready for the crucial match against the Citizens.

Thus, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos and Marcelo are expected to feature in defence. Casemiro should return to the lineup after missing Rayo’s match through suspension. He will join Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema are expected to form the forward line. Keylor Navas will keep goal as usual.

This is Real Madrid’s projected starting eleven: Navas; Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; Modric, Casemiro, Kroos; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.

This is Manchester City’s projected starting eleven: Hart; Sagna, Kompany, Mangala, Clichy; Fernandinho, Fernando; Navas, De Bruyne, Silva; Aguero.

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Sergio Aguero

Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane will assess two Manchester City players in the semifinals of the Champions League.

The Los Blancos manager has targeted Nicolas Otamendi and Sergio Aguero, according to reports from Spain, and he will pay special attention to them in the two legs between Real and City.

Los Merengues are looking for a man to reinforce the defence and Otamendi is one of the names that has been recently added to Florentino Perez’s wishlist.

The Argentinian defender was strongly linked with Los Blancos last summer, but Manchester City ended up offering Valencia more than Real. If Pep Guardiola decides to bring a different type of defender to Manchester, Otamendi could seek for a move out and Perez will be ready to seduce him.

Meanwhile, Zidane also wants to bring a back-up striker to give Karim Benzema some rest. Aguero has always been Perez’s favourite. In fact, the Los Blancos president has attempted his signing a few times.

However, it seems highly unlikely that the Argentinian forward will agree to arrive at a club where he would not be the guaranteed starting striker.

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Former Barcelona and Arsenal striker Thierry Henry says Manchester City must avoid being hypnotised by Cristiano Ronaldo when they take on Real Madrid this week.

The Citizens host the 10-time Champions League winners in the first leg of their semi-final tie and will be hoping to take a positive result to the Spanish capital next week.

The teams have met before – in the group stage in the 2012-13 campaign when Ronaldo netted late to score in a 3-2 win at the Santiago Bernabeu. This season, the Portuguese has also found the net 16 times in the competition.

And writing in his column in the Sun, Henry said City must be aware of the danger he poses.

“Manchester City can do everything in their power to make sure Cristiano Ronaldo doesn’t get an inch in the Champions League semi-final. But if he suddenly decides to smash one into the top corner from 40 yards, there is nothing any defender can do about it except to say ‘well done’,” the 1998 World Cup winner wrote.

And he added: “Because that is what Ronaldo is always capable of — and a reason why he has scored an incredible 360 goals in seven seasons for Real Madrid. City can’t afford to be hypnotised by one guy when the two sides clash on Tuesday. Madrid have far too much quality in every position.”

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Champions League trophy

Barcelona midfielder Ivan Rakitic has denied claims in the media that he wants Real Madrid to win the Champions League.

Los Cules won the competition last season but were knocked out at the quarter final stage this time round by La Liga rivals Atletico de Madrid. The Vicente Calderon side take on Bayern Munich in one semi final, while Real take on Manchester City in the other.

In an interview with Croatian paper Sportske Novosti, Rakitic was asked if Barca’s elimination from the competition could help him keep fresh as he prepares for the European Championships with his country this summer.

He responded by saying that if players win be trophies, the euphoria of doing so rubs off onto other team mates in the squad and the tiredness become less of an issue. He went on to wish Luka Modric luck.

“Each of us want big trophies and, if you succeed, tiredness is less important. There would have been enough time left to recover. That is why I wish Luka Modric would win that trophy because it would be another stimulation to all of us,” he said.

The comments have been interpreted as him backing Madrid to win the trophy for an 11th time. In a bid to defuse angry among Barca fans, Rakitic took to social media to say: “Some people should change translators. I wish the best to Luka, but I have never said that I want Real Madrid to win the UCL,”

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Gareth Bale says he can’t wait to play on English soil again as Real Madrid ramp up their preparations to take on Manchester City in Tuesday night’s Champions League first leg semi final.

The Welshman missed out on Real’s clash with Liverpool last season meaning the trip to the Etihad will be the first time he has made a trip to England since joining Los Blancos in 2013.

And the forward, who netted twice in vital win over Rayo Vallecano at the weekend, says he is looking forward to taking on the Citizens, a team he has a good record against from his days in the Premier League with Spurs.

“I think we won a few times, I’ve scored a few times against them. It will be a very good game for sure, they’re a very tough team but we’ll be going there to try and win and do everything we can to get to the final. I always loved playing in the Premier League, I still watch it and it will be great to go back. The most important thing is to get the victory,” he told reporters.

He added: “When you go into big games against big teams like that, no-one’s ever really the favourite. You have to work hard and play really well to win. We are going to go in now with confidence, though we know they won against Stoke so we’re looking forward to it, I’m excited. “

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Real Madrid have suffered a major injury blow ahead of the Champions League semifinals against Manchester City.

Zinedine Zidane could miss striker Karim Benzema, who picked up a knock in Real’s 2-3 victory against Rayo Vallecano and had to be replaced before half-time.

