It’s crunch time in the Champions League as the decisive quarter-final second legs take place this week. On Tuesday ten-time champions Real Madrid
ADVERTISEMENTIt’s crunch time in the Champions League as the decisive quarter-final second legs take place this week.
On Tuesday ten-time champions Real Madrid host Wolfsburg looking to overturn a 2-0 deficit from last week’s first leg in Germany.
Real coach Zinedine Zidane will have Karim Benzema back in the fold.
The France international has recovered a knee injury sustained at Wolfsburg seven days ago as the Spaniards now look to reach the semis for a sixth successive season.
Real’s under-pressure coach Zidane took a rather philosophical approach to the game. He said: “This club has always been like this, we have achieved extraordinary turnarounds. Very important matches have been played here at the Bernabeu, and tomorrow’s is just one more match. Maybe the most important match of the season, but it’s just a football match”.
Having already beaten the Spaniard’s last week Wolfsburg will not be afraid of taking them on once again – although the Santiago Bernabeu stadium can be a daunting place for visiting teams.
All of coach Dieter Hecking’s men have a clean bill of health with no key players on the injury list as the club look to reach the last four of the competition for a first time.
Wolves coach Hecking is under no illusion of the task ahead but also believes his men should not be taken lightly. He said: “We know what Real Madrid are, we know what the Bernabeu is and of course it is all intimidating. We have great respect for Real Madrid and this stadium but, despite all that, we also deserve respect due to the first leg.”
Also on Tuesday Manchester City host Paris Saint Germain with the score two all – the away goals could help City there. On Wednesday Atletico Madrid resume hostilities with Barcelona who lead 2-1 while Benfica entertain Bayern Munich with the Germans enjoying a slender one nil lead.