UEFA Champions League
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Played
February 13, 2013 7:45 PM GMT
Estadio Santiago Bernabéu — Madrid
Referee:‬ F. Brych‎
Attendance:‬ 79429‎
 

Real Madrid-Manchester United Preview: European heavyweights brace for titanic tussle

Los Blancos resume their quest for a historic 10th European Cup with a mouth-watering last-16 duel against Sir Alex Ferguson's high-fliers at the Santiago Bernabeu

By Karthick Arvinth

More On :  Man Utd., Real Madrid CF, Real Madrid CF vs Man Utd.
Real Madrid defender Pepe is fit after an ankle injury and is set to make his first start since December in the Champions League showdown against Manchester United on Wednesday.

Xabi Alonso (groin) and Raphael Varane (hamstring) are also available, but captain Iker Casillas is sidelined with a broken thumb.

Sami Khedira, Angel Di Maria and Mesut Ozil are all likely to return to the starting line-up after being rested during the weekend.

United defenders Phil Jones and Jonny Evans will be assessed after the duo picked up knocks in the 2-0 win over Everton on Sunday.

Midfielder Darren Fletcher (illness) is out, but Ashley Young (knee) and Michael Carrick (hip) have recovered from injuries.

  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Real Madrid have won five of their last six matches at the Santiago Bernabeu and are unbeaten in their last 33 home matches in all competitions (W27, D6).
  • The Spanish champions have won three of their eight previous meetings with Manchester United in European competition (W3, D3, L2).
  • Cristiano Ronaldo (pictured, right) made 292 appearances for United between 2003 and 2009, scoring 118 goals.
  • Manchester United are unbeaten in their last 14 matches across all competitions, but have won just four of their last nine away games (W4, D3, L2).
  • The three-time European champions have a poor record on Spanish soil, having registered only two wins in 20 previous visits (W2, D8, L10).
  • Sir Alex Ferguson has emerged victorious in just two of his 14 prior encounters with Madrid counterpart Jose Mourinho (W2, D6, L6).

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Real Madrid CF 1-2 Man Utd.
    19.46 %
  • Real Madrid CF 3-1 Man Utd.
    13.44 %
  • Real Madrid CF 2-1 Man Utd.
    10.65 %
Head to Head
UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Mar 5, 2013 Man Utd. 1 - Real Madrid CF 2
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UEFA Champions League ‎(UCL)‎ Feb 13, 2013 Real Madrid CF 1 - Man Utd. 1
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Last Five Matches
Real Madrid CF
May 17, 2013Real Madrid CF 1 - Atletico Madrid 2ESPC
May 11, 2013Espanyol 1 - Real Madrid CF 1LIGA
May 8, 2013Real Madrid CF 6 - Malaga 2LIGA
May 4, 2013Real Madrid CF 4 - Valladolid 3LIGA
Apr 30, 2013Real Madrid CF 2 - Borussia Dortmund 0UCL
Man Utd.
May 19, 2013West Bromwich Albion 5 - Man Utd. 5EPL
May 12, 2013Man Utd. 2 - Swansea 1EPL
May 5, 2013Man Utd. 0 - Chelsea FC 1EPL
Apr 28, 2013Arsenal 1 - Man Utd. 1EPL
Apr 22, 2013Man Utd. 3 - Aston Villa 0EPL
Odds
Returns: Real Madrid £17.00 BetVictor Sign up today with BetVictor and get a £25 FREE BET!
Returns: Draw £40.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Returns: Man Utd. £55.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Team News
Available Squads
13Diego López RodríguezGoalkeeper
19Raphaël VaraneDefender
4Sergio RamosDefender
15Fabio CoentraoDefender
17ArbeloaDefender
6Sami KhediraMidfielder
10Mesut ÖzilMidfielder
14Xabi AlonsoMidfielder
22Ángel Di MaríaMidfielder
7Cristiano RonaldoStriker
9Karim BenzemaStriker
13AdánGoalkeeper
3PepeDefender
2Ricardo CarvalhoDefender
8KakáMidfielder
5Michael EssienMidfielder
16Luka ModricMidfielder
20Gonzalo HiguaínStriker
1David de GeaGoalkeeper
2RafaelDefender
3Patrice EvraDefender
4Phil JonesDefender
5Rio FerdinandDefender
6Jonny EvansDefender
16Michael CarrickMidfielder
10Wayne RooneyStriker
19Danny WelbeckStriker
20Robin van PersieStriker
26Shinji KagawaMidfielder
13Anders LindegaardGoalkeeper
12Chris SmallingDefender
7Antonio ValenciaMidfielder
8AndersonMidfielder
11Ryan GiggsMidfielder
23Tom CleverleyMidfielder
14Javier 'Chicharito' HernandezStriker
Players to Watch
Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 7
Games Goals YC RC
12 12 1 0
The Portugal superstar is set to face Manchester United for the first time since his high-profile departure from Old Trafford in 2009. Ronaldo struck a stunning hat-trick in the 4-1 win over Sevilla and will be a central figure against his former club, who have occasionally shown a vulnerability to pace this season.
Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney
Position: Striker
Squad Number: 10
Games Goals YC RC
6 1 0 0
The England forward is in a rich vein of form, having found the net nine times in his last ten matches for club and country. Rooney's role is tactically important as he does not shy away from defensive duties, while his movement and link-up play with Robin van Persie will be equally pivotal to United's chances of grabbing a positive result.
Prediction
United travel to the Bernabeu in fine form, but their record of two wins in 20 matches in Spain does not make for encouraging reading. Although Real have been inconsistent in La Liga, they generally raise their game for occasions like these and could edge the first leg of this glamour tie.
Editor's Prediction
Real Madrid 2
Man Utd. 1
Results
ALL MATCHES >>
 
Match News
Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Cristiano Ronaldo Cristiano Ronaldo
Striker
Real Madrid 		12 0
Robert Lewandowski Robert Lewandowski
Striker
Dortmund 		10 1
Thomas Müller Thomas Müller
Striker
Bayern 		8 1
Lionel Messi Lionel Messi
Striker
Barcelona 		8 0
Burak Yılmaz Burak Yılmaz
Striker
Galatasaray 		8 0