Ninth time lucky? That’s the belief.
Barely an hour had passed after the final whistle had blown at the Volkswagen Arena on Wednesday, and already the talk had shifted. Without a moment’s thought, the focus had gone from the now to the next; it was as if there was no time for deliberation, no time for digestion.
There was only time for it.
“We have the opportunity to change this,” said Real manager Zinedine Zidane, “and being Real Madrid we know we can come back strong at the Bernabeu with our fans.” This was going to become the official line, and everyone would follow suit.
Soon, Pepe asserted that “we have to think about the comeback,” according to AS (via Football Espana). Jese mirrored the sentiment, as reported by beIN Sports (via AS), and Sergio Ramos would later add: “You have to lift yourself and believe that you can comeback,” according to Marca.
It wasn’t hard to see where this was going. The next morning, after Real Madrid had been beaten 2-0 by Wolfsburg in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie, the front cover of Marca read: “He who doesn’t believe in the comeback should give up their place in the team.”
The loss, the performance, the previous night: Gone.
In Spain, the word for comeback is “remontada” and it’s one heavily associated with Real Madrid. In the 1970s and ’80s, the club developed a reputation for storming back into European ties in the second leg, such nights at the Santiago Bernabeu developing an almost-mythical status. “Ninety minutes in the Bernabeu is a very long time,” goes the famous line from Juanito, who warned Inter Milan that their 1986 UEFA Cup tie wasn’t over after the Italian’s 3-1 first-leg victory.
He was right: Madrid won the second leg 5-1 at home.
The thing is, though, in recent years the “remontada” has become more legend than reality. Not since 2002 against Bayern Munich have Real Madrid turned around a first-leg deficit in a European tie. In that time, Madrid have lost a first leg on eight occasions; on all eight, they’ve been knocked out.
Ninth time lucky, then?
After last week’s 2-0 defeat in Germany, that’s what Real Madrid will be gunning for when they meet Wolfsburg again for Tuesday’s second leg in the Spanish capital.
For the hosts, this is big. In all likelihood it’s their season on the line, and there could be consequences if it goes wrong. “It’s not my first big game as a coach,” said Zidane on Monday when asked about the pressure. “We’ve had a lot and they’re all important.” Indeed, the Clasico was important. The Madrid derby was important, too. But this is more so.
Much more.
For Zidane, Tuesday could determine whether he continues at the Bernabeu beyond this season. The situation is perhaps similar for a selection of his players ahead of a summer that’s already looming as intriguing.
It’s those stakes and that tension that Madrid are fighting, and that Wolfsburg will be looking to embrace.
“The atmosphere will be fired up and every counter attack of ours will cause a stir,” said Andre Schurrle, as reported by the club website. “That will be fantastic for us. If it’s still 0-0 at half-time, or if we score, the fans will become uneasy. We have to make use of that.”
Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hecking added that his side “can achieve something historic for the club,” and he’s right. The German outfit has never been this far in Europe; beating Madrid and going further again might alter the club’s immediate course.
Do Hecking and Co. believe, then? “If you compare the clubs, it’s clear who are the favourites,” the Wolfsburg boss said.
His opposite number added: “Everything happens in football.”
Date: Tuesday, April 12
Time: 7:45 p.m. BST/2:45 p.m. EDT/8:45 p.m. local
Venue: Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid
TV Info: BT Sport (UK), Fox Sports (U.S.)
Live Stream: BT Sport Online Player (UK), Fox Soccer 2GO (U.S.)
Form Lines
Team News
For Real Madrid, a host of big names will come back into the side after Zidane opted to rest a number of his stars for the weekend victory over Eibar.
In goal, Keylor Navas will reclaim the gloves from Kiko Casilla, while captain Sergio Ramos will return to join Pepe in the heart of the defence. Out wide, Dani Carvajal is expected to start ahead of Danilo at right-back.
In midfield, Luka Modric and Toni Kroos should join Casemiro in the central trio, pushing Isco and James Rodriguez to the bench, while Karim Benzema is expected to be fit and should lineup alongside Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale in attack.
For Wolfsburg, the same XI that defeated Madrid in the first leg in Germany is expected to take the field, after Hecking rotated for the weekend clash with Mainz.
If that eventuates, Diego Benaglio will replace Koen Casteels in goal, while Ricardo Rodriguez and Vieirinha should return to fill the full-backs slots.
In midfield, the same trio of Maximilian Arnold, Luiz Gustavo and Josuha Guilavogui will look to close space, while Andre Schurrle could reclaim his mobile role at the head of the attack despite Bas Dost’s return from injury on Saturday.
Julian Draxler will also be available after being suspended for the weekend clash with Mainz.
Predicted Lineups
In the Spotlight
Odds (via Odds Shark)
Real Madrid: 1-5
Draw: 7-1
Wolfsburg: 14-1
from Bleacher Report – Front Page http://ift.tt/1S2E0Nu
via IFTTT http://ift.tt/eA8V8J
INTER CLUB PAVIA "C'E' SOLO L'INTER" 