Preview: Atletico vs Real Madrid

Atletico vs Real Madrid

The first difference is clear and Mourinho had an impact on it: while Atletico was thinking in the derby for a week, if not more (a month, a year, a life) Real Madrid began to do yesterday afternoon, once assimilated the Champions League draw. And these are the psychological considerations. The physical left Atletico ahead and his rival with tired legs. This equates the match. There is no favourite. However, the history and quality are still playing for Real Madrid.

We must also remember to avoid excuses for present and future, that the templates have 22 members and Real Madrid's players are excellent. In case of injury or stress, Mourinho can play with players of such class (a couple of world champions included) as Adebayor, Lass, Granero, Canales, Arbeloa, Albiol or Garay. Their participation will depend on the training scheduled for noon today. It will be time to decide about the physical state of Cristiano who still has discomfort in the left hamstring. "Manolito" Adebayor will be his relieve, which would bring us back to double nine and better ball movement. And it does not rule out other changes, such as Lass by Khedira. Even Arbeloa by Marcelo or Sergio Ramos.

While in Atletico almost everything is quiet. The coach has all the template in good conditions and called all yesterday. The team has five games without a loss (two wins and three draws) and improved versions of Tiago and Forlan have joined recently to the best Kun Aguero.

Quique Sanchez Flores could even keep the same start-line after 57 days. If Dominguez plays by the uncertain Perea (only change to the side that drew in Almería), Atletico will get the same eleven which beat Villarreal (3-1) and end with a global run (and evil) of 73 league days without repeating team.

The uncertainty about Cristiano gets the derby in the hands of two lighted players: Kun Aguero and Karim Benzema. The Argentine (three goals in the last two games) was not so inspired from the start of the tournament, when was injured by Gurpegui in Bilbao what interrupted his magnificent performance (second day). In Almeria, seven days ago, Aguero gave the impression of being able to dominate everything and today also added the curiosity of potential interest of Real Madrid to sign him in summer.

Karim's case can be explained with goals, seven in the last four games. Processing, as revealed Mourinho inspired by Zidane and himself, has made him in a lethal striker. And that condition is multiplied if he plays in front of a shaky defense as Atletico's, a thousand times retouched by Quique.

Atletico are eighth on the table with 39 points and their goal is to qualify for next year's Europa League. The last time Atletico defeated Real Madrid at the Calderon was on 12 June 1999. Eighteen derbies have taken place since (nine at the Bernabeu, nine at the Calderon), and the Whites haven't lost a single one.

Champions League Draw

The quarterfinal and semifinal matches of the Champions League have been drawn today. Real Madrid will face Tottenham Hotspur in quarters. The Spanish team will play the first leg at home and the second outside. If team qualifies, will face Barcelona in the semi-finals, first at the Bernabeu and then at the Camp Nou.

Tottenham took a big fist on the table when knocked Milan. English team has all kinds of offensive variants, from the air game that offer Crouch and Pavlyuchenko to the fastest speed of Defoe. Behind them all with high quality plays Van der Vaart. The Dutchman is, with Modric, the most talented player of this team. But undoubtedly the most interesting value of Tottenham is the lefty Gareth Bale. Acting as left defense or midfielder, Welsh is a real dagger due to his physical power as he demonstrated in the double battle of the group stage against Inter. However, some problems are hurting his back in recent games. In fact, he started on the bench the second leg match against Milan and the role of spurs will depend on his recovery.

The other quarterfinal pairings are Inter-Schalke 04 and Chelsea-Manchester. The winners of both duels were measured in the other semifinal, first in Italy or Germany and then England.

Champions League Table 2010-2011

Real Madrid Girlfriends: Irina Shayk (7)

Irina Shaykhlislamova was born in Yemanzhelinsk, Russia (January 6, 1986). Her late father Valeri was of Tatar origin and her mother is Russian. Shayk says that she got her unusual looks from her father, and she has said that people often think she is South American. “My father was dark skinned, because he was Tatar. Sometimes Tatars can look Brazilian,” she says. “I get my light eyes from my mother”.

Shayk’s mother was a pianist who was the music teacher in a kindergarten, and her father was a coal miner. She has one sibling, an older sister named Tatiana. Shayk started playing piano at age six. At age nine she enrolled in a music school and studied there for seven years, both playing the piano and singing in the choir, as her mother wanted her to study music. Her father died of complications of pneumonia when she was 14, leaving her family with little money and forcing her mother to work two jobs to provide for the family.

