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Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has said he and his teammates need to put in a perfect performance to beat current Champions League holders Bayern Munich.

Los Blancos welcome the Bundesliga champions to the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday before the sides meet again next week in Munich. The Bavarians head into the semi-final tie as favourites to progress to the final and defend the crown they won at Wembley last year.

And to stop them from doing so, Los Blancos need to put in a perfect performance similar to the one they played last week in the Copa del Rey final, Alonso said.

Speaking at a press conference after training on Tuesday morning, Alonso stated: “We have to play a perfect match. We have to know how to defend and to attack well when we have the ball.

“Bayern are a great rival but we are going through a good moment and nobody is the favourite. We’ve made it into the semi-finals in each of the last three years and now we want to take the next step.”

The 32-year-old also spoke about the impact that Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale can have on the tie. Both have been doubts for the game but should make the starting 11 having recovered from a hamstring strain and flu respectively.

“Ronaldo will play if he is 100 per cent fit. The coach, the staff and the player himself will decide. He is important for us,” Alonso said. “Ronaldo can create and score goals. We use him whenever he is available.”

He continued: “Irrespective of the goal, Gareth Bale has been very valuable for us and we’re very happy with him, especially since it is his first season.”

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“Real Madrid’s black beast is not my black beast.” That was Carlo Ancelotti’s answer last Tuesday when he was asked about Los Blancos’ historic bad performances against Bayern Munich. The Italian said that with knowledge of course. Statistics prove it: Ancelotti has never lost against the German club in the Champions League.

All the matches Ancelotti played against Bayern date back to his years as AC Milan manager. During those seasons, he faced the Munich team six times, with a positive balance of four victories and two draws. His team scored a total 13 goals and conceded only six. That makes his average score against Bayern Munich a 2-1 victory.

Moreover, in two of the three occasions Bayern Munich and Carlo Ancelotti’s Milan met in the Champions League, the Italians went on to win the competition. It was in 2003 and 2007.

The most similar precedent to this semi-finals tie for Ancelotti against Bayern took place in the 2006-2007 season. That year, the Italian manager faced the Bavarians in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, and just like this time he played the first leg home and the second leg away at Munich. At San Siro, the Germans earned a valuable 2-2 draw. However, Milan won 0-2 at the Allianz Arena, a result that Real Madrid would surely sign right now.

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Javi Martinez, Bayern Munich’s midfield linchpin, has admitted he did want his side to draw Real Madrid in the semi-final of the Champions League.

The Bavarian outfit are in the Spanish capital to play the first leg of their clash with the nine-time European Cup winners before the teams face each other again in Germany next week.

The Bundesliga outfit won the last meeting between the pair – the 2011/12 semi-final – on penalties. And Martinez, who plays for the Spanish national side, told journalists that Los Blancos are stronger than they were last time out.

“They’re getting better, they’re more compact and strong. I didn’t want them in the semi-finals of the Champions League. They’re the toughest we could have faced,” he said.

The former Athletic Bilbao man also spoke of the danger Carlo Ancelotti’s men pose on the break and warned his defenders they must be at their best to stop them. Cristiano Ronaldo should be fit to play, and the Portuguese has already scored 14 goals in this season’s competition alone. His next goal in the Champions League will mark his 50th in the competition as a Real Madrid player.

“They’re very dangerous on the break. [Angel] Di Maria, [Gareth] Bale – who scored in the Copa del Rey final – or [Cristiano] Ronaldo, if he plays, create a lof of problems,” Martinez said.

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Former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich manager Jupp Heynckes is backing the Bavarian side to defeat Los Blancos and reach the final of the Champions League for the second consecutive year.

The 68-year-old guided Munich to an historic treble last season, including the Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley. Now managed by Pep Guardiola, the Bundesliga champions, who retained their crown with seven league games remaining, are favourites to become the first team to win back-to-back Champions League in 24 years.

Speaking to French sports paper L’Equipe, Heynckes said Bayern have the psychological edge over Los Blancos having beaten then on penalties at the same stage two years ago. He added the poor performance by Madrid against Dortmund in the quarter-final second leg could also play on their minds.

