Real Madrid 2 - 0 Borussia Dortmund (UEFA Champions League, Semi-finals, 2nd Leg)

Real Madrid deserved more. The Whites kept trying right to the end and came close to completing the comeback with goals from Benzema, in the 82nd minute, and Ramos, in the 88th minute. Being short of luck and a great performance from Weidenfeller prevented the goals from coming sooner. In fact, and within just the first fifteen minutes, the home side had three chances against the German goalkeeper. The fans left the Santiago Bernabeu proud of their team, who left everything out on the field and made a titanic effort.

Real Madrid was one goal short of the final

Getting to the final of the Champions League would have meant turning the tie around in the Bernabeu from the 4-1 loss in Germany. Real Madrid did not go easy on Borussia Dortmund and made their intentions clear from the start. Supported by a Bernabeu crowd that was evocative of the stadium’s big occasions, the Whites pushed themselves to the limit and went for possession of the ball as the way to get back into the tie. Inside the first ten minutes they had already racked up four corners and had another three shots on goal. In one of them, in the 4th minute, Higuain came close to putting his team ahead. Weidenfeller came out on top against the Argentine in the one-on-one.

Borussia Dortmund 4 - 1 Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League, Semi-finanls, 1st Leg)

Real Madrid thrive on adversity, on the big occasions and in the biggest stadiums. It is something that is embedded in the badge and that they have shown throughout their history. It was seen at the Camp Nou in the semi-final of the Copa del Rey, at Old Trafford and is what they will try to repeat on Tuesday at the Bernabeu. Lewandowski, with four goals, played a starring role for Borussia Dortmund. The Polish striker put his team ahead on the scoreboard, while Cristiano Ronaldo, just before halftime, equalised. The three goals that came in the second half, one of them following a harsh penalty decision against Xabi Alonso, made winning the semi-final an uphill struggle. The magic and mystique surrounding Real Madrid’s stadium on big European nights will be needed to take its team to Wembley in less than a week.

Lewandowski, the Borussia's hero

Borussia Dortmund were aware that doing well would depend on imposing a high tempo in the opening minutes. The Germans, supported by their home crowd, squeezed the Whites’ ball out of the back and it produced the desired results. Reus was the first to have an attempt following a fine solo run. The great full-stretch save from Diego Lopez denied the goal in the 6th minute. The first goal came two minutes later. Gotze’s cross came in from the left for Lewandowski to poke it in and put his team in front.

Galatasaray 3 - 2 Real Madrid (UEFA Champions League, Quarter-finals, 2nd Leg)

Real Madrid secured their passage to their third consecutive Champions League semi-final in the Ali Sami Yen. They didn’t take long to go ahead. Cristiano Ronaldo needed just seven minutes to score his tenth goal in the competition and show what makes him the European Cup’s top scorer. Eboue, Sneijder and Drogba brought about some uncertainty in the tie in the second half and gave a home crowd that supported their team until the end a reason to believe that the comeback was on, but once again the Portuguese, in added time and despite playing with one less because of Arbeloa’s sending off for a second yellow in the 89th minute, sealed the qualification. The Whites are now into the last four in Europe and on Friday, at 12:00, they will find out their opponents.

Ronaldo's brace seals semi-final place

The intentions of both teams were more than evident from the outset. Galatasaray wanted to make their fans to think back to their memorable European comeback against the Swiss club Neuchatel Xamax in 1988-89 in which they turned around the tie in what was a "night for the history books", as Fatih Terim said in the pre-match build-up. Real Madrid who themselves are accustomed to dominating in front of their own home fans, knew the recipe to make sure that this did not occur. Mourinho explained what the key was: "We have prepared seriously for a very difficult match and my players will respond". And that is what happened. The Whites were able to contain the initial pressure from their opponents and had the first chance of the match following a poor clearance by Muslera in the 3rd minute, which Di Maria failed to convert to put his team ahead on the scoreboard. The connection between the Germans Ozil and Khedira ended with Cristiano Ronaldo’s shot in front of goal in the 7th minute.

Real Madrid 3 - 0 Galatasaray (UEFA Champions League, Quarter-finals, 1st Leg)

Real Madrid beat Galatasaray at home and are one step closer to their third consecutive European Cup semi-final. Goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzema before the end of the first half hour and from Higuain in 72nd minute, earned a win that was much deserved both in terms of how they played and the chances they created. Three goals scored, by each of the three forwards who played, and none conceded to take into the second leg, in which there will be no Xabi Alonso or Ramos due to suspension. A giant step towards progressing in a Bernabeu that remains unconquered.

