There has been much talk of the lesson that Manchester United were supposedly taught in the first leg in Madrid. But when one considers that Madrid's first goal, by Luis Figo, was arguably not the piece of genius some would have us believe, but instead a complete fluke, the result could have been 2-1, and United would have been the favourites coming into the second leg.
As it is, the Red Devils are the bookies favourites for this one-off match, and thus must have a chance of going through. With Raul now ruled out after his appendix operation, the Madrid attack will be significantly blunted, and although they still have the ability to pull out fancy tricks all over the shop, as Sir Alex says Raul is the only one who really hurts you. If the Madrid papers are to believed it is Van Nistelrooy and certainly not Ronaldo who will be the deadliest striker on view. For it was the Dutchman who gained a three star rating along with Raul after the first leg, compared with a lowly one star, from the world player of the year.
To say all of this, is merely to say that there is hope for United and their supporters. There will without doubt be the play acting that even a side like Real Madrid will use to protect their lead, but United must stand strong in the face of this adversity, and if they play to the peak of their abilities are certainly capable of turning this one around. It is sure to be another fascinating encounter between the two heavyweights.
Though Man U sympathizers have been trying to put a spin on the one-sided nature of the first-leg , the fact is the record-English champions were played off the park by a Real Madrid team that looked every bit an all-star ensemble.
Whether Figo's opener was the product of lucky inaccuracy or sublime intention will long be debated, but the fact of the matter is that Real deserved to win by two or more goals - particularly in light of the unforgettable first-half when it was truly a case of men against boys.
Despite the apparent class-divide, Real's highly-experienced skipper Fernando Hierro is under no illusions about the true strength of United. "I'm sure we are going to suffer in Manchester and it's going to be 90 long minutes," he said. "We don't expect United to be come at us as timidly as they did at the Bernabeu."
The Spanish capital club's task of holding on has become that much harder with the news that their Golden Boy Raul has been ruled out for up to month after having undergone emergency surgery for acute appendicitis.
Real Boss Vincente Del Bosque insisted that his team will not be too adversely affected by the sudden blow, however. "It's a shock for sure, but we are all professionals and not going to start crying," he said. "Raul's absence is a setback. He's a player who can add something in any situation, but we've got a strong squad and can cover for him."
As if this clash of the titans needed more subplots, Figo reacted to the rumours tipping him for a move to Old Trafford in exchange for David Beckham with a response that will certainly earn him a constant chorus of boos from the fiercely proud Mancunians.
"To suggest that I would be used in any way to secure a deal for David Beckham is laughable. It insults my intelligence," boomed the silky-skilled Portuguese international. "I play for the biggest club in the world, probably the best football team in the world. Would I be so crazy as to consider a move to England?"
"Manchester United are a big club and some players would be flattered by their interest. But I'm not any player," he continued before adding his two cents about the prospect of seeing 'Becks' in a Real jersey.
"I have no idea where he would play. Perhaps that is why they are talking about other players leaving. But it's speculation, isn't it? Personally I don't think they need him, but that is my opinion."
CURRENT FORM
Man United: WWLWDW
Other than the defeat in Madrid, United's form has been magnificent, and they are finally in free scoring mode. The fact that they are finding the net with more regularity than at any other time this season will give them further hope that they can turn this one around. They are displaying once again that they can be kings of the English game, and now it is time to transfer that on to the European stage.
Real Madrid: WWWWLT
Since their stellar display against United, Real have lost 4-2 to Real Sociedad and drawn 1-1 with thier arch-rivals Barcelona in a less than classic 'Super Classico'. Despite the utterly drab nature of their past pair of performances, Hierro has no doubt that Real will be back on-song for their trip ot Manchester. "The last two games will not have an influence. This team isn't affected by what's happened," he insisted. "The semi-final of the Champions League is what we are playing for now and we will be expecting a good result."
LATEST TEAM NEWS AND PROBABLES
Man United: Fabien Barthez has been passed fit after hobbling off with a bang on the thigh in Saturday's win over Blackburn. Paul Scholes and Gary Neville will definitely miss the tie though through suspension. The loss of Scholes is huge baring in mind his goalscoring form of late, but his absence will be lessened in significance if Juan Veron makes the games as is predicted. Nicky Butt should recover from a bang on the leg and John O'Shea faces a fitness test. If O'Shea doesn't make it then Phil Neville will continue at left back. David Beckham will probably take the right sided midfield berth with the unfortunate Ole Solskjaer on the bench.
Man United: Barthez, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea, Beckham, Butt, Keane, Veron, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy.