After high school, Shayk studied marketing but was bored by it and entered a local beauty school with her elder sister. While there, she was noticed by a person from a local modeling agency who was struck by her unusual beauty. She was urged to participate in the "Miss Chelyabinsk 2004" beauty contest, and she won. The modeling scout Guia Jikidze noticed her and recommended that she become a model.

Irina Shayk

Shayk started her career relatively late for a model, at the age of 19, when she began modeling in Paris. In 2007 she replaced Ana Beatriz Barros as the face of Intimissimi and in the same year debuted in the annual Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. Since that time, she has appeared in every annual edition, attending photoshoots in such places as St Petersburg, Naples, Grenada and Chile.

After being the image of Intimissimi for three years (six seasons), Shayk was made the official ambassador for the brand in 2010. Her other modeling contracts include Beach Bunny (2009), and Guess spring/summer 2009. Her magazine covers include Annabelle, Bolero, Woman, Jalouse, and Paris Capital.

She signed with modeling agency IMG on May 2009, and since then has not stopped working. Recently, Shayk was the cover model for the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue. This is the fifth time she has been featured in the magazine, but the first time she has been on the cover.

At the end of the year 2010 she was pictured nude in the GQ Spain December issue; however, she claimed that she had not stripped for the photoshoot, and that the magazine had digitally altered the images to remove her lingerie.

Irina Shayk and Cristiano Ronaldo

Irina Shayk seems to have done what no woman before could reach, that CR7 establishes his head. And the white player, who seems to have found stability with this Russian model, has opened the doors to his girlfriend of his luxurious mansion in the exclusive area of Madrid 'La Finca'.

Far from the image of selfish player, the Portuguese has decided to share his wonderful home with who is his girlfriend for ten months: 'She spent many days here and there and that creates instability", said a friend of the top. The couple, who remains in the forefront of the media since their relationship became known, is a tandem model envied by many and wide open to speculation. Among the rumors of marriage and the regulars appearances of the couple, the gossip is assured.

Champions League (Last-16, 2nd Leg): Marcelo reactions

No matter that he leaves gaps for his side or does not defend. All offsets. His significance in attack reminds Roberto Carlos. He is not expected and creates many holes in opposing defenses. With the ball makes almost everything right, when dribbling, when he assists to a teammate. He opened the scoring with a remarkable goal that had everything. He linked with Xabi and Cristiano, sat a Lyon player in the area and Lloris could not get his shot. Gave the scare about the break but was able to finish the game.

Marcelo scored the first goal

"We are very happy with the victory. It's been a very important triumph for team and fans alike following tough seasons. We had a debt with Madrid fans and, thank God, we reached the next round. We are calmer now."

"We played like the coach asked us to and we played hard from the start. We're not thinking about which opponent we may face in the quarterfinals. We will try to win and thrill our supporters regardless of whom we face."

"I wish to express my support for Abidal and his family. Rivalry steps aside when things like this happen. What matters is that he recovers as soon as possible."

Champions League (Last-16, 2nd Leg): Mourinho reactions

Jose Mourinho was very satisfied with his team's performance against Olympique Lyon. "We're in the quarterfinals because we were better. Lyon are a great opponent, which adds merit to our victory. We played very well in attack and defence in both legs. I'm happy and I'm also quite relaxed because I think it's normal for us to be in the quarterfinals."

Mourinho and Benzema

"Football is like life. You must live now because you never know if you'll live tomorrow. If we'd been eliminated tonight we wouldn't have reached the quarterfinals, so we had to take risks. Cristiano is mentally strong and he told me he was ready to play. Our fitness trainers said he could play. Our next game is around the corner, so he may not be able to play. Maybe he'll miss the start of it."

"We've achieved small challenges. If you win these stages, work hard and believe, titles eventually come your way. We do collective work that will make titles eventually come our way. We are on the right path and titles will come either this season or the next. My teams usually do better in their second season. Real Madrid will win titles eventually."

"I don't have any preferences regarding our next opponent, but I would like to avoid facing Inter Milan or Chelsea because it is emotionally difficult to face your own people. If it must be, then it must be. We are professionals, but I wouldn't like that."

"Regarding Abidal, these things go beyond rivalry. We all stand together for problems of this sort. I doesn't matter who he plays for, who he is or if you like him or not. We all want him to be well and to play again. Real Madrid simply expressed what everybody thinks."

