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Main » 2013 » February » 13 » Champions League - Matchpack: Real Madrid v Manchester United

Champions League - Matchpack: Real Madrid v Manchester United

Team news, manager quotes and match facts ahead of the Champions League last 16, first leg match between Real Madrid and Manchester United at Santiago Bernabeu.



TEAM NEWS
Captain Iker Casillas is the only major absentee for Real Madrid as he remains sidelined with a broken thumb, with Diego Lopez deputising. Fellow Spain international Xabi Alonso has been passed fit to play after suffering a groin injury, while defender Raphael Varane has also overcome a hamstring problem.
Phil Jones was forced off with a knock in Sunday's win over Everton but was on the plane that flew to the Spanish capital and is expected to be given a man-marking job on Cristiano Ronaldo. With Ashley Young, Jonny Evans and Anders Lindegaard all fit, the only player absent for United is Paul Scholes, who has been struggling with knee problems of late.

MANAGER QUOTES
Jose Mourinho: "There are great clubs in the world who have never won this competition. Real Madrid have won nine, I have won two. Real Madrid wants to win its tenth. I want my third. If it comes this year good. If not, I will try again next year. I don't think I will end my career with only two titles."
Sir Alex Ferguson: "Ronaldo is a better player than when he left us because of his maturity. He's at the peak of his career now and the next three years will be the same. I never thought he'd ever get the amount of goals he's scored. To score the goals he has scored is phenomenal."

MATCH FACTS
The eight European Cup/Champions League encounters between Real Madrid and Manchester Utd have produced 31 goals (3.9/game).
Manchester Utd have never won away against Real Madrid (two defeats, two draws).
The Red Devils have conceded exactly three goals in three of their four trips to the Santiago Bernabeu.
Their last encounter was 10 years ago, in April 2003. Real Madrid won 6-5 on aggregate in the Champions League quarter-finals.
Manchester Utd have only won two of their 13 away Champions League games in Spain (seven draws, four defeats).
Real Madrid have only failed to score once in their last 31 Champions League games, that was against Barcelona at the Bernabeu in April 2011.
Since that semi-final when they failed to hit the back of the net against Barcelona, Real Madrid have scored 33 goals in nine Champions League games at the Bernabeu.
Real Madrid have failed to keep a clean sheet in this season’s competition. They have conceded nine goals in the Champions League this season, the most among the 16 teams qualified for the knockout stages.
Manchester Utd have conceded the opening goal in each of their last five Champions League games.
Real Madrid had the joint-most shots (incl. blocked) in the group stages this season, alongside Juventus (126). They’ve scored the most goals from outside the box (6).
Manchester Utd have seen their woodwork rattled five times, the most in the group stages this season.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the joint-top scorer in the group stages alongside Galatasaray’s Burak Yilmaz (6 goals).
Robin van Persie and Javier Hernandez have scored six of Manchester Utd’s nine goals in the Champions League this season (three each). All three of van Persie’s goals have come away from home.
Alex Ferguson has only won two of his 14 competitive encounters with Jose Mourinho (six draws, six defeats).

MATCH ODDS: 
Real Madrid - 1.65 
Draw - 3.60 
Manchester United - 5.10
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