At first, the injury didn’t look serious, but the France international has been unable to participate in the training session with his team-mates this morning. He spent a few hours working in the gym, alongside Gareth Bale and Pepe, who are also suffering from muscle problems.

Bale and Pepe will be available for Tuesday, but the Los Blancos manager is worried he will not recover Benzema on time for the crucial match against Manchester City. It seems that the Frenchman will make the trip to Manchester, but Zizou will not decide if he is fit to play until the last moment.

On the other hand, Cristiano Ronaldo and Daniel Carvajal have returned to regular training and they are expected to feature from the start against City.

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Real Madrid left back Marcelo says every game now is a cup final as the team chases glory on two fronts.

Los Blancos fought back from 2-0 down against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday to win 3-2 and keep pace with Barcelona and Atletico de Madrid in La Liga. They remain a point behind the top two with just three games left to play.

Now, their attention turns to the Champions League as they face Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium this week and look to continue their quest to win La Undecima.

Speaking to reporters after the game in Vallecas, Marcelo hailed the performance in the second half and reminded everybody that there is more to the team than just Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale.

“The team is Lucas, Modric, Isco, Pepe… The team is all of us not just Cristiano or Bale. Obviously they are great players and in one-on-one situations they are better and create more danger. Today the whole team were strong and fought until the end. Now we have to be united,” the Brazilian said.

About the rest of the campaign, he commented: “We are going to do what we have to, that means trying to win the remaining games and we’ll see if the teams above us slip up. We are doing well. Now we have another important game and we have to keep going forward. We only have cup finals remaining, they are going to be tense games and none of them will be easy. We will give it everything.”

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Lucas Vazquez
Jose luis Morales competes for the ball with Lucas Vazquez - Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images

Lucas Vazquez says the Real Madrid players knew they were in for a tough game against Rayo Vallecano on Saturday and were pleased to emerge with all three points.

The 10-time Champions League winners were favourites going into the clash against near neighbours who are struggling near the foot of the table. But it was the hosts who took the initiative and raced into a 2-0 lead after just 15 minutes leaving Real with a mountain to climb.

Without the services of the rested Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale stepped out of his shadows and netted two valuable goals while Vazquez also got on the scoresheet for the second game running.

Talking to the media after the final whistle, the winger gave his thoughts on events.

He said: “They play good football and they needed to win. They came out strong but we showed once again the great team that we are and the courage that we have. We demonstrated yet again that we are on a good run, with a lot of confidence and in the end it was a fair win.”

And he continued: “Real Madrid are ready to play both on weekends and midweek and now we have to focus on the Champions League with excitement and confidence.”

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Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale says being the hero on Saturday wasn’t important to him as he was more focused on ensuring Los Blancos keep pace with the top two in the league.

The Welshman netted twice as Real came from 2-0 down against Rayo Vallecano to win 3-2. Lucas Vazquez also netted in the win that sees Zinedine Zidane’s men stay just a point behind Atletico de Madrid and Barcelona in the league.

More pressure was on Bale than usual going into the game as Los Blancos were already without the services of injured star man Cristiano Ronaldo – not risked ahead of the Champions League semi final against Manchester City this week. Karim Benzema also picked up a knock in the game but should be ok for the trip to the Etihad Stadium.

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Bale said he was pleased with the fight his team mates had shown after such a poor start.

“We knew it was an important game playing before both Barcelona and Atlético. It was difficult, but we showed great character and spirit to get the three points,” he said.

He added: “Being the hero isn’t important, winning and keeping up the fight for La Liga is. I think Benzema is ok and we hope he’ll be ok to play on Tuesday.”

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Zinedine Zidane has hailed Gareth Bale for upping his game when Real Madrid needed him after the rousing comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 at Rayo Vallecano on Saturday afternoon.

Bale, who has had another injury hit season, was the main man in Cristiano Ronaldo’s absence. And the Welshman netted twice to help Los Blancos record three valuable points and keep pace with the top two in the league.

At his press conference afterwards, Zidane admitted his team started poorly – they conceded twice in the opening 15 minutes – but was pleased with the fightback they showed.

“It was a hard-fought, difficult game. We struggled in the opening 10-15 minutes, but a football match is played over 90 minutes. At the start of the game, we weren’t applying pressure as a team against a side who know how to play, but then we improved from the end of the first half onwards and when we did things properly – which was after they had gone 2-0 up – the game went in our favour,” he told reporters.

About Bale, the Frenchman said: “I’m very happy because he’s making the difference. We needed Bale to step up, and he did so superbly. He’s been really good and I’m happy because he hasn’t had the minutes and he’s in good shape. Now he must rest up and start thinking about Tuesday. We needed him today and he performed really well.

“We could talk about his part in the two goals, but he put in a fantastic all-round  performance. He created chances and physically he gets stronger as the game goes on. He was great.”

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