SPANISH RIVALS HEADLINE UCL WEEK
FAW
Tuesday 7th March 2017
The road to #Cardiff2017 continues this week as Barcelona and UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid look to progress into the quarter-finals, but both teams find themselves in very different positions heading into the return legs of their respective ties.
The action returns on Tuesday night when Real Madrid head to Napoli with a 3-1 advantage.
Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos and Casemiro were on target for Zinedine Zidane's side at the Santiago Bernabeu, but Lorenzo Insigne's goal offers the Italian outfit hope, and there is sure to be an intense atmosphere awaiting the holders at the Stadio San Paolo.
Wales star Gareth Bale is currently suspended from domestic business following his recent red card, but is eligible for UEFA Champions League, and will be desperate to make a big impression and move one step closer to a dream final in his home town of Cardiff.
“Champions League games are always difficult,” said Zindane. “We are up against a team that does not lose much, especially at home. I experienced the atmosphere here as a player and it was never easy. The fans really get behind the home team but that helps give the visitors extra motivation, too. Napoli will start with great intensity as they need to score. I don't think they will be tired after Saturday's win at Roma – when you win an important away game like that you don't get tired, you gain strength. I'm sure we will have to suffer at times but we are ready for it.”
Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey was an unused substitute for Arsenal at the weekend as they slipped to a 3-1 defeat at Liverpool, and his side face their toughest challenge of the season on Tuesday night when they take on Bayern Munich at the Emirates Stadium.
The German champions head into the match with a commanding 5-1 advantage after a dominant display at the Allianz Arena in the 1st leg, and as a result, Arsenal will have to pull off one of the greatest shocks in UEFA Champions League history to reverse the scoreline.
“The only advantage of our situation is that we have no choice,” explained Arsene Wenger. “We have to attack and to try to score goals. We've played four times against Bayern, who are always the best or second-best team in Europe, so that makes it very difficult. We want to give ourselves a chance by attacking. But no matter what happens, our pride is at stake and we have to give our best for 90 minutes.”
However, Arsenal will be without four players through injury.
Benfica head to Germany on Wednesday with a slender 1-0 lead over Borussia Dortmund, but will have to be at their best as the 2013 finalists will be a very different proposition at their own intimidating stadium.
Kostas Mitroglou scored the only goal in the 1st leg, but the Portuguese outfit were equally grateful to goalkeeper Ederson as he saved a penalty from Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the hour mark.
“I have the same importance as the other players,” said a modest Ederson after the match. “We all did a good job and the entire team deserve the congratulations. I pulled off several good saves but I don't think I was the hero; the entire team were heroes and that was key to our success. The secret is to remain focused and to study the penalty taker closely.”
One of the biggest stories of the competition so far this season was Paris Saint-Germain's 4-0 humbling of Spanish giants Barcelona at the Parc des Princes, but with a forward line of Messi, Suarez and Neymar and an expectant crowd at the Camp Nou awaiting the French champions, nothing is guaranteed.
A brace from Angel Di Maria paved the way for the eventual rout in the French capital, but under-pressure boss Luis Enrique has seen his side score for fun in La Liga recently with eleven goals in their last two games, and will be looking for his impressive forward trio to set the scene for an incredible comeback with an early goal.
However, the side cannot afford to concede another goal, and their attacking play could be exploited by a Paris side boasting the talents of Edinson Cavani in attack.
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