CL Preview: Real Madrid- FC Porto
With these two clubs having qualified for the next round, both teams will just be going through the motions on Tuesday... or will they?
With these two clubs having qualified for the next round, both teams will just be going through the motions on Tuesday... or will they?
Both managers have said they will be playing to win on Tuesday which could mean this match will be hotly contested.
There last meeting was in the 2001/2002 Champions League with Santiago Solari providing the heroics just four minutes from time. Solari may be in the lineup on Tuesday, filling in for David Beckham.
Team News:
Real Madrid:
Manager Carlos Queiroz has insisted that his club will be playing to win on Tuesday against Porto despite having already clinched a spot in the next round of 16 in the competition.
However, Queiroz will rest Raul and Ivan Helguera for this match. Queiroz insists that his remaining players have a responsibility to give their all.
"The only players who are not there are Raul and Helguera, everyone else will be in the game and with the idea and the intention of winning," he said.
If David Beckham picks up a yellow card in this match, he will miss the first leg of the next round but Queiroz refused to comment on whether or not the English skipper would be in the starting eleven at the Bernabeu.
"It's a situation we have to consider very carefully, Beckham's in the squad and we will have to see what happens," Queiroz said.
"The question of his booking is something we have to think about but he is experienced and knows how to protect himself from situations that could cause him to get booked. He has to play the next games."
Madrid have a tough contest in La Liga this weekend against Deportivo La Coruna and it was believed that Beckham, Figo and Zidane and would be rested on Tuesday to prepare for the domestic match.
The English skipper, Zidane, Helguera, Raul and Ronaldo were given the day off from training on Sunday.
Porto:
Who ever shows up in Madrid's line up does not concern Porto who say they are prepared to win. Benni McCarthy is looking to pull off a shock result despite the Dragons record of 5 game winless streak in Madrid.
"We respect Madrid as we do any other team, but we are not scared of them," the South African ace said.
"They have some great players but so do we. We can win because in football nothing is impossible; we have already qualified for the last 16, we are under no pressure and we have a team capable of doing a lot of things if we concentrate," he added
Manager Jose Mourinho is without captain Jorge Costa and midfielder Maniche who are suspended.
Look for Ricardo Fernandes and Ricardo Costa to be inserted in their place. Defender Nuno Valente has also ruled out with a leg problem and Mario Silva will take his place.
Mourinho is looking forward to this match and warned Madrid that his team will not settle for second place without a fight. Porto have to win by three or more goals to top Madrid for first place and avoid the other first place teams.
"I'd be worried if we still had to qualify and were dependent on what happened between Marseille and Partizan Belgrade. I'm very happy we have qualified but we want more. Madrid are not unbeatable. They have drawn with Villarreal and were beaten 4-1 by Sevilla. It is not impossible for us to beat them by three goals," Mourinho said.
Probables:
Real Madrid: César, Salgado, Roberto Carlos, Pavón, Raúl Bravo, Figo, Solari (or Beckham), Cambiasso, Zidane, Portillo and Ronaldo.
Porto: Baia, Ricardo Carvalho, Ricardo Costa, Mario Silva, Paulo Ferreira, Deco, Costinha, Ricardo Fernandes, Alenitchev, Derlei and Benni McCarthy.