UCL : PSG 2 vs Man city 2

Paris Saint-Germain 2

 Ibrahimovic (41') , 

Rabiot (59')

Manchester City 2

De Bruyne (38') , 

Luiz rosa (72')

Result

Commentary

Match ends, Paris Saint Germain 2, Manchester City 2.

90

Second Half ends, Paris Saint Germain 2, Manchester City 2.

90

Foul by Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint Germain).

90

Nicolas Otamendi (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90

Substitution, Manchester City. Aleksandar Kolarov replaces Sergio Aguero.

90

Attempt missed. Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Thiago Motta.

90

Gregory Van der Wiel (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick on the right wing.

90

Foul by Fabian Delph (Manchester City).

88

Substitution, Manchester City. Wilfried Bony replaces David Silva.

88

Attempt blocked. Sergio Aguero (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jesus Navas.

87

Foul by Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain).

87

Fernandinho (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

85

Jesus Navas (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card.

85

Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

85

Foul by Fernando (Manchester City).

83

Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

83

Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

83

Foul by Eliaquim Mangala (Manchester City).

82

Offside, Manchester City. Joe Hart tries a through ball, but Sergio Aguero is caught offside.

82

Offside, Paris Saint Germain. Angel Di Maria tries a through ball, but Edinson Cavani is caught offside.

81

Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

81

Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).

80

Corner, Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Bacary Sagna.

79

Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

79

Foul by David Silva (Manchester City).

78

Lucas Moura (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

78

Foul by Fabian Delph (Manchester City).

78

Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Gregory Van der Wiel replaces Serge Aurier.

78

Substitution, Paris Saint Germain. Lucas Moura replaces Adrien Rabiot.

77

Substitution, Manchester City. Fabian Delph replaces Kevin De Bruyne.

77

Foul by Blaise Matuidi (Paris Saint Germain).

77

Gael Clichy (Manchester City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

72

Goal! Paris Saint Germain 2, Manchester City 2. Fernandinho (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner.

71

Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Maxwell.

67

Attempt missed. Jesus Navas (Manchester City) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kevin De Bruyne.

64

Angel Di Maria (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

64

Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).

62

Attempt missed. Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box is just a bit too high.

62

Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris Saint Germain) hits the bar with a header from the centre of the box. Assisted by Angel Di Maria with a cross.

61

Attempt blocked. David Silva (Manchester City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gael Clichy with a cross.

61

Thiago Motta (Paris Saint Germain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

61

Foul by Fernandinho (Manchester City).

59

Goal! Paris Saint Germain 2, Manchester City 1. Adrien Rabiot (Paris Saint Germain) right footed shot from the right side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner following a corner.

59

Attempt saved. Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint Germain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Angel Di Maria with a cross.

59

Corner, Paris Saint Germain. Conceded by Eliaquim Mangala.

56

Attempt saved. David Silva (Manchester City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Gael Clichy.

5

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UCL live Wolfsburg 2 vs R. Madrid 0

Wolfsburg (2)


Rodriguez (18') (pen) ,
Arnold (25')


Real Madrid (0)




Commentary

Second Half ends, VfL Wolfsburg 2, Real Madrid 0.
90
Foul by Isco (Real Madrid).
90
Maximilian Arnold (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
90
Substitution, VfL Wolfsburg. Marcel Schafer replaces Julian Draxler.
90
Offside, Real Madrid. Pepe tries a through ball, but Gareth Bale is caught offside.


90
Substitution, VfL Wolfsburg. Marcel Schafer replaces Julian Draxler.
90
Offside, Real Madrid. Pepe tries a through ball, but Gareth Bale is caught offside.
90
Foul by Jese (Real Madrid).

90
Vieirinha (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick on the right wing.
90
Foul by Jese (Real Madrid).
89
Corner, VfL Wolfsburg. Conceded by Keylor Navas.


89
Corner, VfL Wolfsburg. Conceded by Keylor Navas.
89
Attempt saved. Max Kruse (VfL Wolfsburg) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the left is saved in the top right corner. Assisted by Julian Draxler.

88
Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
88
Foul by Christian Trasch (VfL Wolfsburg).
85
Substitution, Real Madrid. James Rodriguez replaces Toni Kroos.
85
Substitution, VfL Wolfsburg. Max Kruse replaces Andre Schurrle.


81
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Dante.
80
Substitution, VfL Wolfsburg. Christian Trasch replaces Bruno Henrique


79
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Ricardo Rodriguez.
78
Attempt blocked. Jese (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Danilo.
77
Attempt missed. Bruno Henrique (VfL Wolfsburg) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Julian Draxler following a fast break.
75
Foul by Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).
75
Bruno Henrique (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
74
Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high.
73
Attempt saved. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Isco with a through ball.
71
Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Danilo.


70
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
69
Delay in match Luiz Gustavo (VfL Wolfsburg) because of an injury.
69
Maximilian Arnold (VfL Wolfsburg) is shown the yellow card.
69
Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) is shown the yellow card.
69
Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
68
Attempt missed. Andre Schurrle (VfL Wolfsburg) right footed shot from the right side of the box is too high. Assisted by Bruno Henrique.
68
Attempt missed. Marcelo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Jese following a corner.


68
Attempt blocked. Casemiro (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Toni Kroos with a cross.
67
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Dante.
66
Foul by Marcelo (Real Madrid).
66
Bruno Henrique (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick on the right wing.
65
Foul by Jese (Real Madrid).
65
Vieirinha (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
64
Substitution, Real Madrid. Isco replaces Luka Modric.
62
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Luiz Gustavo.
62
Attempt blocked. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.


61
Luiz Gustavo (VfL Wolfsburg) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
61
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
61
Foul by Luiz Gustavo (VfL Wolfsburg).
57
Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Gareth Bale with a cross.
52
Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
52
Foul by Julian Draxler (VfL Wolfsburg).
51
Foul by Casemiro (Real Madrid).
51
Bruno Henrique (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
50
Diego Benaglio (VfL Wolfsburg) is shown the yellow card.
50
Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.
49
Attempt missed. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Gareth Bale.
48
Attempt missed. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is too high. Assisted by Casemiro.
47
Attempt blocked. Marcelo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jese.


