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Chicharito Hernandez became the unexpected hero as Real Madrid end a seven-game victory draught against Atletico de Madrid to qualify for the semi-finals of the Champions League.

Diego Simeone men focussed on defending and they kept Real away from their box for a long time. However, Arda Turan was sent off in the 76th minute and Los Blancos took the chance to score the winner thanks to a great collective play that Chicharito sealed with his goal.

Carlo Ancelotti surprised everyone lining-up Sergio Ramos in midfield alongside Toni Kroos, with Raphael Varane and Pepe in the centre of defence.

Los Blancos dominated possession from the start, but Atletico defended with their lines tightly close and Real barely shot on target a couple of times before the break.

Ronaldo had the best chance of the first half when Saul Niguez lost the ball near the edge of the box. James Rodriguez sent a precise pass to the Portuguese but his shot into the bottom corner was brilliantly blocked by Jan Oblak.

Los Blancos started the second half with more intensity and soon they had a big opportunity to score. Isco sent a superb assist into the box and Chicharito’s effort was just wide off the post.

Atletico seemed to start getting tired, but still Real were unable to find spaces. Yet, everything changed when Turan was shown his second yellow card following a challenge on Ramos.

With 15 minutes to go, Real moved a step forward. Chicharito was close to making it 1-0 after receiving a pass from James and avoiding Diego Godin’s tackle. The Mexican sent a powerful shot but was denied by Oblak, who saved his team for the billionth time in this tie.

Chicharito was by far the most active and threatening Real Madrid player in the game, and he got his reward in the 88th minute. Ronaldo and James combined brilliantly in the edge of the box and the Portuguese ended up squaring to the Mexican, who netted from the penalty spot.

Atletico didn’t have time to react and Los Blancos earned a hard-fought ticket for the next round, after a very tough tie that was decided with one single goal in 180 minutes.

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Xabi Alonso says he is rooting for his former team mates tonight when Real Madrid take on Atletico de Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie.

The 33-year-old spent five years at the Santiago Bernabeu before his switch to Bayern Munich last summer and told Canal Plus he still has a lot of friends in the Spanish capital and wants Real to progress to the semi-final of the competition.

The former Spain midfielder, who won the World Cup and European Championship with La Roja, was part of the Munich side that overcame a 3-1 first leg deficit against Porto on Tuesday night. Pep Guardiola’s side put in a devastating display and won 6-1 on the night and 7-4 overall.

Alonso is able to put his feet up tonight, and said he’d be keeping an eye on events in the Spanish capital.

“I’ll be rooting for Real Madrid in the derby and here’s hoping they go through. I want to wish them the best of luck for the game. I’ve got a lot of friends there. They are a club I have a great deal of affection for and everything I experienced with them is still very fresh,” he told reporters.

Alonso played a key role in helping his side get to last season’s final but had to sit out the showpiece event through suspension.

 

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Real Madrid will decide their fate in the Champions League quarter-finals tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu after earning a goalless draw at Vicente Calderon stadium. Los Blancos have moved into the next round in seven of the eight occasions in which they got that result in the first leg.

The only time in which they failed to qualify dates back to 1990/91 season, when Spartak Moscow knocked Los Merengues out at Chamartin Stadium after bringing a 0-0 draw from Russia in the first leg.

Just like this time against Atletico Madrid, Los Blancos were facing Spartak in the quarter-finals of the European Cup. However, at that time the competition had a different format, since there were only knock-out rounds and no group stage.

Madrid had beaten Danish club Odense in the first round and Austrian side Swarovski Tirol in the last-16 round. The draw determined they would face Spartak Moscow in the quarter-finals. Both teams failed to score in the first leg and everything seemed set for Alfredo di Stefano’s men to earn a ticket for the semi-finals at their stadium, having the support of the Santiago Bernabeu crowd.