“It’s the European clasico. Among the three opponents Bayern could have faced, Madrid is the best for them, even if — in Carlo Ancelotti — they have a very experienced coach who is very good tactically,” he said.

And he added: “Given their attacking potential, I’m convinced Bayern are going to score at the Bernabeu. And after seeing Madrid’s display in the return leg in Dortmund, I say this team is vulnerable.”

One man who is backing Los Blancos though is ex-boss Fabio Capello. Speaking to Eurosport, the Italian, who won two La Liga titles with the club, said Carlo Ancelotti has the tactical expertise to see off Munich.

“Everybody knows I support Real Madrid and I think they’re favourites for the Champions League. They’ve got the best squad with a great coach who knows what he wants and manages to give all of his players the tranquillity they need to express themselves on the field,” Capello said.

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A huge game takes place tonight at the Santiago Bernabeu between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich in the Champions League semi-final.

Marca and AS once again have plenty of per-match build up, focusing on the possible team selection by Ancelotti given there are some serious fitness issues. It looks like Ronaldo will play, although in his press conference on Tuesday, the Italian boss said if there was any doubt, the Portugal international won’t be risked.

Gareth Bale meanwhile is looked less likely to make it in time. The Wales international has been suffering with flu this week and although he has returned to training, it looks unlikely he’ll make the starting 11. In their final training session before the match, Ancelotti used a front three of Ronaldo, Benzema and Isco – given a clear indication of who will start.

Meanhwile, both Marca and AS have picked up on reports in the UK press that Ancelotti is wanted by Manchester United to replace David Moyes. The former Everton boss was sacked as manager at Old Trafford on Tuesday morning only 10 months into a six-year deal. He had been chosen by Sir Alex Ferguson to be his successor, but the Red Devils have had a poor campaign and will not be playing Champions League football next season.

According to the Telegraph, United are eying a move for Ancelotti, who already has experience of managing in the Premier League. In his two years at Chelsea, he helped the team to the league title and FA Cup success.

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Real Madrid’s young winger Denis Cheryshev, who is out on loan at Sevilla, is set to extend his stay at the Andalucian club for a further 12 months, according to reports.

El Desmarque claimed Sevilla boss Unai Emery is keen to keep the Russian player at the Sanchez Pizjuan instead of seeing him return to the Santiago Bernabeu. And it is believed the 23-year-old is happy to stay in southern Spain as he feels grateful to the club for supporting him in an injury plagued first season.

The Russian, who grew up in the ranks at Los Blancos having joined as a 12-year-old in 2002, signed for Sevilla last summer. With the likes of Isco, Angel di Maria, Gareth Bale, and Cristiano Ronaldo all able to play in the wide role, his chances of first team football in the Spanish capital were fairly limited and it was thought best to go on loan elsewhere to help his development.

But he has experienced a frustrating time at Sevilla, making just one league appearance due to a number of injuries. The Russian international is thought to be a doubt for his country at the World Cup.

Although nothing is yet confirmed, it is believed Real will approve the extension of the loan that will see Cheryshev prolong his stay with Sevilla.

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Carlo Ancelotti has revealed that he will not line-up Cristiano Ronaldo in the first leg of the semi-finals of the Champions League if he’s told there is any risk for the Portuguese.

“He trained quite normally today, like any day. Tomorrow we will test him again and see how it goes. He will play if everyone us sure that it is safe. If there is any risk of a relapse, he won’t play,” the Italian said in a press conference prior to Bayern Munich’s game.

Ancelotti confessed Ronaldo is very motivated: “He’s raring to go. That’s normal, as the game is important for us all. He’s motivated, just as all the others are,” he told the reporters.

Real Madrid’s manager also confirmed Fabio Coentrao will start at left-back. “Marcelo started back in training a week ago, but he hasn’t played for a while,” he explained.

When asked about their rival, Ancelotti said he’s not surprised that Bayern are favourites: “They are a great team, very strong, that have won many matches and that won the Champions League last year. But Bayern are not my Black Beast because thinking that doesn’t fill me with confidence. My team makes me feel very confident, the players that I have and that is why I believe that tomorrow we will see a great Real Madrid.”