46
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Naldo.

Second Half begins VfL Wolfsburg 2, Real Madrid 0.

First Half ends, VfL Wolfsburg 2, Real Madrid 0.
45
Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high from a direct free kick.
44
Jese (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
44
Foul by Naldo (VfL Wolfsburg).
41
Substitution, Real Madrid. Jese replaces Karim Benzema because of an injury.
41
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
40
Delay in match (Real Madrid).
38
Attempt missed. Julian Draxler (VfL Wolfsburg) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Maximilian Arnold.
37
Attempt saved. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Marcelo with a headed pass.
36
Corner, Real Madrid. Conceded by Naldo.
35
Attempt blocked. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked.
34
Attempt missed. Julian Draxler (VfL Wolfsburg) right footed shot from the right side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Bruno Henrique.
33
Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
33
Foul by Josuha Guilavogui (VfL Wolfsburg).
32
Attempt missed. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Gareth Bale with a cross.
29
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
29
Foul by Andre Schurrle (VfL Wolfsburg).
28
Attempt saved. Andre Schurrle (VfL Wolfsburg) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno Henrique.
27
Foul by Toni Kroos (Real Madrid).
27
Vieirinha (VfL Wolfsburg) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
26
Offside, Real Madrid. Marcelo tries a through ball, but Karim Benzema is caught offside.
25
Goal! VfL Wolfsburg 2, Real Madrid 0. Maximilian Arnold (VfL Wolfsburg) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Bruno Henrique.
24
Offside, Real Madrid. Toni Kroos tries a through ball, but Karim Benzema is caught offside.
22
Attempt missed. Casemiro (Real Madrid) left footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the left. Assisted by Gareth Bale.
21
Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
21
Foul by Bruno Henrique (VfL Wolfsburg).
21
Offside, Real Madrid. Pepe tries a through ball, but Gareth Bale is caught offside.
20
Casemiro (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
20
Foul by Maximilian Arnold (VfL Wolfsburg).
19
Vieirinha (VfL Wolfsburg) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
19
Marcelo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the left wing.
19
Foul by Vieirinha (VfL Wolfsburg).
19
Danilo (Real Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.
19
Foul by Julian Draxler (VfL Wolfsburg).
18
Goal! VfL Wolfsburg 1, Real Madrid 0. Ricardo Rodriguez (VfL Wolfsburg) converts the penalty with a left footed shot to the bottom left corner.
17
Penalty conceded by Casemiro (Real Madrid) after a foul in the penalty area.
17
Penalty VfL Wolfsburg. Andre Schurrle draws a foul in the penalty area.
16
Attempt saved. Bruno Henrique (VfL Wolfsburg) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Andre Schurrle.
15
Luka Modric (Real Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
15
Dangerous play by Andre Schurrle (VfL Wolfsburg).
14
Attempt missed. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left.
14
Attempt saved. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Casemiro with a through ball.
13
Offside, Real Madrid. Toni Kroos tries a through ball, but Cristiano Ronaldo is caught offside.
12
Attempt saved. Bruno Henrique (VfL Wolfsburg) header from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Julian Draxler.
10
Offside, Real Madrid. Marcelo tries a through ball, but Gareth Bale is caught offside.
9
Hand ball by Andre Schurrle

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Luis Suarez struck twice in the first leg while F.Torres was show a secpnd yellow card

Luis Suarez struck twice in the first leg

Luis Suarez struck twice to help Barcelona come from behind to secure a 2-1 first-leg advantage against 10-man Atletico Madrid in their Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.

Fernando Torres put Atleti ahead at the Nou Camp after 25 minutes, but the game turned when the former Chelsea striker saw red for two yellow cards in quick succession before half-time.

Suarez tapped home Jordi Alba's volley after 65 minutes to level, and headed home 11 minutes later to ensure Barca take a narrow advantage to the Vicente Calderon for the second leg on April 13.

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Champion's league quarter final live!!!!!!! commentary

Commentary
90
Second Half ends, Barcelona 2, Atletico de Madrid 1.
90
Foul by Rafinha (Barcelona).
90
Koke (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90

Foul by Gabi (Atletico de Madrid).

90

Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).

90

Thomas Partey (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90

Substitution, Atletico de Madrid. Angel Correa replaces Saul Niguez.

89

Corner, Atletico de Madrid. Conceded by Sergi Roberto.

89

Attempt blocked. Augusto Fernandez (Atletico de Madrid) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked.

Add caption

Barcelona.  2.  Suarez (63') , (74')

Atletico de Madrid.    1.   Torres (25')

Second half

Corner, Atletico de Madrid. Conceded by Sergi Roberto.

89

Foul by Sergi Roberto (Barcelona).

89

Saul Niguez (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

88

Foul by Rafinha (Barcelona).

88

Lucas Hernandez (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

86

Augusto Fernandez (Atletico de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

86

Dani Alves (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

86

Foul by Augusto Fernandez (Atletico de Madrid).

85

Attempt blocked. Rafinha (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Arda Turan.

84

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

83

Substitution, Barcelona. Arda Turan replaces Andres Iniesta.

83

Delay in match Gabi (Atletico de Madrid) because of an injury.

82

Javier Mascherano (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

82

Foul by Javier Mascherano (Barcelona).

82

Saul Niguez (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.

80

Substitution, Barcelona. Sergi Roberto replaces Sergio Busquets.

Substitution, Barcelona. Sergi Roberto replaces Sergio Busquets.

79

Jan Oblak (Atletico de Madrid) is shown the yellow card.

78

Lucas Hernandez (Atletico de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

78

Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the left wing.

78

Foul by Lucas Hernandez (Atletico de Madrid).

77

Attempt blocked. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Gerard Pique

76

Substitution, Atletico de Madrid. Thomas Partey replaces Antoine Griezmann.

74

Goal! Barcelona 2, Atletico de Madrid 1. Luis Suarez (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dani Alves.

73

Antoine Griezmann (Atletico de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

73

Jordi Alba (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

73

Foul by Antoine Griezmann (Atletico de Madrid).

