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TEAM NEWS: Michael Essien starts for Real Madrid against Celta
Dec 12, 2012 8:20:00 PM
The Ghanaian takes the place of Sami Khedira in midfield and Raphael Varane is also given a start as los Blancos travel to Vigo in the Copa del Rey
| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £26.25 | Draw £38.00 | Real Madrid £25.50 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £25.00 | Draw £35.00 | Real Madrid £26.20 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £26.00 | Draw £34.00 | Real Madrid £26.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £26.00 | Draw £36.00 | Real Madrid £25.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Real Sociedad £25.00 | Draw £35.00 | Real Madrid £26.20 |
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The Ghanaian takes the place of Sami Khedira from the weekend’s victory over Valladolid in La Liga and will partner Xabi Alonso in centre of the Madrid midfield.
There are also some tweaks at the back from the Portuguese coach. Raphael Varane and Ricardo Carvalho come into the defence, with Nacho and Sergio Ramos making way.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, and Angel Di Maria will support Karim Benzema in attack. Antonio Adan will start in goal.
Celta look to be starting the match fielding a five-man midfield in an attempt to curb the creativity of Madrid. Borja Oubina starts as the anchorman in front of the defence and he will be relied upon for protection.
Iago Aspas begins as the lone striker, but he will likely be given plenty of support from Michael Krohn-Delhi and Toni.
Celta (4-5-1): Sergio; Mallo, Cabral, Tunez, Lago; Oubina, Augusto, Bermejo, Krohn-Dehli, Park; Aspas.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Adan; Arbeloa, Varane, Pepe, Carvalho; Alonso, Essien; Di Maria, Modric, Ronaldo; Benzema
Subs: Casillas, Ramos, Khedira, Kaka, Ozil, Callejon, Nacho
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Live!
Champions League final - LIVE!
German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund will battle it out at Wembley for European glory. Get involved by sending us your thoughts via Twitter or Facebook! Hosted by Mark Doyle.
8:55 PM BST
Franz Beckenbauer is never one to mince his words and he's been disappointed - yet not in the least bit surprised - by Arjen Robben's finishing tonight.
"It just seems like Arjen Robben can't score in decicive matches," the legendary libero told Sky Germany during the break.
"It just seems like Arjen Robben can't score in decicive matches," the legendary libero told Sky Germany during the break.
8:53 PM BST
The latest from the Bayern bench is that centre-half Jerome Boateng is struggling with a slightly bruised thigh. He's keen to play on, but that's obviously one to watch. Should he be forced off, one imagines Van Buyten will come on in his place.
8:49 PM BST
The second half is just under way, but just to give you the thoughts of three-time World Referee Of The Year Markus Merk, who is working the game for Sky Germany tonight. He feels that Ribery's elbow on Lewandowski during the first half could easily have been construed as deliberate by match official Nicola Rizzoli.
"Ribery was very lucky," he argued. "If the referee judges this as an intentional act, he can easily give a red card. I cannot understand why a player like Franck Ribery behaves like this in a Champions League final."
"Ribery was very lucky," he argued. "If the referee judges this as an intentional act, he can easily give a red card. I cannot understand why a player like Franck Ribery behaves like this in a Champions League final."
8:43 PM BST
Jay Jaffa is watching the game surrounded by German fans and he's picked up what he has described himself as a tremendously "precise" prediction from one supporter.
"We've had boos, moans and groans throughout the half from fans unhappy with Bayern's resurgence. The loudest cheers of all have been saved for Roman Weidenfeller though, after two exceptional saves from Arjen Robben. There's no doubt, in this pub at least, that the support lies with Dortmund and a friendly chap named Andreas believes BVB will come out on top, insisting: 'We will get stronger as the game goes on and Lewandowski will score in the final 10 minutes.' About as precise a prediction as you can get!"
"We've had boos, moans and groans throughout the half from fans unhappy with Bayern's resurgence. The loudest cheers of all have been saved for Roman Weidenfeller though, after two exceptional saves from Arjen Robben. There's no doubt, in this pub at least, that the support lies with Dortmund and a friendly chap named Andreas believes BVB will come out on top, insisting: 'We will get stronger as the game goes on and Lewandowski will score in the final 10 minutes.' About as precise a prediction as you can get!"
8:40 PM BST
Bayern have really come into the game and have had some great chances, but, for my money, Dortmund shaded that opening 45 minutes. They also shaded the poll Goal ran on Facebook earlier. We asked you who would win at Wembley tonight and 55 per cent of you sided with the underdogs. It really will be fascinating to see if Klopp's men can pull this off in the second half, which is just five minutes away.
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