Carlo Ancelotti doesn바카라™t seem bothered by hearing that Real Madrid isn바카라™t the favorite against Manchester City in the Champions League semifinals. ()
That has happened a couple of times already this season, and he knows the 13-time European champions can do just fine.
Madrid visits Man City in the first leg of the semifinals on Tuesday, hoping to return to the final for the first time since winning its last title in 2018.
바카라śPeople said that there were two teams in the semifinals that nobody believed would make it this far 바카라” Real Madrid and Villarreal,바카라ť Ancelotti said Monday. 바카라śAnd here we are, thrilled to have made it. Madrid will always compete, it바카라™s what we always do.바카라ť
Madrid eliminated Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16, getting the best of Kylian Mbappé, Neymar and Lionel Messi, then defeated defending champion Chelsea in the quarterfinals.
바카라śWe바카라™ve had some very tough opponents so far, who in the beginning were considered the favorites to win the competition, but we바카라™ve done well against them and tomorrow we will try to compete well again, there바카라™s no doubt about that,바카라ť the Madrid coach said.
Madrid is in the semifinals for the 10th time in 12 seasons, and first time since being eliminated by Chelsea at this stage last year. The team is making a record 15th semifinal appearance.
Ancelotti may be without two regular starters because of muscle injuries on Tuesday 바카라” defender David Alaba and midfielder Casemiro. Both made the trip to England but it was unclear if they would play.
바카라śIt바카라™s more likely that Alaba can make it, not so much Casemiro,바카라ť Ancelotti said. 바카라śHe is trying. We바카라™ll see.바카라ť
The coach has a few options to replace Casemiro, with Federico Valverde and Eduardo Camavinga able to play in the position. Nacho Fernández would likely be the replacement to Alaba in the middle of the defense.
바카라śI always give my best and I play wherever the coach wants me to play,바카라ť Valverde said. 바카라śWe are all prepared.바카라ť
Ancelotti said he didn바카라™t think Madrid will have much of an advantage for not having played this weekend in the Spanish league, nor for having all-but-clinched the league title while Man City remains in contention in the Premier League.
Some of the spotlight on Tuesday will be on Madrid striker Karim Benzema, who has scored 15 goals in his last 11 games and is one shy of the Champions League바카라™s leading scorer this season, Robert Lewandowski.
The France striker was key for Madrid against PSG and Chelsea. He scored a second-half hat trick in the second leg against PSG and another in the first leg against Chelsea. He also netted the decisive second-leg goal against Chelsea in extra time.
In the other semifinal matchup, Liverpool hosts Villarreal in the first leg on Wednesday.