72

Foul by Neymar (Barcelona).

72

Koke (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick on the right wing.

71

Attempt blocked. Rafinha (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Sergio Busquets.

71

Attempt missed. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico de Madrid) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right.

70

Luis Suarez (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

70

Foul by Luis Suarez (Barcelona).

70

Filipe Luis (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

69

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

69

Foul by Gabi (Atletico de Madrid).

68

Neymar (Barcelona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

68

Foul by Juanfran (Atletico de Madrid).

67

Foul by Dani Alves (Barcelona).

67

Antoine Griezmann (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

65

Hand ball by Dani Alves (Barcelona).

64

Substitution, Barcelona. Rafinha replaces Ivan Rakitic.

64

Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Lucas Hernandez.

64

Attempt missed. Luis Suarez (Barcelona) left footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Neymar.

63

Goal! Barcelona 1, Atletico de Madrid 1. Luis Suarez (Barcelona) left footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Jordi Alba.

63

Attempt missed. Jordi Alba (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box misses to the right. Assisted by Dani Alves with a cross.

61

Attempt missed. Neymar (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Sergio Busquets.

61

Filipe Luis (Atletico de Madrid) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

61

Dani Alves (Barcelona) wins a free kick on the right wing.

61

Foul by Filipe Luis (Atletico de Madrid).

58

Foul by Andres Iniesta (Barcelona).

58

Juanfran (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

56

Attempt blocked. Neymar (Barcelona) left footed shot from very close range is blocked.

56

Attempt saved. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Javier Mascherano.

55

Attempt saved. Neymar (Barcelona) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ivan Rakitic.

55

Attempt blocked. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Javier Mascherano.

54

Corner, Barcelona. Conceded by Lucas Hernandez.

53

Substitution, Atletico de Madrid. Augusto Fernandez replaces Yannick Carrasco.

52

Attempt blocked. Andres Iniesta (Barcelona) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Lionel Messi.

51

Neymar (Barcelona) hits the bar with a right footed shot from the left side of the box. Assisted by Andres Iniesta.

50

Foul by Neymar (Barcelona).

50

Juanfran (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

49

Attempt missed. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Neymar.

48

Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

48

Foul by Sergio Busquets (Barcelona).

48

Saul Niguez (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

47

Offside, Barcelona. Lionel Messi tries a through ball, but Luis Suarez is caught offside.

47

Attempt blocked. Filipe Luis (Atletico de Madrid) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Saul Niguez.

46

Foul by Jordi Alba (Barcelona).

46

Gabi (Atletico de Madrid) wins a free kick on the

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Morata nails shut Carlo's coffin as Bianconeri head to Berlin

COMMENT: The Spaniard had the last word against his former coach by scoring the goal that sent Juventus to the Champions League final

 As it turned out, Alvaro Morata’s first-leg goal was only the appetiser. The big slice of humble pie was served up for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday as the striker sent Juventus to the Champions League final at the expense of the club that let him leave last summer.

It was by no means an epic Bianconeri display as they played completely within themselves and lost the advantage of their 2-1 lead from Turin reasonably early in the proceedings, but Morata was not about to let Madrid and Carlo Ancelotti off the hook so easily.

Scoring a goal which would prove to be a consolation was not enough for the 22-year-old. He wanted to have the last laugh.

“I don’t understand what happened,” he told Onda Cero earlier this season of his final days in Madrid.

“I went from playing well to being sat on the bench. I wasn’t asking to be in every starting line-up, but I wanted better treatment. I barely had any relationship with Ancelotti.”

The Italian coach will now always remember the name Morata for what he did in the 57th minute of this Champions League semi-final second leg. When Iker Casillas only punched a wide free-kick as far as Paul Pogba, the Frenchman returned the ball into the penalty area. There, Morata was given time and space to hit a bouncing effort beyond the Spain captain.

It was the goal which eliminated Real Madrid from the competition and it will also send Ancelotti heading for the job centre once the Blancos have stumbled to the end of their damp squib of a season.

Twelve months after playing a bit-part in Madrid’s Champions League triumph, Morata will return to the main event – almost certainly as a starter – with a hugely worthy Juventus side.

While not altogether convincing during the group stage, with lifeless losses at Atletico Madrid and Olympiakos threatening to put a stick in their spokes, Juve have been almost exemplary in the knockouts.

Many belittled their achievements in seeing off Borussia Dortmund and Monaco, claiming they’d been presented with an easy route through. After beating Real Madrid, nobody can now say they’ve had things all their own way.

“I think it’s brilliant for Juventus because we’ve worked for this and now we’re back,” Pavel Nedved told Sky Sports before Wednesday’s second leg.

They are indeed back, and Morata is not the only one to thank for that. Carlos Tevez’s goals, Andrea Pirlo’s direction, Gianluigi Buffon’s organisation, Massimiliano Allegri’s flexibility… they are just the beginning of the reasons for Juve’s success so far.

It is a triumph that will hit Carlo Ancelotti harder than anyone.

“Juventus is a team that I never loved and will never love,” he said of the Old Lady in his autobiography. “I could only see them as an enemy.”

Now, more than ever, he has every reason to feel physically sick at the mention of Juventus’ name.

The Bianconeri are heading for Berlin, while Ancelotti is destined for the exit.

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Ronaldo's trophy haul at Real is pitiful and five things we learned from the Champions League this week

 

Cristiano may be celebrating another personal milestone but he has found team success hard to come by at Real, while Pep Guardiola is beginning to feel the heat at Bayern 

Congratulations to Cristiano Ronaldo for equalling Alfredo Di Stefano's tally of 307 Real Madrid goals with his penalty against Juventus on Wednesday night.

Ronaldo joined in the summer of 2009 meaning it has taken him under six years to hit that number whereas it took Di Stefano nearly twice that. Ronaldo is now alongside Di Stefano as Real's all-time second-highest goalscorer and is on course to obliterate Raul's record of 323 early next season. He has scored goals roughly at double the rate Raul did during his time at the Bernabeu.