It all seemed very straightforward when Emilio Butragueno opened the score for Los Merengues in the ninth minute. However, the Madridistas’ dream turned into a nightmare when Radchenko scored twice and completed the comeback. Shmarov sealed the victory scoring the third and teaching Los Merengues an important lesson they will have to remember next Wednesday when they face Atletico.

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Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid match preview
Real Madrid vs Atletico Madrid match preview

Real Madrid face a complicated challenge as they need to beat Atletico de Madrid to move into the semi-finals of the Champions League and they will have to line-up a very unusual starting eleven due to their injury crisis.

Carlo Ancelotti will miss Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema due to injury, and Marcelo is also a loss due to suspension. Thus, the Italian is forced to make at least four changes in his usual line-up.

Fabio Coentrao will most likely replace Marcelo at left-back, and Isco will feature in midfield, although his role is not yet clear. Ancelotti could line him up in the centre alongside Toni Kroos, placing Jese Rodriguez on the wing. However, it seems more probable that Isco will play on the wing, leaving Modric’s role to Asier Illarramendi.

The Italian will also have to decide whether Jese or Chicharito Hernandez will replace Karim Benzema. The Mexico international is expected to feature from the start following his brilliant performances in the last couple of games.

Diego Simeone will only miss midfielder Mario Suarez, who could be replaced by Tiago or Saul Niguez. Mario Mandzukic is also a doubt, as he’s suffering problems in his ankle.

The goalless draw obtained in the first leg is a tricky result for Los Blancos. Should Atletico score, things would turn difficult. A victory is the only result that would directly qualify Real for the next round. Ancelotti men haven’t won any of their seven previous games against their city rivals.

Possible line-ups:

Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Varane, Ramos, Coentrao; James Rodriguez, Illarramendi, Kroos, Isco; Chicharito, Ronaldo.

Atletico Madrid: Oblak; Juanfran, Miranda, Godin, Gamez; Arda Turan, Gabi, Tiago, Koke; Griezmann, Torres.

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Carlo Ancelotti says he is not unduly worried by the selection headache he faces ahead of Real Madrid’s Champions League clash with Atletico de Madrid as he has the best squad in the world at his disposal.

Los Blancos go into the second leg of their quarter-final tie against Los Colchoneros without Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema through injury, and Marcelo because of suspension.

But speaking to the press on Tuesday, the boss said while the missing players will be a loss, anyone who is able to get into the Real Madrid squad should be considered among of the best players in the world.

He stated: “Modric and Bale are both important players so it’s hard to say who will be missed more, but the main thing now is to think positively and about who will replace them.”

And he added: “We are the best squad in the world and our club’s badge reminds us of that every day we train together. Excluding the injured players, the team is doing very well and I was encouraged by our performance in the first leg at the Vicente Calderon.

“This will be a difficult game but we are all confident that we can reach the semi-finals. However, the most important thing is to relax in the hours leading up to the game, so if I have to say one thing to the players then that is it – relax.”

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Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos says injuries can not be used as excuse as they prepare to take on city rivals in the second leg of their Champions League quarter final tie.

Los Blancos go into the game at the Santiago Bernabeu without the services of Gareth Bale, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema due to injury, while Brazilian left-back Marcelo will miss the game through suspension.

But speaking at a press conference ahead of the meeting between last year’s finalists, the German World Cup winner said whoever plays will be properly prepared and there will be no excuses should the holders fail to make it into the semi-final.

He told journalists: “It’s not good to have so many key players injured, but there is no point complaining about it. There is no doubt that Modric is an important player for the team but we have to focus on winning the game.

“We are very motivated. We had a good result in the first leg. Atletico have been difficult opponents for us but tomorrow we have the chance to beat them. Winning will be beautiful for us. We have to repeat our first-half performance in the first leg. However, we have to do it during the whole game this time.

“Everybody knows Atletico – they have been very successful against us in recent matches. Our objective is to qualify for the semi-finals. We have to dominate the midfield and we will create chances if we manage to do so.”

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Real Madrid winger James Rodriguez has called on his team mates to show intensity and purpose from the first minute to the last against Atletico de Madrid.