Real Madrid giant step towards semi-finals

Playing at home, Real Madrid edged closer towards their third consecutive Champions League semi-final. The Bernabeu crowd were crucial in pushing the Whites’ players, aware that their home fans have not seen them lose for 14 months, to show the connection that they share against Galatasaray. They suffocated the opposition playing the ball out of the back with a high press, moved the ball cleverly and at a high tempo and soon sent the first warning. A 30 metre Xabi Alonso pass to Di Maria, who controlled and played in Benzema, who then shot wide with his head on three minutes.

Real Madrid soon went ahead on the scoreboard. It took just nine minutes. Another steal in the midfield, which Ozil turned to gold. His precise pass was finished by Cristiano Ronaldo who beat Muslera with a chip that was as beautiful as it was effective. The Portuguese once again showed his affinity with the competition and became the Champions League’s top scorer. The start could not have been more promising and how Real Madrid were playing sent the message that they were not content with just the one goal.

Real Madrid to face Galatasaray (Champions League)

Real Madrid will face Galatasaray in the Champions League quarter-finals. The Whites will play the first leg at home in the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on April 3 and the second leg away at the Ali Sami Yen stadium the 9th of the same month. A new way of organizing the draw means that, should Real move on to the next round, for the first time in Champions League history they won’t know their semi-final opponent until a new drawing is held on 12 April.

Real Madrid vs Galatasaray (Champions League, Quarter-finals)

Galatasaray is having an impressive season: top spot in the League with a four-point lead on Fenerbahçe and classified amongst the eight best teams in Europe's top competition. Galatasaray ousted Schalke 04 in the Champions League round of 16 after finishing second in Group H (led by Manchester United) in a point tie with Cluj. Drogba, one of Chelsea’s most important players in last year’s tournament, and former Real Madrid player and European champion Sneijder have strengthened a squad that already has outstanding offensive power. Elmander, Spanish Riera and Burak Yılmaz, who ties Cristiano Ronaldo for top scorer in the competition, round out Galatasaray’s attacking potential, as well as Altintop, former Real Madrid player until last year.

Suker: "Luka Modric can lead Real Madrid"

Croatia is a small country with a population of no more than 4.5 million people, and lives football as the Brazilians. A match of Real Madrid has become a unique event for which fans modify their schedules to not miss the moment Luka Modric plays for the white team. Modric, their idol.

Luka Modric

Since the Zadar's genius joined six months ago to Real Madrid, the followers of the white team are multiplied in this country. There is a great expectation to see him succeed. You can imagine what that has meant his performance in Manchester and how they celebrated his goal against the Red Devils.

Luka Modric feels wrapped and that fervor serves him to build confidence. There are two people living near him and have helped him with wise advice and words of support, in his infancy in the Real Madrid. We talked about Davor Suker, president of the Croatian Football Federation, and Igor Stimac, coach of the national team. Both are closely following each of his matches.

Luka Modric starts to justify the Real Madrid's signing

Luka Modric began to justify his move to Real Madrid at Old Trafford. Since coming to Madrid, at the express wish of Mourinho, he was always looked very closely for much of Real Madrid fans due to the 30 million euros (with 5 variables) that cost. Until Tuesday Modric had played 21 league games, 6 in Champions League, 7 in the Spanish Cup cpmpetition and 1 in Super Cup (1958 minutes) and although he has showed some quality details, he had not finished explode in Real Madrid. He seemed upset playing as central midfield or playmaker. "I'm not happy with the performance I am giving", said a month ago. But then came the vital match at Old Trafford.

Luka Modric

He came to the field replacing Arbeloa in the 58th minute (Mourinho made the change after Nani's sent-off) and revolutionized the game by playing a few meters ahead of Xabi Alonso. Modric brought hierarchy, precision passing and creativity. In 32 minutes he left his rivals in 80% of dribbling, did not lose a ball, and 94% of his passes were good (35 of 37). No other player had such a high percentage in this last section. Second in this category was Khedira (57 of 69, 82%).

Manchester United 1 - 2 Real Madrid (Champions League, Last-16, 2nd Leg)

Real Madrid’s history is riddled with epic tales and memorable stories that are passed down through the generations. Old Trafford, the Theatre of Dreams, has featured in some of them. Today we witnessed another show en route to the Champions League quarter-finals. The first half was very even and ended goalless. Everything came in a pulsating second. Ramos’ own goal in 48th minute made the Whites’ task even more difficult, but Nani’s sending off in the 56th minute spurred on the visitors, who in two second minutes, sealed their qualification for the quarter-finals. Modric started the comeback with a moment of genius in the 66th minute. The way in which the ball hit the inside of the post and snuck into the goal past De Gea made the curled shot from the edge of the box even more beautiful. Without time to absorb what had happened, Ronaldo decided the tie and brought a dream week to an end with a finish at the far post following a nice team move.