Ronaldo, though, will leave Madrid with a trophy cabinet put entirely to shame by the man with whom he drew level this week. Alfredo Di Stefano defined that first Galactico era of Real Madrid's history and was part of teams which won eight la Liga titles and five European Cups. Ronaldo can only dream of such numbers. And do not think for a second that Real were a one-man team in those days. For James Rodriguez, read Ferenc Puskas. For Gareth Bale, Francisco Gento.

So what is the difference between the two?

A former Real Madrid team-mate of the late Di Stefano, Jose Emilio Santamaria, told Goal this week that while he regarded Ronaldo as an outstanding goalscorer, Di Stefano was easily the more complete player of the two.

"You ask me were there nicer or more exquisite players? There have been many," he said. "But, by performances and efficacy, there hasn't been anyone more complete than him."

That is the frustration with Cristiano Ronaldo. It seems Real Madrid are still geared up to play only for him. The money spent on James and Bale, and everyone else for that matter, is all to facilitate goals for Ronaldo; goals which hopefully will be enough to win matches and earn trophies for everyone. That has not been the case.

There has been one league title in Ronaldo's time at Real. There has been one Champions League. In a six-year spell for a player of his calibre at a club like Real, that is a pitiful return. Yet he is about to be crowned all-time top goalscorer and has won the last two Ballons d'Or. There is something amiss.

Ronaldo needs his team-mates to act as functionaries. They are there to give him goals. That is Plan A for Ronaldo and Plan A for whoever happens to be giving instructions in the dugout. When he is not on form, and he has not been consistent since January, then Madrid suffer badly. He has not demonstrated his ability lately to go by his full back and hit a shot at goal. He did not take a shot in the second half against Juventus and was marginalised on his station on the left wing.

The Champions League semi-finals, then, ran largely to form. Cristiano Ronaldo knocks in a penalty for a landmark goal but Real Madrid fail collectively. Maybe someday someone will work out if the two are related.

In the meantime, he continues his march to become the greatest individual Real Madrid has ever seen but he will never be part of its greatest team.

Back to Berlin for 2006 World Cup hero Buffon

The greatest moment of Gianluigi Buffon's career came in the summer of 2006 when Italy claimed the World Cup against France on penalty kicks in Berlin's Olympic Stadium. The goalkeeper now returns to the scene of his greatest triumph with Juventus and he could well clinch his first, and most probably only, Champions League title when the Bianconeri face Barcelona on June 6.

This has been a long time coming for Buffon, the Juve captain, who has made more than 500 appearances for the club since joining in 2001 as the world's most expensive keeper. His only other Champions League final with the club ended in bitter heartache in a shootout defeat to Carlo Ancelotti's AC Milan at Old Trafford in 2003.

The 37-year-old has seen plenty since then. That summer in 2006 also brought the shocking news that Juventus would be relegated following the Calciopoli scandal and they also had two Serie A titles revoked. The entire maelstrom seemed to galvanise the Italy squad, so many of whom were affected by the outcomes of the trials.

While some high-profile names departed, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Fabio Cannavaro among them, Buffon chose to remain with Juve and take the full punishment by playing in Serie B for the 2006-07 season.

It has been a tale of gradual improvement for Juve since those dark days. They have now won four titles on the trot, confirming themselves as Italy's greatest team, with Buffon playing a huge part against Real Madrid with a string of world-class saves.

"We reached our goal, we will not be tourists in Berlin," he told Mediaset. "I am proud of my team-mates and the growth we had. When you have the opportunity to play games like that you have to win."

And now, the biggest achievement of his club career lies in store. Facing him are three of the best forwards in the world, all in the form of their lives. However, it is one of modern football's great paradoxes that its greatest goalkeeper has not been decorated with the top club honour. Nobody would begrudge Gianluigi Buffon that much when he eventually walks onto the field in Berlin and recalls what happened nine years ago against France.

Pep's legacy on the line

Pep Guardiola's reputation has taken a battering over these two matches whatever way you slice it. The absences of David Alaba and Arjen Robben admittedly blunted Bayern over the two legs against Barcelona but coaches at three top level teams in particular - Bayern, Real Madrid and Barca - are expected to cover for the loss of key individuals either through a tactical readjustment or the deployment of the right replacements. Guardiola managed neither.

His approach to the first leg was a total botch. Constant tactical tweaks seem to have left the players unsure of their exact requirements game by game. Where Barcelona brought their own game to bear over the course of the two legs, Bayern could not. They were muddled. Guardiola tried to counter Barca's strengths by setting his team up to neutralise. It was doomed to fail.

"You can only beat Barca if you take the ball off them," he said. "We had a lot of difficulties but we never gave up. A big team has to cope with defeats like today or against Borussia Dortmund in the German Cup. I would like to play even better and have all my best players available, which I do not have. But I am happy and pleased with how we played."

The general public is judging Guardiola and Bayern to a different standard than any other coach and club whether that is fair or not. That is as a direct result of what he achieved at Barcelona. As such, Bayern are expected to at least make the final of this competition every season. That is the standard Jupp Heynckes set by winning the treble in 2013. That is the standard Guardiola is expected to maintain.

Now there is some revisionism going on. It is reductive, yet also accurate, to say Guardiola took a treble-winning team to two trophies in his first season and only one in his second. It is also true that with Lionel Messi in his team he was the best coach in the world and yet without him he is not.

As such, Guardiola's legacy is very much on the line as he heads into his final season with Bayern. He is seen as visionary and charlatan in equal measure.

There is another trio that Barcelona need to thank

The Messi-Suarez-Neymar triumvirate is rightly drinking in the acclaim for scoring 25 of 28 Barca goals this season in the Champions League. It is a rare thing indeed to have three forwards as talented as these functioning effectively together in the same lineup.

Furthermore, they are not only playing for themselves. There is a warmth and a camaraderie in their play as evidenced in Neymar's unselfish squaring of the ball for Messi in the last minute against Bayern and the fact that 17 of Luis Suarez's 20 assists this season have been to either Messi or Neymar. Three massive egos that all seem to gel well, it is almost unheard of.