Real Madrid: Del Bosque is expected to make up for the absence of Raul by either inserting Guti in his place, or opting for a five-man midfield which would mean Ronaldo would operate as a lone striker. The latter option would likely result in Argentina's Santiago Solari coming in on the left wing. Otherwise Real are at full strength as they look to go on and clinch a place in the semi-finals after their magnificent win in the first leg at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid: Iker Casillas, Michel Salgado, Fernando Hierro, Ivan Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo, Claude Makelele, Flavio Conceicao, Zinedine Zidane, Guti, Ronaldo
WHO'S HOT:
Man United: Ryan Giggs
Ruud Van Nistelrooy displayed his fine range of abilities in the first leg in Madrid, but it is Ryan Giggs' resurgence that could hold the key to United's chances. Criticised for much of the season; the birth of his child
after a difficult pregnancy seems to have put the winger's mind at rest, and he can once again fully focus on his football. His attacking abilities have been there for all to see in the games against Arsenal and Blackburn, and
with the season hotting up Giggs' ability to tear apart defences could make all the difference. Fernando Hierro showed that he couldn't live with the Welshman in the first leg and is in for a torrid time on Wednesday.
Real Madrid: Ronaldo
Admittedly to call Ronaldo hot at the moment is somewhat of an overstatement, but on the evidence of the last couple of games none of Madrid's players is currently any more deserving of that distintion. The Brazilian superstar did bag the goal that prevented his side from suffering an embarrassing defeat to Barca, however, and considering the absence of Raul he will undoubtedly be the man United's defenders will be most concerned about.
WHO'S NOT:
Man United: Juan Sebastian Veron
Basically there is nobody off form in the United side, but Veron has not played since the 5th of March and so could be a little rusty. The Argentine has issued a statement telling the United fans that all is not over in this tie, and that he will return to lead us to victory. Let's face it this is exactly the sort of night that Alex Ferguson bought him for. The outrageously talented midfielder is up there with the likes of Zidane in terms of vision and creative flair, and there is great hope that he can live up to his words and inspire a famous United triumph.
Real Madrid: The Team
According to Dutch footballing legend Johann Cruyff, Madrid's uninspired draw against his beloved side on the weekend was the result of a collective stinker.
"It was not down to any one player," he opined. "The whole team has to take the blame for that display."
For once, few at the Bernabeu can disagree with Cruyff's assessment.
Manchester United
Injuries
Gary Neville
Foot Injury
As it is, the Red Devils are the bookies favourites for this one-off match, and thus must have a chance of going through. With Raul now ruled out after his appendix operation, the Madrid attack will be significantly blunted, and although they still have the ability to pull out fancy tricks all over the shop, as Sir Alex says Raul is the only one who really hurts you. If the Madrid papers are to believed it is Van Nistelrooy and certainly not Ronaldo who will be the deadliest striker on view. For it was the Dutchman who gained a three star rating along with Raul after the first leg, compared with a lowly one star, from the world player of the year.
To say all of this, is merely to say that there is hope for United and their supporters. There will without doubt be the play acting that even a side like Real Madrid will use to protect their lead, but United must stand strong in the face of this adversity, and if they play to the peak of their abilities are certainly capable of turning this one around. It is sure to be another fascinating encounter between the two heavyweights.
Though Man U sympathizers have been trying to put a spin on the one-sided nature of the first-leg , the fact is the record-English champions were played off the park by a Real Madrid team that looked every bit an all-star ensemble.
Whether Figo's opener was the product of lucky inaccuracy or sublime intention will long be debated, but the fact of the matter is that Real deserved to win by two or more goals - particularly in light of the unforgettable first-half when it was truly a case of men against boys.
Despite the apparent class-divide, Real's highly-experienced skipper Fernando Hierro is under no illusions about the true strength of United. "I'm sure we are going to suffer in Manchester and it's going to be 90 long minutes," he said. "We don't expect United to be come at us as timidly as they did at the Bernabeu."
The Spanish capital club's task of holding on has become that much harder with the news that their Golden Boy Raul has been ruled out for up to month after having undergone emergency surgery for acute appendicitis.
Real Boss Vincente Del Bosque insisted that his team will not be too adversely affected by the sudden blow, however. "It's a shock for sure, but we are all professionals and not going to start crying," he said. "Raul's absence is a setback. He's a player who can add something in any situation, but we've got a strong squad and can cover for him."
As if this clash of the titans needed more subplots, Figo reacted to the rumours tipping him for a move to Old Trafford in exchange for David Beckham with a response that will certainly earn him a constant chorus of boos from the fiercely proud Mancunians.