Real Madrid celebrate the victory at Old Trafford

The Champions League does not give second chances in the knockout stages. Real Madrid and Manchester United were aware that the eyes of the world were on Old Trafford and that any errors could lead them to pay dearly in a tie that was wide open following the 1-1 scoreline in the first leg. Perhaps that is why both teams made their intentions clear to the other from the beginning of the match. With the same eleven players who performed so well for Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, the Whites had possession of the ball and the English team chose to sit back and to try to surprise on the counter.

Van Persie: Real Madrid's concern

Just after the first leg match, still hot and in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, a name was in all discussions between Real Madrid defenders: Robin van Persie. Most fans will remember Dutch player only by the two goals he missed in the second half. But where most people saw mistakes, Real Madrid players saw a devil.

Van Persie

"Van Persie is a pain. He hits you, does not stop running, moves to a wing, to the other... At Old Trafford he can eliminate us" said one of the Real Madrid defenders who suffered with him in the match of the first leg. Players of Real Madrid faced the tie against Manchester with a nearly perfect radiography of Ferguson's team. They had seen videos, Cristiano Ronaldo had revealed some of the secrets of Sir Alex ... It was almost impossible to know more than Manchester, but some aspects were overlooked.

Mourinho: “The world will stop to watch this match”

Jose Mourinho appeared before the media in the Old Trafford press room and the coach analyzed the match of the white team against Manchester United: “It will be complicated because we are both having a good streak. Manchester United has practically won the Premier League in March and is in the English Cup quarterfinals. They have not lost any games in a while, and we have lost only one of the past 12. The world will stop tomorrow for 90 minutes to watch this game. More than a playoff, it feels like a final. It’s a positive thing when you come to a match with confident players.”

Jose Mourinho

The Portuguese coach also spoke about the opponent he expects to face: “I think they are going to be very defensive when Real Madrid has the ball and pretty offensive when they have the ball. For us it’s the same, even though we are behind in the playoffs. We have to defend a lot and well when Manchester United has the ball because they are strong on offensive plays. When we have the ball we will try to make dangerous attacks.”

Mourinho's team never fails in European away matches

One of the keys to pass the knockout round of the Champions League is to score at Old Trafford. After the 1-1 from the first leg, Real Madrid must score at least one goal to beat Mnchester United, which, moreover, it is not unreasonable considering the numbers of the Mourinho's Real Madrid in Europe. Two and a half seasons later, the white team does not know what it is not scoring in an away Champions League match.

Real Madrid players celebrate a goal against Ajax

Mourinho's Real Madrid keeps an average of nearly two goals per game away from home in the 15 games played in the top European competition. 27 goals for the white team that will attempt to expand its numbers at the stadium of Manchester United, a field that Mourinho has not visited as Real Madrid coach until date. Managing white team, he has previously visited English ground, beating Tottenham (0-1) and a draw (1-1) against Manchester City.

With this data in its favor, Real Madrid will seek a positive result at Old Trafford and reach the quarter-finals round. The first European away match of Real Madrid with Mourinho on the bench, was against a French team (Auxerre) in September 2010. Di Maria's goal gave the victory to whites by 0-1. Since then, 15 consecutive games scoring away from home.

Anyway, keep up the scoring momentum in away matches will be vital to defeat Red Devils. Real Madrid has scored against Milan, Barcelona and Bayern Munich in their own stadium. A major list of European teams. Why not against Manchester United?

Cristiano Ronaldo: The nightmare at the 'Theatre of Dreams'

Cristiano Ronaldo played his last game at Old Trafford with United on May 16, 2009 against Arsenal. Tomorrow, 1,388 days later, he will return to the 'Theatre of Dreams' for the first time and maybe as a nightmare. And with the question about how he will be welcomed, but smells ovation. Six years as a Red Devil created too many ties of affection between the player and the fans, who was able to forgive him even after his first failed attempt to sign for Real Madrid in 2008. After being knocked out with Portugal (against Germany) at the Euro 2008, he dropped the bomb: "The chances of going to Real Madrid are a lot. I hope the parties reach an agreement."