As limelight-thieves go, Barca could not ask for three better strikers. It is the three players further back the field, however, who are giving MSN their base to launch attacks. Sergio Busquets, Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta are providing Barcelona's backbone. Without them this season that fabled front three would undoubtedly malfunction.

Luis Enrique is overseeing possibly the best-ever trio of attackers in the history of club football. It does not just happen by itself though and allowances have to be made in order to field all three together. The Barca coach was a clever, adaptable midfielder in his day and he has found all the right solutions in the centre of the pitch for his team.

Busquets sits deepest of the three in a position that he has made his own in world football. His role has not changed too much this season. His positional discipline and ability to block and intercept have long made Barca the team that wins the ball back most rapidly.

Rakitic, meanwhile, has slotted in seamlessly and brought a vision and stamina to the midfield. He is adept at finding his forwards with accurate passes that not everybody can see. People have forgotten about Xavi very quickly thanks to the Croat and his link-up capabilities.

While Iniesta's goal and assist numbers have decreased since the three up front have got together he is now free to influence play a little further back the pitch. He is ghosting into space and linking the Barca attacks as well as ever.

"You have to celebrate the fact we've reached the final," Iniesta said. "We are where we wanted to be but won't just be happy with that, we want to win titles. We are in a final and it is within our reach. We will try and win it."

Messi, Suarez and Neymar can do things other players can only dream of and because of their unique talents they are given a relative free pass going the other direction. It is not often you see them chasing back to make sure Barca have enough numbers in their own half. As such it is left to the best of the rest to make sure Barca are not compromised as they leave MSN free to wreak havoc.

These three midfielders are not getting the adulation they deserve quite simply because the MSN trio has been so devastating in front of goal. But without Busquets-Rakitic-Iniesta it would not be so.

Thiago must wish he was back at Barca

Thiago Alcantara must have looked at Rafinha at the final whistle on Tuesday night following Bayern Munich's defeat and wished he could have been wearing the same shirt as his brother. It is nearly two years since Thiago left Barcelona to join Pep Guardiola at Bayern. While he has won two Bundesliga titles as well as a DFB Pokal he must wonder if his career is any better for having left Camp Nou.

Thiago left Barcelona because he saw his path to the first team blocked by Xavi and Cesc Fabregas among others. With Xavi now firmly a substitute and Cesc having departed, there would surely have been more opportunity for Thiago to play, and make an impact, had he remained with Barca.

"It's the perfect club for any footballer to develop and to grow, because as everybody knows La Masia can give you stability; they take care of you when you leave home," he told Uefa last week. "They show you the affection you need when you leave home. You have the chance to study there and it makes you grow as a player and as a person."

He would fit very nicely indeed into this team too. He has the ability on the ball, the work rate and that special touch of ingenuity required to excel. He knows Barcelona like the back of his hand and was initially expected to carry on the legacy of Xavi as well as his current coach Guardiola in the centre of Barca's midfield. He was impatient.

The truth of the matter is that Thiago's spell in Bavaria has been cursed. When he has played, Bayern have looked complete and he was described by Pep as the only player he wanted to sign. However, he has been injured all too often and has had his recoveries interrupted by being mishandled.

Guardiola has only one more year left on his Bayern contract and is unlikely to sign a new one. Then what for Thiago? He is seen as emblematic of the Guardiola regime at Bayern. There may not be a place for him once Guardiola departs.

He will have his pick of the clubs but a player of his standing cannot simply be expected to slot in and start again. He demands a system be constructed to incorporate him. He would have had that at Barca but was in a rush for first team football.

Thiago has not played even half the number of games he would have expected to at Bayern. Had he remained patient he would probably have a Champions League final to look forward to the first week in June.

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Barcelona VS Bayern München., Live Commentary

Barcelona

0

VS

0

Bayern München

Live Commentary

Commentary Main events

• 1'

  We are underway in the first half! The home side are in their customary burgundy and blue, with Bayern in a changed away strip of all white. The Champions League anthem rings out in the evening air, with Guardiola nipping onto his away bench without anything in the way of ceremony. This should be a cracker!
• 'We are ready' is the slogan of the home fans' choreography, with both teams streaming out of the tunnel and onto the Camp Nou turf! It's a full house, as would be expected, with this contest being undisputedly the biggest of the football season thus far!
• Bayern substitutes: Dante, Martinez, Pizarro, Gaudino, Gotze, Reina, Weiser.
• Bayern starting line-up (4-4-2): Neuer; Rafinha, Benatia, Boateng, Bernat; Lahm, Schweinsteiger, Alonso, Thiago; Lewandowski, Muller.
• Barcelona substitutes: Xavi, Pedro, Rafinha Alcantara, Bravo, Bartra, Adriano, Vermaelen.
• Barcelona starting line-up (4-3-3): ter Stegen; Dani Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Jordi Alba; Rakitic, Busquets, Iniesta; Messi, Suarez, Neymar.
• TEAM NEWS: Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, David Alaba and Holger Badstuber miss out due to injury for the away side. Javi Martinez is fit enough to feature on the bench, after an hour's run out versus Leverkusen last weekend. Mehdi Benatia is preferred to Dante in defence, with Philipp Lahm being asked to do a job on the right-hand side of midfield. Thiago Alcantara will be tasked with the role of supporting Thomas Muller and Roberto Lewandowski, against his former employers. The latter is forced to play with a protective mask, after fracturing facial bones and suffering a concussion in a collision with Dortmund goalkeeper Mitchell Langerak.
• TEAM NEWS: Marc-Andre ter Stegen continues as Barca's cup goalkeeper, with no other selection surprises for the home side. Jeremy Mathieu misses out due to an Achilles problem, with the Frenchman replaced at the heart of the hosts' defence by the capable Javier Mascherano. After being passed fit in recent weeks, Thomas Vermaelen is included on the bench. Ivan Rakitic and Andres Iniesta are chosen to sit ahead of Sergio Busquets in midfield, while the usual trio of Lionel Messi, Neymar Junior and Luis Suarez start up top.
• While Bayern have only scored twice in their last two outings in cup and league fixtures, Barca have managed to rack up a stunning 14 goals. Enrique's men will be high on confidence after absolutely dismantling both Getafe and Cordoba in recent weeks, regardless of their opponents' league positions. Fortunately for Guardiola, the visitors have been able to welcome back a couple of additional faces from injury over the past couple of weeks.
• Bayern could line up with either a three-man defence and five players in midfield, or with a back four and a midfield diamond. A lot will depend on the position of Rafinha, with the Brazilian right-back ready to deployed either at full-back, or on the left-hand side of a back three. Guardiola is known to be a tinkerman, but there can be no doubts about how his opponent will line up. It will be the usual 4-3-3 for the Blaugrana tonight.
• I'm Simon Harrison and I will be keeping you up to date with all of the action developing at Camp Nou, as the home fans welcome back their former coach who enjoyed such unprecedented success with the Blaugrana many moons ago. Bayern did manage to wrap up another German top-flight title a fortnight ago, but the Bavarians giants have a completely different task on their hands this evening. The hosts have won their last seven home matches, with two losses at the hands of Celta Vigo and Malaga the only upsets to spoil a wonderful season on familiar turf.
• Hello and welcome to live coverage of tonight's Champions League semi-final first leg in Catalonia! It is Pep Guardiola's return to Camp Nou, as Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich travel across Europe to face Luis Enrique's in-form Barcelona. Die Roten arrive with some important players on the treatment table, with defeats against Bayer Leverkusen and, albeit on penalties, Borussia Dortmund in their last two outings.

