I dislike the Bernabeu, it's far too fickle. I can't think of another remotely large team in Europe who have a fanbase that won't hesitate to boo anyone on their team who's playing below par.

Here, an interesting read by Sid Lowe. He's been busy again with putting us in the wrong light:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/apr/05/real-madrid-bayern-munich-champions-league

Another semifinal two years in a row?!
That's great!
Next game will be tough though

The fans at the Bernabeu are ignorant.
They don't boo when a player plays poorly they boo for anything.

Even when we are maintaining possession and dominating the team, they boo. That's just shows the type of fanbase that attends these games.

Bump.

Casillas

Arbeloa Pepe Ramos Coentrao

Xabi Khedira

Di Magia Ozil CR7

Benzema

most likely line up

we MUST finish are chances

will be happy with a draw

Who is Rebaño Sagrado?

GL's Goat

This is it Boys!

Let us hope we get a very favorable result to bring at the Bernabeu.

We will beat Bayern Munich! defo not going to be a easy match for sure 3-1

Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Badstuber, Alaba; Luiz Gustavo, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Kroos, Ribery; Gomez

Subs: Butt, Rafinha, Contento, Pranjic, Tymoshchuk, Olic

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Casillas; Arbeloa, Ramos, Pepe, Coentrao; Khedira, Xabi Alonso; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema

Subs: Adan, Marcelo, Albiol, Varane, Kaka, Granero, Higuain

We just need a goal in the 2nd leg. With the 2nd leg being at the Bernabeu, hopefully we'll win.

Pepe was MOTM for me. Coentrao was doing great but he totally ruined it in the end. Sergio was off too. Khedira sucked he was outclassed many times due to his speed. Hmm and Mourinho didn't actually need to go defensive after scoring. He should have just put Kaka instead of Ozil and go for the killer so a bad decision by him

one of the worst moments is when you concede late goals like these , hopefully we treat the second leg like a must win ,and play to our best..

On Bayern's first: IMO, it shouldn't have stood. Gustavo was offside and looked to have been interfering with play, and should be called offside. However, I will certainly not blame the refereeing for our loss.

Ramos was quite bad. The first goal was more his fault than the linesman's. It was a poor clearance and 'small' things like that cost you dearly in late stages of a competition like the Champions League. He also gifted a couple of other chances to Gomez. Coentrao was at fault for the second goal, he simply has to stay on his feet and not dive in like that. Pepe should have also dashed, instead of strolled, across to cut out the cross. Though I won't judge him solely on that, as he was pretty great throughout the match and was easily our best defender, IMO.

Khedira was decent, but Alonso was poor. Although, IIRC, the possession was quite even, one not showing up to complement the other resulted in Bayern controlling more of the game. Ozil had a good game, though.

Di Maria worked hard but dribbled to no effect. I thought Ronaldo was about average, but not necessarily bad. He missed a sitter but fortunately made up for it by assisting Ozil well. Benzema was definitely our best attacker. Wonderful touch and cross for our goal and was denied early on by a great Neuer save.

Honestly, 2-1 isn't that bad a result at all. Obviously, it would have been better to have won or even had a score draw, but we've got an away goal and the margin isn't too big. We can do this. Hala Madrid!

Di Maria always travels to no effect. Nothing new.
Serves you right for not playing your best player.

Question

How many of your players are on yellows ? And does a 2nd yellow in the 2nd leg mean suspension for the final ?

Figured you'd be the most concerned since I assume you had the most bookings in the first leg

Coentrao, Ramos, Alonso, Di Maria, Higuain and Marcelo are one yellow away from missing a possible final

play Coentrao in the second leg
no chance of him playing in the final....

jk
only Ramos and Alonso I am worried about
if we manage a good lead i would say pull Alonso back, we have Varane(not ready but still he is our 3rd CB) to play a final

Didn't UEFA change the rules for the final and suspensions? I think suspensions don't stand after the semifinal because supposedly UEFA wants both teams to have their best line-ups playing.

Don't take my word for it though, but I remember after Nedved wasn't able to play for Juve in the final in 2003 due to suspension, they changed the rules.

That away goal we got could prove to be very critical come playing in the next leg.
That is if we keep a clean sheet.

Messiah "Aggerswagger" wrote:Didn't UEFA change the rules for the final and suspensions? I think suspensions don't stand after the semifinal because supposedly UEFA wants both teams to have their best line-ups playing.

Don't take my word for it though, but I remember after Nedved wasn't able to play for Juve in the final in 2003 due to suspension, they changed the rules.

That would be greattttttt lol

Anyways I hope we play well against Barca, we should go into the 2nd leg feeling good about ourselves..

A POR ELLOS!!!

Bayern should be scared. Very scared.

----------------------------------------Casillas--------------------------------------

Arbeloa------------------Pepe------------------Ramos--------------Coentrao

--------------------------Khedira-----------------Xabi----------------------------

Ozil------------------------------------Kaka----------------------------Ronaldo

--------------------------------------Benzema


Since we need a win against Bayern I would consider putting Marcelo instead of Coentrao cause we are much better in attack when Marcelo plays but I think Mou will play Coentrao cause he doesn't want to concead a goal and we are better defensively with Coentrao.

I'd put Kaka instead of Di Maria cause as we saw in the first leg vs Bayern and vs Barcelona last Saturday he ain't in his best form and things ain't working his way and considering how good Kaka has been this year in Champions League I'd give him the starting position and maybe sub Di Maria in the second half cause he's like a super sub.