UEFA Champions League Today

Tuesday's matches and previews: Manchester City v Paris, Real Madrid v WolfsburgTeam news ahead of Tuesday's games: Who is in, who is out and who is a doubt?
Wednesday's fixtures: Benfica v Bayern, Atlético v BarcelonaExclusive: Ibrahimović on how he is peaking at ParisExclusive: Bale hoping for happy ending with Real Madrid
Quarter-finalists' results: Madrid rivals profit from Barcelona slip-up
Which teams are still on for the treble?
Check out our competitions stats section

12/04/201613:41Wolfsburg

Dieter Hecking, Wolfsburg coach:

When Real Madrid have to use the legend of the Bernabéu, then we clearly earned ourselves a lot of respect in the first-leg. It’s up to us to earn ourselves even more respect.

They have something to make up for. Real were somewhat surprised by us in the first-leg, that won’t happen again. They will be looking to take an early lead.

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12/04/201613:33Paul Bryan, WolfsburgReal Madrid

"We will need to be aggressive and to attack, attack, attack," Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modrić said of tonight's UEFA Champions League return in the Spanish capital.
Despite his disappointment following the Merengues' 2-0 first-leg reverse in Lower Saxony, the Croatia international told UEFA.com shortly after that defeat that the ten-time European champions remained "confident" of featuring in Friday's semi-final draw. "We have a lot of quality and you saw that [despite losing] we managed to create a lot of chances [in Germany]," Modrić explained. "At the Santiago Bernabéu, in front of our fans, I think we can go through," the 30-year-old added. "We will have to be quicker than we were [in the first leg] and to come out aggressively. They will be good on the counter-attack so we'll need to be wary of that [but] hopefully we can turn this around."     

12/04/201613:04Man. City

Pablo Zabaleta, Manchester City defender:

It's going to be one of the biggest nights for the club. It will one of those nights that City fans have been waiting for and as usual we need their support. The fans being behind the team for the whole game will be really important for the team. The most important thing is to win that game and reach the semi-finals.

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12/04/201613:01Man. City

Kevin De Bruyne scored in his first two appearances since returning from a two-month injury lay-off on 2 April, but was not among the scorers as Manchester City beat West Brom 2-1 on Saturday.

12/04/201612:52Bayern

Bayern midfielder Thiago Alcántara on return against Benfica:

It will be a very even match. They played a compact game [in Munich], with the defenders going forward and trying to attack as well. Normally when you play away you play defensively, but they didn't – they played their usual way. So I guess when they play at home they will play the same way.

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12/04/201612:46Barcelona

Barcelona-based sports newspaper Mundo Deportivo labels the 'Trident' of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar as "The infallibles". In seven games against Atlético, the trio have scored 13 of Barça's 14 goals. Meanwhile, Messi has registered ten times at the Vicente Calderón.

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12/04/201612:37Wolfsburg

Speaking to UEFA.com following last Wednesday's dramatic first-leg victory, Wolfsburg goalkeeper Diego Benaglio said that the Bundesliga side will need to replicate their performance in Germany to have any chance of reaching the last four.

"Playing at the Santiago Bernabéu will always be difficult and our opponents are going to do everything to try to turn this around," the Swiss international said. "Our objective will be to repeat [the first-leg] performance and to make things hard for Madrid. The fact that they didn't score [at the VfL Wolfsburg Arena] means we will have a big chance to go through if we get a goal. We will do our best and see what happens."

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12/04/201612:15Paris

Former Paris captain Rai on return tie against Manchester City:

We all hoped that Paris wouldn't concede any goals in the first leg. One thing is for sure: Paris will create chances in the return leg. They're a quality team who will be able to lift their game to threaten Manchester City's goal, even if they will be playing away from home. Above all they'll need to find the right balance between exposing themselves at the back in order to score and win the match and staying solid at the back and not conceding goals, especially on the counter. Paris have the potential to win in Manchester.