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Come in number nine - Juve star Morata shows Madrid what they're missing

COMMENT: The former Madrid front man haunted his old side with an excellent display in attack as the Serie A champions won in Turin

 By Kris Voakes | International Football Correspondent

If Real Madrid were missing one thing on Tuesday it was the guy doing most of the damage for Juventus as the Italian side recorded a thrilling 2-1 victory in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final in Turin.

Alvaro Morata’s impact on the Bianconeri in his 78-minute display would have been noteworthy whatever the state of Madrid’s attack, but the lack of a viable focal point for the visitors only underlined the huge difference the Spaniard’s transfer has made to both clubs.

While Carlo Ancelotti didn’t trust Javier Hernandez enough to give him a starting shirt, the loss of Karim Benzema to injury left the former Juventus boss without a recognised number nine. Yet at the other end of the pitch, the man they sold to the Italian champions for €20 million last summer was busy giving a demonstration of his ability to change a game at the business end of a Champions League season.

Not only did Morata net the first goal of the game, turning home Iker Casillas’ weak parry from Carlos Tevez’s original shot, but he also delivered a classic prima punta performance.

With his back to goal, the 22-year-old took pressure off his side at vital times and brought team-mates into play. In the channels, he carried the ball with belief and with verve. And in front of goal, he was sharp and dangerous. When he did find the back of the net, he would have had every right to celebrate joyously in front of the Real Madrid bench. His humility in deciding not to rub it in was just another plus point from his performance.

"I never said a bad word about Real Madrid. I'm very fond of them," Morata told TVE after the game. "Some people are looking for things that are not there.

"I always said I would not celebrate if I scored because I always want Real to win when I am not playing against them. I am grateful to the coach and the club but I am with Juventus, and they are my club now."

If anything, Juve didn’t leave Morata on quite long enough. As Madrid pushed for a second equaliser late on, Fernando Llorente’s lack of pace meant the Bianconeri didn’t cash in on a glaring opportunity to double their advantage.

Player Stats — Álvaro Morata

• General

  Minutes Played

  78

  Touches

  41

  Duels won

  60%

  60%

  Aerial duels won

  100%

  100%

  Interceptions

  1

• Attack

  Goals

  1

  Total Shots (exc. blocked shots)

  2

  Shots On Target

  2

  Shots from inside the box

  0

  Shots from outside the box

  1

• Defence

  Total Tackles

  1

  Tackles Won

  100%

  100%

  Clearances

  1

  Blocks

  0

• Distribution

  Total Passes

  21

  % of Passes Long

  0%

  0%

  Passing Accuracy

  71%

  71%

  Total Crosses

  0

  Succesful crosses

  0%

  0%

  Shot Assists

  0

  Goal Assists

  0

• Discipline

  Fouls Won

  3

  Yellow Cards

  0

  Fouls Conceded

  1

  Red Cards

  0

Moments later the former Athletic Bilbao man missed an even greater chance from three yards out. One got the feeling that Morata would have lapped up at least one if not both of those openings, and that would really have left Madrid in a hole.

Morata wasn’t Juventus’ only hero, though. Tevez, predictably, had a big say in both goals, while Arturo Vidal looks back to somewhere near his very best and Andrea Pirlo continues to confound the passing of time. At the back, Giorgio Chiellini once again finished a game modelling a blood-stained headband, such is his constant will to fight for the cause.

Madrid are still the favourites to reach a second successive final having pocketed an away goal to soften the damage. But not only do they need Benzema back in time for next Wednesday’s return game at the Bernabeu, they will also have to manage Morata and Tevez much more ably than in Turin.

Juve have the edge thanks to Alvato Morata, and right now Real Madrid will be cursing the day they let him leave.

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Beating Barcelona would be the greatest achievement of Guardiola's career

 

COMMENT: The Catalan coached his boyhood club to the treble in 2009 but just reaching the final with Bayern this season would be more significant

There has always been a degree of scepticism about Pep Guardiola's work at Barcelona and now at Bayern; as if he has simply been handed two squads of world-class players and all he has to do is stand on the sidelines and watch them score goals.

He has indeed inherited two great teams but nothing in his career so far will have prepared him for what is about to transpire in this upcoming series of games. Guardiola is facing the most intense challenge of his coaching life. Against Barcelona on Wednesday at Camp Nou he will have to demonstrate that his side can legitimately be described as the best in Europe. That is not easy. It is even more difficult when he has only half a team.