Asked whether not reaching the final would be a failure for him, Los Blancos boss stated “failure is a very tough word, although neither can I say that reaching the semis is a success. The main objective this season was to reach the Champions League final.”

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Sergio Aguero is Real Madrid’s first choice to reinforce the forward line in the summer transfer market, according to Spanish digital newspaper El Confidencial.

Despite rumours suggesting Los Blancos will make a bid for Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, El Confidencial claims Florentino Perez has put Aguero in the first place of his whish list.

The Argentinian would be a cheaper option than Suarez. The Uruguayan would demand at least a salary of ten million euros a year, and Liverpool would not accept less than 75 million euros for the transfer.

Manchester City would be willing to let Aguero leave for much less than that, El Confidencial has stated.

The Spanish website claims Suarez would be the first option for the striker role in case Los Merengues sold Karim Benzema, as they would have around 50 million euros to cheapen the Uruguayan’s signing. However, the Frenchman’s great performance so far this season has quiet the rumours about his exit.

The signing of any striker next summer would open the door for youngster Alvaro Morata to leave either on loan or in a permanent deal. The club’s technical directors could be seeking a team for the Spaniard to get more minutes of play and improve his game.

* Follow Alejandro Gonzalez on Twitter at @alejandrognieto

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Ex-Real Madrid striker Fernando Morientes has said Bayern Munich are the team to beat in this year’s Champions League and that Los Blancos will need to be at their best to overcome the current holders.

The two teams meet in the first leg of their semi-final tie at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday before heading to Munich next week for the second leg.

In an interview with bundesliga.com, the Cadena Copa pundit, who formed a deadly partnership with Raul in their time together with Los Blancos, said he remembers the Bavarians being the toughest team to play against.

“I can also remember the old Oympiastadion and the fantastic atmosphere the Bayern fans created there to urge their team on. We could feel it as soon as we arrived at the stadium. They were the toughest trips we ever had,” stated.

Los Blancos have reached the semi-finals for the last three years in a row, and were knocked out by Munich in 2011/12 on penalties. When asked about the difference between the team Morientes played in and the current squad aiming to win La Decima, he said there was little in it.

“They are two completely different teams, even if Real have been so close to the final in recent years. They’ve just lacked a bit of luck, like last year in the second leg against Borussia Dortmund, and in the penalty shoot-out with Bayern the year before – that could have ended differently too. It’s often things like that which take you into a final,” Morientes said.

And the former football picked out possession and dominating the midfield as being key to who will progress to the final in Lisbon on May 24.

He commented: “I think it’s going to be decided in midfield; the strong passing game, the runs the teams make. It will be interesting to see how the sides react when they lose possession. It’s going to be important to leave little room to the likes of Ribery, Robben, Bale, Di Maria or Cristiano, if he plays.”

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Having fretted over the fitness of Cristiano Ronaldo for weeks in order to have BBC trio available for Real Madrid’s match against Bayern Munich, it looks like Gareth Bale could miss out.

Marca and AS both report the Welshman has flu and is a serious doubt for the visit of the Bundesliga champions tomorrow night. Manager Carlo Ancelotti will pick Isco in the 24-year-old’s place should he not recover in time to take on Pep Guariola’s side.

Marca also reports that Howard Webb will referee the match tomorrow – something that had upset fans of Los Blancos. The Yorkshireman, considered one of the best referees in the world, has been an unpopular figure in Spain since the 2010 World Cup final. In that match, he failed to send of Nigel de Jong for a kicking Xabi Alonso in the chest when going for the ball.

AS says the Spanish royal family will be following the Champions League semi-finals this week and lending their support to both La Liga teams left in the competition. The Prince of Asturias will be present at the Vicente Calderon to watch Atletico de Madrid take on Chelsea, now managed by ex-Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, while King Juan Carlos will be at the Santiago Bernabeu to take in events between Real Madrid and the current holders of the competition.

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