"To suggest that I would be used in any way to secure a deal for David Beckham is laughable. It insults my intelligence," boomed the silky-skilled Portuguese international. "I play for the biggest club in the world, probably the best football team in the world. Would I be so crazy as to consider a move to England?"
"Manchester United are a big club and some players would be flattered by their interest. But I'm not any player," he continued before adding his two cents about the prospect of seeing 'Becks' in a Real jersey.
"I have no idea where he would play. Perhaps that is why they are talking about other players leaving. But it's speculation, isn't it? Personally I don't think they need him, but that is my opinion."
CURRENT FORM
Man United: WWLWDW
Other than the defeat in Madrid, United's form has been magnificent, and they are finally in free scoring mode. The fact that they are finding the net with more regularity than at any other time this season will give them further hope that they can turn this one around. They are displaying once again that they can be kings of the English game, and now it is time to transfer that on to the European stage.
Real Madrid: WWWWLT
Since their stellar display against United, Real have lost 4-2 to Real Sociedad and drawn 1-1 with thier arch-rivals Barcelona in a less than classic 'Super Classico'. Despite the utterly drab nature of their past pair of performances, Hierro has no doubt that Real will be back on-song for their trip ot Manchester. "The last two games will not have an influence. This team isn't affected by what's happened," he insisted. "The semi-final of the Champions League is what we are playing for now and we will be expecting a good result."
LATEST TEAM NEWS AND PROBABLES
Man United: Fabien Barthez has been passed fit after hobbling off with a bang on the thigh in Saturday's win over Blackburn. Paul Scholes and Gary Neville will definitely miss the tie though through suspension. The loss of Scholes is huge baring in mind his goalscoring form of late, but his absence will be lessened in significance if Juan Veron makes the games as is predicted. Nicky Butt should recover from a bang on the leg and John O'Shea faces a fitness test. If O'Shea doesn't make it then Phil Neville will continue at left back. David Beckham will probably take the right sided midfield berth with the unfortunate Ole Solskjaer on the bench.
Man United: Barthez, Brown, Ferdinand, Silvestre, O'Shea, Beckham, Butt, Keane, Veron, Giggs, Van Nistelrooy.
Real Madrid: Del Bosque is expected to make up for the absence of Raul by either inserting Guti in his place, or opting for a five-man midfield which would mean Ronaldo would operate as a lone striker. The latter option would likely result in Argentina's Santiago Solari coming in on the left wing. Otherwise Real are at full strength as they look to go on and clinch a place in the semi-finals after their magnificent win in the first leg at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid: Iker Casillas, Michel Salgado, Fernando Hierro, Ivan Helguera, Roberto Carlos, Luis Figo, Claude Makelele, Flavio Conceicao, Zinedine Zidane, Guti, Ronaldo
WHO'S HOT:
Man United: Ryan Giggs
Ruud Van Nistelrooy displayed his fine range of abilities in the first leg in Madrid, but it is Ryan Giggs' resurgence that could hold the key to United's chances. Criticised for much of the season; the birth of his child
after a difficult pregnancy seems to have put the winger's mind at rest, and he can once again fully focus on his football. His attacking abilities have been there for all to see in the games against Arsenal and Blackburn, and
with the season hotting up Giggs' ability to tear apart defences could make all the difference. Fernando Hierro showed that he couldn't live with the Welshman in the first leg and is in for a torrid time on Wednesday.
Real Madrid: Ronaldo
Admittedly to call Ronaldo hot at the moment is somewhat of an overstatement, but on the evidence of the last couple of games none of Madrid's players is currently any more deserving of that distintion. The Brazilian superstar did bag the goal that prevented his side from suffering an embarrassing defeat to Barca, however, and considering the absence of Raul he will undoubtedly be the man United's defenders will be most concerned about.
WHO'S NOT:
Man United: Juan Sebastian Veron
Basically there is nobody off form in the United side, but Veron has not played since the 5th of March and so could be a little rusty. The Argentine has issued a statement telling the United fans that all is not over in this tie, and that he will return to lead us to victory. Let's face it this is exactly the sort of night that Alex Ferguson bought him for. The outrageously talented midfielder is up there with the likes of Zidane in terms of vision and creative flair, and there is great hope that he can live up to his words and inspire a famous United triumph.
Real Madrid: The Team
According to Dutch footballing legend Johann Cruyff, Madrid's uninspired draw against his beloved side on the weekend was the result of a collective stinker.
"It was not down to any one player," he opined. "The whole team has to take the blame for that display."
For once, few at the Bernabeu can disagree with Cruyff's assessment.
Manchester United
Injuries
Gary Neville
Foot Injury