Not once this season has Guardiola had a full squad available to him. Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger, two World Cup and treble winners, have missed huge chunks of the campaign. Last summer's marquee signing Medhi Benatia has also broken down too often. Franck Ribery remains touch and go for this week but his season, like so many others at Bayern, has been injury-ravaged. Pep has had to do without his two Spanish maestros, Thiago Alcantara and Javi Martinez, for most of the season although their return at this part of the campaign could now prove crucial.

While those players have finally regained fitness, other important ones have been struck down. Arjen Robben and David Alaba, the best attacker and best all-round player in the squad respectively, are marked absent until next season. Robert Lewandowski, who has toiled diligently all season while those around him were dropping like flies, is recovering from concussion, a broken nose and a broken jaw. Holger Badstuber was again emerging as a key defender but another muscle injury has stricken him lame.

Pep's season has been more about managing resources than implementing the next stage of his grand plan. He has turned up on matchdays with only 14 fit players. No coach can conduct significant work on the training field with those numbers. Bayern play 34 Bundesliga matches a season. Their squad is 25 players strong. Multiply one number by the other and you get 850 individual matchdays. Guardiola's squad between them have missed nearly 200; around a quarter of all games. Think of Bayern's strongest XI; now think how many times Guardiola has been able to use it. Never has a coach had to achieve so much with so few fit players at his disposal. 

He should be thankful that Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng, Dante, Juan Bernat, Xabi Alonso, Mario Gotze, Thomas Muller and Lewandowski have stayed fit for most of the season between them because they form the core of what has become Guardiola's first choice XI. And now he has to prepare them for mighty Barca.

Guardiola has worked out a blueprint for success in the Bundesliga. He has also been aided by his rivals' inability to collect three points in places Bayern do every week. His record against the top teams in Germany is not the best around and it is proving difficult to implement his high-wire football in Europe too. He can dominate the league scene through Bayern's inherent superiority but cannot always bring his style to bear in the most demanding matches. That is not down to any tactical inferiority though - it is because he can never pick his preferred team.

By Pep's exceedingly high standards Bayern have played well only twice in Europe this season, such have been the impediments; away at Roma and at home against Porto in the last round. Julen Lopetegui exploited weaknesses in the ranks and ponderousness in possession when Porto beat Bayern 3-1 at the Estadio do Dragao, but Guardiola rectified those errors in the second leg.

Bayern were forthright in their attacks. They went wide for crosses and found success which proved that Guardiola is not above compromising or at least varying his football in the name of victory. He will likely have to do that against Barcelona too. Pep is asking the walking wounded to beat the team who, on form, are the best in the world.

Contrast the fitness picture at the Allianz, where the long-serving club doctor Hans Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfhart has departed due to the pervasiveness of infirmity, with the serenity at Camp Nou. Luis Enrique, the Barca coach, was criticised for his rotation policy earlier in the season and even fell foul of the moods of Lionel Messi, but the decision to rest players and slowly ease Luis Suarez into the picture is now paying dividends at a key time in the season. While the likes of Robben and Alaba are breaking down, Messi, Suarez and Neymar are just getting going.

Time to get Real | Guardiola and Bayern were hammered 5-0 on aggregate last year

Guardiola has to find the antidote to world football's most electrifying front three while Messi will relish the prospect at getting one-on-one with Dante and Boateng. Guardiola made Messi into the best player in the world once upon a time. He now must work out how to prevent him from having a major impact on this tie.

However, whatever knowledge Guardiola had of the inner workings at Barcelona now counts for little. It is a different club to the one he left. Key figures like Carles Puyol, Victor Valdes and Eric Abidal, the very heart and soul of Guardiola's dream team, have departed. Xavi is marginalised. Marc-Andre Ter Stegen, Ivan Rakitic, Neymar and Luis Suarez represent a bold new Barcelona that is a distortion from what was Guardiola's long-term plans.

Ludicrously, Guardiola still needs to prove his credentials at Bayern. It is reckoned to be an easy job; the fact that he cannot win a treble is a bete noire. That demonstrates the level of expectation around both Bayern as a club and the man himself. Pep has to accept that the true indicator of his legacy in Bavaria will come in the Champions League. It is where he will be judged.

The defeats to Real Madrid last season were the worst of Guardiola's career. This Barcelona side are similar in terms of the star quality of their forwards and their relentlessness in attack. The total failure against Madrid might yet have a bright side; Guardiola can show he has learned the lessons from last season. He can do that against Barcelona and prove he is now a better coach for that chastening experience.

The 7-0 aggregate trouncing of Barca by Bayern in the 2013 semis was widely seen as the end of the Catalans' golden age. Jupp Heynckes and his side destroyed Pep's model over those two legs. After a sticky start Luis Enrique has Barca hitting Guardiola-esque highs this season and certain members of the squad will be hungry for vengeance. Bayern are wounded. Barca are remorseless.

If Guardiola and Bayern emerge from this tie victorious then it will be the greatest achievement of his coaching career; greater than the treble, greater than the Club World Cup, greater than all those records broken with Barca.

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Bayern decimated, Barcelona at full strength - Luis Enrique's rotation is paying off

COMMENT: The Barca boss was heavily criticised for making constant changes earlier in the season, but his policy has left the squad fresh and firing when it matters most

January was a watershed month for Luis Enrique's Barcelona. The Asturian coach resolved never to leave Lionel Messi on the bench again after his side lost at Real Sociedad, while his team began to produce their most promising performances of the season.

But January was also significant for the Barca boss because he finally picked the same side twice. For the first 29 games of the season, Luis Enrique fielded 29 different line-ups, before choosing the same XI in back-to-back victories over Atletico Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna.

Many of the coach's calls before that had angered fans and bemused his own players as well. Messi had been unhappy to start on the bench against Real Sociedad, while the decision to leave out Luis Suarez and Neymar nearly cost the team dearly at Almeria in November, before both came on to turn it around in the second half in a 2-1 win.

"The players are not machines," Luis Enrique said after a disappointing 1-0 win at home to APOEL in the Champions League in September. "They need to be fit. But we have to improve."

By January, the pressure was mounting. Barca were winning most of the time, but had fallen behind in-form Real Madrid in La Liga, while the coach's constant tactical tweaks and rotation saw press, players and supporters all losing faith in the 44-year-old coach.

