After the Copa del Rey title over Osasuna last Saturday, the Real Madrid will receive a Manchester City this Tuesday (9) seeking a rematch in the first leg of the semifinals of the European Champions League.
“The fact of winning the Copa del Rey will be an extra motivation for tomorrow’s game,” said coach Carlo Ancelotti at a press conference.
The Meringue team did not have time to celebrate the title, which the club had not won since 2014, to turn the key towards the semi-final of the Champions League.
Real Madrid, who eliminated City in the semifinals last year and in the 2015/2016 season, believe they can repeat the feat and, for that, they will try to advance the classification already at the Santiago Bernabéu, with the support of their fans.
Defending Champion’s Goal
“We know it’s going to be the second leg (in Manchester), so we want to open up a small advantage,” Ancelotti said.
The attacking trio formed by Karim Benzema, Rodrygo and Vinícius Júnior will face the dangerous Erling Haaland, top scorer in the Champions League this season with 12 goals.
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Haaland is five goals away from equaling the record of 17 goals in a continental tournament, achieved by Cristiano Ronaldo in the 2013/2014 season.
The Norwegian star is also the Premier League’s top scorer with 35 goals, two more than Real Madrid’s three strikers combined in the Spanish Premier League.
“Haaland, of course he is different. He has 51 goals this season, so it seems to me that this relationship (with City manager Pep Guardiola) has not worked badly so far,” said Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos.
Source: Gazetaesportiva
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