If the excitement of yesterday's games is anything to go by, then today's should blow the roof away. Bayern Munich and Barcelona secured priceless advantages in their respective matches. Today, it is the turn of Real Madrid (RM), Galatasaray (Gala), Malaga, and Borussia Dortmund (Dortmund).
Let's take a look at both matches..............
REAL MADRID-GALA
After accounting for the exit of Manchester United in the previous round, Los Merengues are looking to make another giant step in their ambition to claim a 10th EUROPEAN CROWN---otherwise called 'La Decima' by the Madrid faithful. It is no secret that since the 9th title eleven long years ago, the biggest priority of anyone associated with the World's Greatest Club is to hoist the 10th. Managers have come and gone since then. Capello, Camacho, Queiroz, Luxemburgo, Renon, Schuster, Pellegrini, Juande Ramos, etc....but none seemed to have the right formula. Then came the 'Only One' Jose Mourinho who has led the 'whites' to within touching distance of the long awaited tenth triumph. Two consecutive semi-finals (the last was very close) is a s close as anyone has been in recent years. This season represents their best chance of winning the UCL for the first time in 11 barren European years. It was Mourinho who broke the 'Roundof16' hoodoo. No one can bet against him winning his 3rd Champions League title with three different clubs. Well, the Portuguese must remember what he said about Guardiola's 2009 and '11 wins. He stated that the 09 win was 'the Scandal of Stamford Bridge' and the '11 was 'the Scandal of the Bernabeu'. If he (Mourinho) wins this, it will be tagged 'The Scandal of Old Trafford' thanks to Cuneyt Cakir the Turkish 'c*nt'.
Fatih Terim's Galatasaray are not here by default. It is as a result of hard work and determination to succeed. The Coaching Legend who is in his 3rd stint as Gala manager, has performed admirably well in this season's Champions League. The elimination of Schalke was down to good tactics and decision making. Now is the big one. A tie v the mighty Real Madrid. The Turkish League Leaders secured the services of Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands skipper) and Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast captain). Both of whom played major roles in their respective teams victory in the 2010 and 2012 Champions League campaign(s). The seasoned footballers were at the forefront of everything Inter Milan and Chelsea did on their way to glory. It is time to relight those amazing times. In Burak Yilmaz, the Sari Kirmizililar possess one of the best strikers in the World at the moment. His eight goals in the Champions League so far is only equalled by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The man is in the form of his life and can cause Real a lot of problems.
Jose Mourinho does not lack at all in talents department. The Head of that Department is Cristiano Ronaldo. The man who inherited Raul's No 7 shirt has scored 190 goals in 188 games for the capital club. Am lost for words. He is also the joint highest goal scorer in the Champions League and already has 44 goals this season (Only Messi has more-56). If Gala want to win, he must be kept 20km away from the 18 yard box, and that doesn't even guarantee anything. The likes of Mesut Ozil, Angel di Maria, Xabi Alonso, Luka Modric, etc ably assist their HOD in his duties. Pipita Higuain and Benz have been misfiring this season. Form has deserted them at the wrong time and the weight of leading the merengues to victory rests firmly on CR7's broad shoulders. He can bear the burden.
Probable Lineups-
REAL MADRID-
Diego Lopez, Arbeloa, Ramos, Varane, Coentrao, Khedira, Alonso, Ozil, Di Maria, CR7, Benzema
Di Maria, Ozil, Alonso, Varane and Khedira were rested against Zaragoza and will return to starting eleven tonight. Pepe is set to make way for the impressive teenage Frenchman. San Iker is still not match fit or so they say. So Diego Lopez continues in goal.
GALA-
Muslera, Eboue, Semih, Nounkeu, Riera, Altintop, Melo, Selcuk, Sneijder, DROGBA, BURAK YILMAZ
Drogba and Sneijder are set to face a man they love and respect so much as a person and as a football manager. Mourinho has repeatedly poured encomiums on the pair and will hope they are kept quiet tonight by his boys. Selcuk Inan is one of the best Deep lying playmakers in the business and will come up against his senior in the association of DLPs, Xabi Alonso. Battle of tact.
MALAGA-B.DORTMUND
Manuel Pellegrini is a candidate for 'Coach of the year' undoubtedly. The Chilean tactician has done a fantastic job for the Andalusian club, keeping them in the Champions League up till his point and fighting hard to qualify again for the esteemed European Competition despite the financial problems that have plagued them up till now. The Owners sanctioned the sale of their best player then, Santiago Cazorla and from then on, everyone thought it will be a battle to even keep their status as a La Liga club. Things have turned out the opposite. Haven claimed the scalp of the much fancied Porto, it is Dortmund that stands between them and a previously unlikely SEMI-FINAL spot in the Champions League. The biggest of them all. FranISCO Alarcon has stepped up to take the mantle of leadership from the departed Cazorla who will probably sit at home or carry himself to a bar tonight when his former Employers take on the Borussens. The 20 year old (21 in eighteen days time) has been largely instrumental to all the success achieved by the Landlords of La Rosaleda. The reborn Joaquin Sanchez is not left out. Once considered one of the best wingers in the World, the 31 year has changed his game. No longer that flying winger, he has transformed into a playmaker/winger/second striker and he is an important piece of the Boquerones jigsaw. Julio Baptista is back from injury and scored his 1st goal in more than a year last weekend. Javier 'little rabbit' Saviola and Roque Sanata Cruz have proved to be shrewd acquisitions alongside Lucas Piazon who is on loan from Chelsea. Weligton, Eliseu and Martin Demichelis have been ever presents in defence for the Spanish representatives.
Jurgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund have been the most impressive team in this Champions League Campaign. The leap from failures to aspiring champions has not been easy. The Schwarzgelben have swept away the likes of Manchester City, Ajax and Real Madrid. Shakhtar bore the brunt of their attacking ruthlessness in the Round of 16 and this they did without their best defender, Mats Hummels. Felipe Santana has deputised superbly for the German star and he opened scoring for the Defending German Champions in their 3-0 rout of the Ukrainians. The attacking trident of Lewandowski-Gotze-&-'Rolls Reus' Marco spring surprises at all times. The Reus-Gotze partnership has proved decisive in many games already this season. If Malaga can contain the German pair, that would be something. Kuba Blaszczykowski is also very dangerous and is an ever present in the Dortmund team when fit. Roman Weidenfeller has been excellent in goal for the Ruhr giants. He must put in one of his best performances tonight. The 1997 Champions are slight favourites to go through, but if they rest on their laurels, it will be their greatest undoing.
Probable Lineups-
MALAGA-
Caballero, Gamez, Demichelis, Weligton, Antunes, Toulalan, Iturra, Joaquin, Baptista, ISCO, Saviola
Jeremy Toulalan has been one of the reasons why the Malaga midfield has been so adept and consistent. The Frenchman who was brought in from Lyon has been exceptional for the Boquerones this season and with Iturra,displays have been solid. Willy Caballero is up there with the best keepers in La Liga at the moment. He will play a part tonight certainly. Regular left back, Nacho Monreal has since left for Arsenal, follwing Santi's footsteps. He too, will watch from the comfort of his home or pub.
BORUSSIA DORTMUND-
Weidenfeller, Piszczek, Santana, Subotic, Schmelzer, Gundogan, Bender, Kuba, GOTZE-REUS-LEWANDOWSKI
The Dortmund first eleven is scary. Neven Subotic is pure class, Marcel Schmelzer is one of the best left backs in the World and the midfield pair (Gundogan and Bender) are no pushovers. The front three? WELL....
Ohireime P Eboreime
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