But four months down the line, Luis Enrique's Barca side sit in an enviable position: on top of La Liga with three rounds remaining, in action against Athletic Club in the final of the Copa del Rey later in May, and preparing to meet Bayern Munich in the last four of the Champions League this week. It is a dream scenario for the former Spain midfielder.

Previously perceived as part of the problem as Barca struggled to gel in the autumn and winter months, Luis Enrique's rotation has helped Barca to avoid injuries and keep players fresh for the most important matches of the season.

"He has received criticism for his handling of the rotations," Javier Mascherano said after Barca thrashed Cordoba 8-0 on Saturday. "But to arrive at the end of the season with the group intact and all 23 players available (note: Jeremy Mathieu has since picked up an Achilles tendon injury) is down to the coach. People should recognise that."

He is right: Barca are indeed in excellent shape compared to their rivals. Madrid have seen a number of their finest footballers - among them Luka Modric, James Rodriguez, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema - sidelined in recent months.

Wednesday's Champions League semi-final opponents Bayern have been hit by an injury crisis described by boss Pep Guardiola as the worst he has ever seen, with the likes of Arjen Robben, David Alaba and Franck Ribery among a host of players sidelined. Barca, meanwhile, have kept players away from the treatment table thanks to the coach's clever policy of giving rest and recuperation to his squad.

Messi is the exception, of course. Like Cristiano Ronaldo at Real, the Argentine attacker wants to be involved in every single game and his formidable fitness allows him to do so. Luis Enrique also knows that resting the 27-year-old will only lead to negative press coverage and unwanted scrutiny of their relationship.



But apart from Leo, every other player accepts he will have to spend some time on the bench in 2014-15 - and they have all been told it is for their own good.

Neymar reacted angrily as he was substituted by Luis Enrique in the recent 2-2 draw at Sevilla, but the Brazilian was right to be frustrated: he was Barca's best player that afternoon and in his absence, the home side drew level late in the game.

That proves Luis Enrique is not perfect, but nor is any coach, and Barca can thank their brave boss for sticking to his guns with his rotation policy this term because it has left the players fresh and free from injury at the business end of 2014-15 - and that could just be the difference between success and failure when the titles are handed out.

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Scott Brown: Champions League nights at Celtic send shivers down your spine, we must get them back

 EXCLUSIVE: The midfielder believes that Ronny Deila's current squad are already strong enough to make an impact on the competition and is desperate to see them seal a return

Celtic captain Scott Brown is desperate to see his side return to the Champions League next season after they wrapped up a fourth consecutive Scottish Premiership title last weekend.

After spending the previous two campaigns playing in Europe's elite club competition, Ronny Deila's side failed to qualify in 2014-15 and instead featured in the Europa League, where they lost out to Inter in the round of 32.

Celtic recovered from a shaky start to the campaign to win the Scottish Premiership and League Cup trophies but Brown acknowledges that it was not quite the same without fixtures against the likes of Barcelona, who were drawn against them in back-to-back-years.

But the midfielder is confident of sealing a return to the tournament - even if there are not many new arrivals in the upcoming transfer window, arguing that the January signings of Gary Mackay-Steven and Stuart Armstrong - along with the growing influence of Norwegian manager Deila – mean that they are in a strong position.

"We miss the Champions League nights," Brown told Goal.

"They are definitely the highlight of playing for Celtic. The days when you go out to Celtic Park are outstanding, the fans are always brilliant and you get shivers down your spine.

"We have brought in two players during January and they have definitely given us a lot of pace, power and flair. That has helped and energised us. It is always good to have a few new faces but the squad that is in there now is good enough to get into the Champions League.

"That is what we need to do. We have been working hard, focusing on how far we can push ourselves and next season is going to be exactly the same. Hopefully we can get back in there.

"Ronny Deila has been brilliant. He has come in and changed the formation we play. He wants the tempo of our training to rise and every day it has been getting higher and higher. It is a good system to play in, good to train in and he has been good in the dressing room with the lads on and off the pitch."



Celtic's latest Premiership title was secured in unusual circumstances on Saturday, with the players on a day off having played the previous evening and seeing their success secured by Dundee United's win over title rivals Aberdeen.

Brown says that another league trophy gives the players immense pride and wants to keep stacking up the honours to see how far the streak of title victories can be extended.

The Scotland star does admit, though, that the club's failure to win a first domestic treble since Martin O'Neill's team in 2001 – a fate sealed by their controversial Scottish Cup semi-final defeat by Inverness - was a massive blow that they are eager to put right next year.

"We are definitely delighted to win the title," said Brown. "The main thing was getting across the finishing line and we have managed to do that. Again we have showed why we are the best team in Scotland and hopefully we can show it next season as well.

"I was in the house watching it on the TV and I saw it all coming through. It was a good result for Dundee United. We are all on a group chat together so we were texting back and forward '80 minutes, 90 minutes, boom - game finished, champions, congratulations lads'.

"It is one of those feelings that is just pride. We enjoy playing for the club and to get a trophy at the end of the season means a lot. The main thing is we need to keep doing it. We need to keep winning games, keep winning leagues and see how far it can take us.

"We were so close to the treble. It is devastating. We were one decision away from it but these things can happen and we need to push on.

"Next season is going to be a big one. It is going to be hard again with the amount of games we are playing this year and next year. We need to make sure we win the big ones and push as hard as we possibly can to get this treble."

Brown also paid tribute to midfield team-mate Stefan Johansen, who was crowned PFA Scotland Player of the Year to seal another accolade for Celtic over the weekend.

He said: "Stefan Johansen has been outstanding this season. He came halfway through last season and he works hard, is always in the gym and always gives 110 per cent on the pitch so it is good to play alongside him."

Scott Brown, James Forrest, Kris Commons, Gary Mackay-Stephen and Stefan Johansen revealed the New Balance 2015/16 Celtic FC kit at a live event in front of  fans at Celtic Park. Fans can pre-order the New Balance Celtic FC home kit now from either the Official Celtic FC Online Store

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