Real Madrid v Juventus preview
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Article summary
Carlo Ancelotti spoke of his dream of Real Madrid CF becoming the first side to win back-to-back UEFA Champions Leagues as he steeled his charges for a tense second leg.
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Article body
• Juventus lead 2-1 from last week's semi first leg against holders Real Madrid
• Carlo Ancelotti says Karim Benzema is 100% ready after knee injury
• Madrid have scored at least once in each of their last 52 games at the Bernabéu
• Iker Casillas could make his 150th UEFA Champions League appearance
• The Bianconeri have conceded only 12 goals in 24 away matches this season
Possible lineups
Real Madrid: Casillas; Carvajal, Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Marcelo; James Rodríguez, Kroos, Isco; Bale, Benzema, Ronaldo.
• Out: Modrić (knee), Khedira (foot)
Juventus: Buffon; Lichtsteiner, Bonucci, Chiellini, Evra; Pogba, Pirlo, Marchisio; Vidal; Morata, Tévez.
• Out: Asamoah (knee), Cáceres (ankle), Marrone (thigh), Rómulo (groin)
Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid coach
We are so close to playing in a second successive final and to a place in competition history [as the only team to defend their title in the UEFA Champions League era].
It's difficult but we will do our best. We must be patient, avoid problems and play with more intensity than we did in the first leg. We know what to expect: Juventus have their own distinct identity and they are not going to change that tomorrow.
Benzema is 100% available and could play from the start. He makes the team better but has not played for a month and that's my doubt. Sergio Ramos could play in midfield again, it's a possibility.
The fans understand how important this match is and on Wednesday we will be together as one. We dream of playing another final, that's our goal. We have to play with intensity, with a lot of focus. We must avoid mistakes and try to show all of our qualities.
Massimiliano Allegri, Juventus coach
We won't change the way we defend. This will be an interesting match – from a tactical point of view, we can't change much from the first leg. We will need to be really good to get through this match with serenity. We'll have to play well, but getting a 0-0 draw will be almost impossible. In this kind of game you can't just think about defending. We'll have to be much better in possession.
We're 95 minutes away from Berlin. Nobody expected this opportunity for us. I will sleep tonight. Maybe tomorrow I will sleep less.
Paul Pogba is OK and and he'll probably play from the first minute. He's an important player and he can show his quality and maturity. Carlos Tévez is an amazing player. He's played really well this season and scored some very important goals in the UEFA Champions League.
Álvaro Morata has grown up a lot. He was injured for about a month at the beginning of the season but he has shown real technical ability. I think he can get better and better.
This is a UEFA Champions League semi-final and there will be a lot of pressure. It won't be a normal game. I'm happy to be where I am. I hope to get a big result and reach the final. Stats are only stats and we are set for 95 never-ending minutes. Madrid want to win but they'll be very careful. We won't change the way we play. They attack with five players. We need to be very good.
Weekend results
Real Madrid 2-2 Valencia CF (Pepe 56, Isco 84; Paco Alcácer 19, Fuego 26)
Juventus 1-1 Cagliari Calcio (Pogba 45; Rossetti 85)
Match fact
• Juventus have won the first leg of a UEFA competition tie 2-1 on four occasions – but where did they end up after each of those return legs? Find out in our extensive match background.
You can listen to the game on Matchday Live via the UEFA.com MatchCentre or on the updated version of the official UEFA.com app from 19.30CET