Cristiano Ronaldo after scoring against Manchester United

Ferguson persuaded him to stay another year. After a surgery (ankle) he returned to Old Trafford in September, in a Champions League match against Villarreal (came in to the field in the 66'). The Theatre of Dreams shook with the cheers. "I was nervous about it, but everything went well. I'm grateful," said Cristiano Ronaldo, who months later won the Golden Ball and months before had won the Champions League with Manchester United in Moscow.

Mourinho travels to Old Trafford with all the squad

Jose Mourinho has called up 24 players for next Tuesday's game against Manchester United in the knockout stages of the Champions League. The Portuguese coach traveled to England with all the first Real Madrid team excepting Nacho, who played yesterday Sunday with Real Madrid Castilla. The white expedition traveled to Manchester after concentrating at 8:45 pm in the Real Madrid Sports City (Valdebebas).

Yesterday, Real Madrid training

Real Madrid will not give any clues to Manchester United for the second leg of the knockout stages of the Champions League. The white team will train this Monday, March 4, at 4:00 pm (GMT) in the Etihad Stadium and Mourinho wanted to call up the whole squad for this important match.

Manchester United vs Real Madrid: White euphoria

FC Barcelona had lost only three games in all season. Against Real Madrid in the Super Cup, Real Sociedad in the Spanish League and against AC Milan in the Champions League. Now the Real Madrid has defeated them two times in five days. One, on Tuesday, was to reach the final of the Spanish Cup. Yesterday's match may have less importance, because of the gap points the Catalans have in the league table. But should be viewed in perspective, Mourinho fielded seven replacement players. Playing against Messi's Barcelona without Cristiano Ronaldo was to make concessions. Old Trafford prevailed.

Real Madrid players celebrate a goal with the fans

This brace against Barcelona will have a major impact on the morale and confidence for the decisive match at Old Trafford. White players have been loaded of reasons and are able to continue this winning momentum. They are cautious when talk about Ferguson's team but there is obviously euphoria in the squad. The euphoria is not bad if you know how to manage. It is necessary to believe in the high challenges. And Manchester United is the highest challenge so far.

Cristiano Ronaldo: A cannon to conquer Old Trafford

Another great performance by Cristiano Ronaldo against the eternal Real Madrid's rival. Although he could not score after coming on the field in the 57th minute (alongside with Khedira) replacing Benzema, Real Madrid was slowly improving to gain full control of the match.

Cristiano Ronaldo replacing Benzema

Cristiano Ronaldo did not start the match against FC Barcelona at the Bernabeu. There was more at stake than pride, and for this reason the Portuguese striker was not including in the starting lineup of Jose Mourinho. After the great match last Tuesday at the Camp Nou, CR7 remained on the bench and showed how much appreciates the importance of group goals.

Ricardo Kaka has still chances to repeat feat at Old Trafford

There was a time when Kaka conquered Old Trafford. It was on April 24, 2007, in the first leg of the Champions League semifinal 2007 against Manchester United, with the last Milan champion of Europe. Despite losing 3-2, that Milan, Kaka's Milan over everything, reached the Champions League final and avenged the humiliation of Istanbul (Final lost against Liverpool). In Athens, that team recaptured the glory.

Ricardo Kaka at Old Trafford (2007)

But with just two weeks to Real Madrid's trip to Manchester, the issue is keeping those good memories of Old Trafford. That performance gave him the 2007 Golden Ball ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi. Kaka with open field, turned it over to a game in which, curiously, Cristiano Ronaldo had scored first. The Brazilian, with a spectacular physical deployment, was a nightmare to O'Shea, Wes Brown and Heinze. That day the Milan ended up losing 3-2 with a goal from Rooney in injury time, but Milan was finalist and Ricardo Kaka stunned the world.

Danger: Xabi Alonso has to rest

Xabi Alonso has to stop before the risk of further injury and the worst consequences: a major break. The inflammation he suffers in the pelvis area is important and, at this point in the season, the only treatment is rest, which will require little training.

Xabi Alonso and Jose Mourinho

Mourinho has a problem with the player because the pubis injury he suffers begins to be important. The Spanish Midfielder played with a sharp pain the game against Manchester United, especially when coming in contact with the ball and did it with the inside of the foot, a technical gesture which requires more effort from the muscles in the injured area.

If Xabi Alonso could start the match it was because from a few days ago his workouts are softer, due to a good work of physiotherapeutic discharge and possibly with the help of anti-inflammatory used to reduce the intense pain. After the match against Manchester United, Xabi Alonso suffered heavy pains. A kind of pain which does not allow everyday moves like bending over to tie the shoes. Even a simple sneeze becomes a pain.

