APOEL vs Real Madrid - Match Preview
Cyprian team APOEL host Real Madrid tonight in one of the two Champions
League quarter final clashes. With real chances to win La Liga, and even more
chances of winning the Champions League, this is not a chance they are going to let
slip without a fight.
APOEL are the Cinderella story of this Champions League, and
even though Madrid are the clear favourites to win, anything is possible in two
games. The Cypriots are living the dream already as it is, they finished top of
their group with 9 points, and then went on to beat Olympique Lyonnais in the
final 16. In the likely case that they get knocked out by Real Madrid, they will
probably go out with a smile, sad to not having gone further, but knowing what
their limitations are, exactly the opposite to what would happen if Madrid get
sent home by APOEL and so the pressure
is mainly on the Spaniards.
Ivan Jovanovic, APOEL’s coach has stated that his team must
play the perfect game, but “that might not give us the result we want”.
Jovanovic has nothing but good words for his rivals; he thinks that the way they’ve
progressed in the competition has made others respect them “We have a lot to
learn from Real Madrid, because they are one of Europe’s biggest clubs”.
Madrid face tonight’s game without Basque midfielder Xabi
Alonso – due to sanction and Lass due to injury. Granero will play alongside
Khedira.
APOEL’s Gustavo Manduca, undoubtedly the star of the Cyprian
team is also out of the line-up due to sanction.
Mourinho has stated that of course they Madrid are favourites
“due to economic and sport factors” but
that doesn’t mean that the rival team doesn’t deserve respect “Yes, we
are favourites, we can’t deny it, but football is football and we respect them
and we know we have a tough match ahead”
Possible starting XI:
APOEL Nicosia : Chiotis, Poursaitidis, Oliveira, Paulo
Jorge, Boaventura, N. Morais, H. Sousa, Charalabides, Solari, Trickovski,
Ailton Almeida
Real Madrid: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pepe, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo,
Khedira, Granero, Benzema, Ozil, Ronaldo, Higuain
Source: DSG
