Optimism was high among the Madrid press on Tuesday morning despite Real Madrid needing to overturn a 4-1 deficit in the second-leg of their Champions League semi-final against Borussia Dortmund.
Robert Lewandowski's four-goal haul in Dortmund last Wednesday has given the Spanish champions a huge mountain to climb, but memories of famous European comebacks throughout the years at the Bernabeu has keep the Los Blancos faithful believing.
"3-0 and to Wembley" was sports daily Marca's headline, whilst warning that a "night for legends in the Bernabeu will be marked by the first goal".
The other sports daily AS are even more explicit in their belief that a comeback is possible with the headline "Juanito, this one's for you!".
Juanito was a legendary Madrid player of the 70s and 80s who once remarked to Inter Milan defender Graziano Bini after Madrid had lost 2-0 in the first-leg of their UEFA Cup semi-final in 1985 at the San Siro that "90 minutes at the Bernabeu is a long time."
Madrid went on to win the return 3-0.
Inside Marca Santi Segurola says that "an atmosphere loaded with enthusiasm and electricity will preside over a date marked in red for Real Madrid".
However, there is hope for Madrid not only in the history books but based on their form at the Bernabeu since Jose Mourinho took charge three years ago.
Marca highlights that 49% of the Portuguese's home games as Real Madrid manager would be enough to at least take Madrid to extra time this evening and that their average margin of victory at home this season is by three goals.
As editor Alfredo Relano describes the task faced by the nine-times European Champions as simply having to score "a goal every half an hour".
However, there is more realism in his colleague Juanma Trueba's preview of the game as he notes that even Madrid at their absolute best will need Dortmund to have an off night.
"The complication will not be scoring three goals or more (Madrid have already done that 17 times this season), but rather keeping a clean sheet," he says. "Borussia will need to help."
Source: AFP