1-1: Real Madrid's curse in Europe

The four times that Real Madrid got the result of 1-1 at home in the first leg of a European competition knockout round, never managed to go round. A fact not encouraging for the visit of next March to English soil to face an almost Premier champion, Manchester United.

1987/88 season: Real Madrid could not defeat PSV Eindhoven

The precedents are the next: Semifinals of the European Cup of the season 75-76 against Bayern Munchen. Drawn match in the first leg at the Bernabeu and in the second leg the German team won 2-1. Season 87-88, Real Madrid got the same result in the white stadium against PSV. In the second leg the result was 0-0. The Dutch entered the final of the European Cup and won it against Benfica. That year, Real Madrid eliminated Bayern Munich, Napoli and Porto, by that time, current champions of the competition.

One season later, after tying 1-1 on the first leg of the semifinals of the European Cup against Milan, the Italian team defeated Real Madrid 5-0, an historic result in the second leg. And finally, in the quarterfinals of the season 98-99, Dynamo Kiev was the team that knocked Real Madrid by 2-0 in the second leg. Andriy Shevchenko was the star of that Ukranian team.

Now Real Madrid will face its decisive week in few days. On February 26, Mourinho's team will play the second leg of the Spanish Cup semifinal against Barcelona. On March 2, at the Camp Nou, white team could give away the title of the Spanish League to Barcelona and on March 5 at Old Trafford, a decisive match in the European cometition. We'll see.

Real Madrid 1 - 1 Manchester United (Champions League, Last-16, 1st Leg)

Real Madrid kept trying until the end but will travel to Manchester following a 1-1 draw that does not reflect what was seen on the field at the Santiago Bernabeu. In fact, the Whites, who hit the post in the first half, had 28 shots, 14 of them on target. An incredible amount. The great performance by De Gea, who had one of the best matches of his career, was testament to that. Welbeck, with the English team’s first shot on goal, put the visitors in front in the 20th minute. The corner should not have been given as it was Kagawa who touched the ball last before it went out of play. Ten minutes later Cristiano Ronaldo levelled the match with his head in a moment that was reminiscent of the goal that won his team the last cup title against Barcelona. The Whites deserved more. It will all be decided at Old Trafford.

Real Madrid will play for passage in Manchester

A great match in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Real Madrid and Manchester United played each other in the stand out tie of the Champions League round of 16 and the match did not disappoint anyone. It was a delight to watch because of the style of play, levels of performance and entertainment value. Neither team went out on to the field to leave anything to chance. Even less the home team, who after five minutes of play had already had three shots and found the post with the last one. Khedira in the 2nd minute and Di Maria in the 4th were the players that had the first two scoring chances while Coentrao had the most noteworthy. A Cristiano Ronaldo cross that Ferdinand cleared before the Whites’ left back hit the ball with his right foot. De Gea’s finger-tip save and the post prevented the first goal of the match but not the home crowds’ roars of support, which reached boiling point and gave even further encouragement to their team.

Real Madrid vs Manchester United: Offensive power

Few matches in the world can have a greater offensive talent than the Real Madrid vs Manchester United of this Wednesday. The White trident, led by Cristiano Ronaldo, will try to minimize the damage can cause the 'Red Devils' offense, in which the sensational Van Persie shines.

Real Madrid vs Manchester United: Offensive men

The Dutchman has achieved, in just half a year, a seat on the altars of the Old Trafford fans. He has scored 23 goals in 31 games and leads the offensive flow of a team that, after his arrival, has relocated Wayne Rooney behind the striker position. From the second line, the England international adds 13 goals, one ahead of Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez. The Mexican is the United player that best uses his minutes: 12 goals in 20 games.

The three ofensive men of ManU have scored 48 goals. A remarkable figure, but still far from the offensive production of Real Madrid: 58. Cristiano's fault, of course: 36 goals in 35 games, the sixth-leading scorer in the history of Real Madrid in just three and a half seasons.

The formidable scoring contribution of the Portuguese player minimizes the irregularity of his offensive fellows. Benzema adds the same goals than Rooney (13), but has played eight more games (32). And Gonzalo Higuain has scored 1 less goal than Chicharito: 9 in 19 games.

Last season, the Real Madrid forwards got a stratospheric mark: 118 goals. Cristiano Ronaldo scored 60, Benzema 32 and 'Pipa' Higuain 22. The production of the current Manchester United attack was not bad: 83 goals. Van Persie scored 37 goals (still playing for Arsenal), Rooney 34 and the Javier Hernandez's son 12. Although it is considered certain that each team will start with only two of their three forwards in their starting team, it seems that the lack of scoring is not going to be a problem at the Bernabeu tonight.