The two teams meet for the eighth time this season – this time in the Champions League quarter-final – at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday, with Los Blancos looking for their first win.

Real are facing a selection crisis, with Marcelo, Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Luka Modric all unavailable.

Speaking to the club’s official website ahead of the game, the Colombian said whoever starts needs to show the right level of commitment throughout.

“We have to show intensity, be completely focused, play well, (we must) all stick together. I think that if we do that we’ll come away with an excellent result,” he stated.

And he added: We’re all dreaming of getting through this round, and if I can score too that’d be great. What’s important is winning and getting through this tough match, which is going to be difficult, but we’re here at our home stadium and in front of our fans. I think it could be a great match.

“Atletico are an intense team who are good at the back and are a unit. There’s always pressure here. You have to know how to handle it. We’re going to give everything to be able to win La Undecima.”

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Real Madrid could take advantage of the upheaval at Borussia Dortmund this summer and make a bid for playmaker Marco Reus.

The 24-year-old has long been linked with a switch from the Bundesliga to the Spanish capital, but the German outfit have so far managed to hold onto their star man. According to AS, however, with Jurgen Kloop set to leave at the end of the campaign, some of the side’s key men could be set to follow him out the exit door.

Reus would command a huge fee as his is tied down to a contract for another four years. But AS says Dormund would find it hard to turn down a significant offer from Los Blancos if it came along.

Significantly for Real, Reus’ and current Los Blancos midfielder Toni Kroos share the same agent – something that could make a potential transfer easier.

Should the Madrid hierarchy decide to make a bid for the Germany international, it would likely spell the end to the career of one of Real’s current attacking midfielders. Former Malaga man Isco could be a victim and has been linked with a move to Premier League side Arsenal, who could offer him more regular first team football.

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Karim Benzema has been ruled out of the Champions League quarter final second leg against Atletico de Madrid with a knee injury, the club has confirmed.

It means Los Blancos head into the clash with their city rivals with a major selection crisis, with Gareth Bale and Luka Modric also being ruled out through injury and left-back Marcelo being suspended for the game.

Real need to win at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday after a 0-0 draw at the Vicente Calderon last week. A score draw for Carlo Ancelotti’s side would not be enough as Diego Simeone’s men would be through on away goals.

Benzema picked up the problem during the first leg and sat out the La Liga win over Malaga at the weekend. He was seen leaving training on Friday morning heavily bandaged, putting his participation in the game against Los Colchoneros in doubt.

And a statement on the club website confirmed the bad news. It read: “After the tests carried out on Karim Benzema by the Real Madrid medical team, they have diagnosed a sprain in the medial collateral ligament in his right knee.”

It is not known yet how long Benzema will be missing for. Gareth Bale has been ruled out for up to three weeks with a calf injury, while Luka Modric isn’t expected to appear again for Los Blancos this season have suffered a knee ligament problem.

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Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has revealed he has no desire to return to Italy to manage in his homeland.

The 55-year-old left Seria A in 2009 after a successful eight-year spell with AC Milan in which he won the Champions League twice and the title. Since then, he has lifted trophies while manager of Chelsea, PSG and Real Madrid.

And he says it’s a combination of enjoying the adventure of living and working abroad, along with the increasing violence in the stands in Italian football stadiums that mean he’s in no hurry to return.

Speaking to Radio Rai, the manager said: “Before I left Italy I thought about things, it was not easy, but I’ve felt comfortable abroad. I would not return. Italian football is still very competitive. The difference is the environment.

“The stadiums are empty compared to other countries and the violence is more common in Italy than other places.What happened in Cagliari, Roma and Varese is very sad. It can no longer be that the players are hostages to brainless fans.”

He added: “Here in Spain, the demonstrations are limited only to the whistles in the stadium. The ultras and the banners no longer exist.  But it’s not this that keeps me away, so much as the pleasure that comes from living a foreign adventure and getting to know other sporting cultures.”

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