Real Madrid News

The former BVB striker feels his former club’s Champions League semi-final tie is poised on a knife-edge ahead of Wednesday’s first leg

Former Borussia Dortmund striker Stephane Chapuisat believes his old club have a 50-50 chance of progressing to the Champions League final ahead of Wednesday’s first leg clash with Real Madrid.

Jurgen Klopp’s men host the Spanish giants at Signal Iduna Park this week hoping to earn an advantage before travelling to Madrid for the reverse fixture next week, but Chapuisat has refuted the notion that Jose Mourinho’s side are the favourites.

“The first leg will be an incredible match and a great semi-final. It will be 50-50, even if most people see the Spanish as favourites,” he told Uefa.com.

“They played each other in the group phase, and they won so they know they can beat Real.”

Chapusiat, who won the competition with Dortmund in 1997, has urged the current crop of BVB stars to draw on their recent victory against Mourinho’s men for inspiration to aid their passage to the final.

“Mentally, it is very important for the Dortmund players to remember they have beaten Real Madrid and that it is possible,” he added.

“They will remember the systems used by Real and they know they can beat them. That is the important thing.”

The veteran coach has backed both German clubs to triumph over Real Madrid and Barcelona in their upcoming Champions League semi-finals

Shakhtar Donetsk boss Mircea Lucescu has tipped Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich to prevail over their respective Spanish counterparts to set up an all-German Champions League final.

Barcelona travel to the Allianz Arena on Tuesday before Jose Mourinho’s side visit Signal Iduna Park on Wednesday in a repeat of their group stage encounter earlier this season.

Lucescu, whose Shakhtar side were comfortably dispatched by Dortmund in the last 16, says Jurgen Klopp’s men have the edge over Madrid due to their recent meetings with the Blancos.

“Real Madrid are not favourites to win the tie,” Lucescu was quoted saying by Sport.

“Dortmund already defeated them in Germany this season and came very close to doing the same in the reverse fixture. They demonstrated that they are able to beat them.”

“They are a very good young team who are very well organised and very well prepared physically. They play attacking football and their front line of [Mario] Gotze, [Marco] Reus and [Robert] Lewandowski are all very dangerous.”

Meanwhile, the 67-year-old listed Barcelona’s percieved reliance on Lionel Messi among the reasons why he believes Bayern will progress to the final in Wembley.

“With Bayern they have already won the Bundesliga, so they can focus on the Champions League,” he added.

“They have a great squad with great competitiveness in each position, while FC Barcelona are highly dependent on Messi’s recovery.”

The Argentine coach feels Atletico Madrid are on the verge of reaching Europe’s elite competition after their victory over Sevilla put them 13 points clear of Real Sociedad

Atletico Madrid boss Diego Simeone feels his team are on the verge of realising their dream of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

Atleti consolidated their 13-point lead over Real Sociedad in 4th following the 1-0 victory over Sevilla on Sunday, meaning the Rojiblancos are on course to earn automatic qualification for next year’s competition.

“We are getting closer. This is what the team has been working towards since the start of the season. I am very proud of the lads,” the coach told reporters.

“We have one less game to get through and we are on course to reach our objective.”

Striker Diego Costa picked up his fifth yellow card of the season in Sunday’s victory, ruling him out of next week’s Madrid derby, but Simeone insists he is not angry with the Brazilian.

“He was on four yellow cards so it was always a possibility,” added Simeone.

“I am not angry with him. All that concerns me is the great effort the whole team made. I don’t believe breaking down the small details is a positive thing to do.”

The 25-year-old winger believes the Liga giants will be once again subjected to an arduous 90 minutes in Germany in this week’s Champions League semi-final first leg

Angel di Maria has warned that Real Madrid will need to be at the top of their game to overcome Borussia Dortmund in Wednesday’s Champions League clash.

Los Blancos travel to Signal Iduna Park this week as their quest for la Decima intensifies, but the Argentina winger has warned that Jurgen Klopp’s side are likely to pose a significant threat – just as they did during the group stages.

“We have two very important matches against Borussia Dortmund and we know it will not be easy. We struggled against them in the group stage and I believe that it will be the same this time,” Di Maria told the club’s official website.

“They are a very similar team to us, with a very strong counterattack, and they are also on a good run of form. We have to do things at 100% to get through the tie.”

Meanwhile, the Argentine also praised Madrid’s German duo of Mesut Ozil and Sami Khedira, and believes the midfield stars’ development is key to their future success.

“They have both improved tremendously and have developed well in every way. They are both playing the best football of their careers so far,” added Di Maria.

“Sami is doing really well and the coach really acknowledges that. Mesut is getting a lot of assists and both of them are vital to us.”

The defender is already fantasising about reaching the final at Wembley and says BVB will do everything in their power to make their desires a reality

Felipe Santana admits Borussia Dortmund are dreaming of Champions League glory as they prepare to face Real Madrid in the first-leg of their semi-final on Wednesday.

BVB saw off Malaga in their quarter-final with a stunning late show in the second leg, while los Blancos comfortably beat Galatasaray – leaving both clubs just two games from the final at Wembley.

And the Brazilian admits reaching the showpiece would be the realisation of a childhood dream, while speaking of the mutual respect between the two sides.

“If you’re talking about the Champions League, of course it’s our dream,” the 27-year-old told Uefa.com.

“To play in the Champions League and to reach the final is the dream of not just me but that of all children born with the desire to play football.

“We are facing Real Madrid and we already know each other. There is mutual respect and we know about the difficulties. So we will put into practice everything we have shown so far in the Champions League, so we can leave [the second leg] with a victory and continue our dream.”

Santana has done battle with both Mats Hummels and Neven Subotic for a centre-back slot this season and he believes the competition for places will prove to be a good thing in their quest for European success.

“Personally speaking, I think that in terms of how I feel as a player, I’m at 100% which is good for Borussia Dortmund,” he added.

“Borussia Dortmund benefit because they have three [centre-halves] at the same level. And at any moment any of us can play and play well.”