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Champions League (Last-16, 2nd Leg)

REAL MADRID 3 - OLYMPIQUE LYON 0

Tomorrow will be the draw for the quarterfinals and Real Madrid will be there. Finally, after six editions without reaching that level. Will be others, including Barcelona, but today Real Madrid back to close to its site. Madrid always returns, fans know it. The curse of the last-16 and the curse of Olympique Lyon left behind after a night that began with an unbridled attack and no prize, went through a phase of disconcerting good game by French team, was clarified by Marcelo's goal and finished with a second part wich was a party at Bernabéu Stadium.

Benzema celebrates his goal

Marcelo, impressive before and after the goal. Benzema, awesome, who is definitely different with all the lights on. Comes, pushes, removes, combines, smiles, gets angry ...Alive. Dusting this striker is something that Florentino has to thank Mourinho, who has done the miracle. Now lack that Cristiano is recovered, so Real Madrid will have even more formidable attack, as Di Maria and Özil continue to find cracks for which strain the balls or to sneak themselves. And in defense, the team just given a chance.

Although there is a negative comment to make: Pepe. He was the bad note of the night. He saw a yellow card very soon, necessary and inevitable foul. No objection. But after that he contested to an orange and two reds, for those lacks of control, avenging offenses or trying to intimidate. He finished the match by miracle.He will not always be so lucky. And a beautiful detail: the gesture to Abidal, hampered by UEFA to preserve their rites but could not prevent. Football creates rivals, but not enemies.

As mentioned, Mourinho's men took the pitch like a thunderstorm and had many chances on goal, forcing Lloris to become his side's best man. Cristiano Ronaldo tried to score several times, but it was Marcelo who eventually netted the opener with a sublime dribble against Lovren and a powerful shot that defeated Lloris with ease (37').

Lyon took risks after half-time by looking to score repeatedly. Puel made Gomis come on in order to deepen the team's attack. This proved fatal, as Real Madrid are lethal whenever they find room to attack. On the 66-minute mark, Marcelo served the ball to Ozil, who had to fight for it with a Lyon man. Benzema then managed to control the ball, overtook Cris and nutmegged Lloris with an incredibly confident shot. The Bernabeu crowd roared loder than every and gave a standing ovation for their new idol.

Mourinho replaced CR7 with Adebayor in order to give the Portuguese some rest before the derby with Atletico. Di Maria then scored the third and final strike of the night following an incredible mistake by the French defence (75'): the Argentine stole the ball with ease and comfortably defeated the keeper.

Summary

Stadium: Santiago Bernabeu
Attendance: 78,000
Goals: 1-0, m.37: Marcelo. 2-0, m.66: Benzema. 3-0, m.75: Di María

Mourinho: "The past does not play the match"

Jose Mourinho addressed the media the day prior to the UCL Last 16 second leg against Olympique Lyon. "The past does not play the game. My Champions League baggage is not in my favour, and neither is Real Madrid's bad run in recent years against them. Champions League games are unique and each has its own history. The tie is open. We may have a slight advantage because we currently have the lead, but it's minimal. Tomorrow's match will be the decider, not the team's history in the championship."

Mourinho in press conference

"Real Madrid have nine European Cup titles and don't need any more to be the champs of all European champions, but they still want to win more. Mourinho is one of three coaches who have won the title with two different teams, but he wants a third. You can't disregard history."

"I have a clear idea of what I want for the game and I've drawn out a game plan. If Cristiano Ronaldo doesn't play in the end, we will lose a phenomenal player, but we have a proper team, and it is as a team that we've reached this far. We will play to finish at least 0-0 because it's enough to reach the next round. We expect Casillas to make a lot of saves. That's the analysis Aulas made, but I think he spoke as a coach rather than as a president. He may be right..."

"This is the first time Lyon play at the Bernabeu without an aggregate advantage. They've never lagged behind against us, so the game will be different this time around. We qualify with the current aggregate, which forces them to play in a different fashion. We will be defensive and wait for them to play their game."

"Lisandro is a great, dangerous and important player, but Lyon are more than just Lisandro. They are a very good and well organised team with a very good coach. We know how they play. We're ready for them.This is very exciting. The crowd must also play. I've been told the Bernabeu crowd plays with its team when the moment of truth arrives. Tomorrow is the moment of truth. Tomorrow, we will either be in the quarterfinals or out of the Champions League. It will be much better, and much more important, for us to feel their support."

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