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12/04/201611:51Philip RöberWolfsburg

"Real are out for revenge," writes Rheinische Post, while discussing the storm that is waiting for Wolfsburg when they face a determined Real Madrid in the SPanish capital. "After being humiliated, they have promised a defiant Wolfsburg 'hell' in the Bernabéu. But instead of fear, there is only pure excitement in the VfL camp. Regardless of the final result, Wolfsburg have made a name for themselves."

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12/04/201611:19Bayern

Franck Ribéry, Bayern winger:

It's always flattering and positive when a manager says good things about you. It was a very tough time for me when I was injured for such a long period. Now I'm lucky enough to be playing again and rediscovering the pleasure of playing. It was very hard for me mentally. Now I'm back with the team and on the pitch. I'm really enjoying it and very happy to have got back to my best so quickly.

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12/04/201610:47UEFA.com Portuguese newsdesk, LisbonBenfica

There are around 300 tickets left for Benfica's clash against Bayern, with the remainder expected to sell out today - the club's first European sell-out since an October 2012 group stage game against Barcelona. Back in town for Portugal's FIFA Futsal World Cup qualifier against Serbia, futsal star Ricardinho popped by to wish Rui Vitória's side luck at a local restaurant; they would welcome some of his stunning finishes on Wednesday.

12/04/201610:16UEFA.com Spanish newsdeskReal Madrid

The Madrid press are hoping Real Madrid can save themselves as they come into their decider against Wolfsburg 2-0 down. 'Tonight the comeback is on' is the headline in AS, which adds: 'The fans expect another great feat from Madrid'.

Marca's cover takes up Zinédine Zidane's message of needing to play with patience, headlining their edition: 'Cool heads, and plenty of [rude word]'.

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12/04/201610:08Wolfsburg

Asked about Wolfsburg's chances of surviving an onslaught as they defend a 2-0 lead at Real Madrid, former Bayern goalkeeper Oliver Kahn gave a wary answer. "I have played at Madrid many, many times," said Kahn. "Better teams have gone to rack and ruin there. You can be 4-0 or 5-0 down rather quickly - you need to be on high alert. But I have faith in Dieter Hecking. If Wolfsburg play above their level, they can make it."

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12/04/20169:48Man. City

The Guardian reckons "seeing off a team with PSG's growing reputation would represent City's finest achievement in Europe of the modern era, and the biggest scalp yet for a club where it still feels suspiciously like they have an inferiority complex in this competition". The Telegraph agrees: "Perhaps that is what City need to truly believe, a breakout performance that convinces them, more than the rest of Europe, that they belong among the best the continent has to offer."

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12/04/20169:10UEFA.com French newsdeskParis

'Tonight or never' is the front-page headline on today's edition of L'Équipe as Paris head for Manchester City needing to improve on a 2-2 home draw from last week. The French sports paper writes: "For [Zlatan] Ibrahimović's generation, and maybe Laurent Blanc, it is the last chance [to reach the last four, after four quarter-final appearances]."

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11/04/201619:37Paris

All smiles as Marco Verratti (out since 20 February, groin) resumes Paris training ...

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11/04/201619:01Man. City

DID YOU KNOW?
Manchester City have won all six ties in UEFA competition in which they drew the away first leg, including two where the first scoreline was 2-2: against København in the 2008/09 UEFA Cup round of 32 (2-1 home) and AC Milan in the 1978/79 UEFA Cup third round (3-0 home).

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11/04/201618:53Wolfsburg

Dieter Hecking's side training at the Santiago Bernabéu this evening ...

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11/04/201618:29Paris

Thiago Motta, Paris midfielder:

All of us of course want to go through, all of us want to get to the semi-finals. I think the most important thing is not being worried about what may or may not happen – we have to focus on what we need to do to get to the semi-finals. At the moment it is in our hands, and we need to be convinced that we can get through.

We win as a team, lose as a team because we are a team. Whether we score goals or not we are a team. It’s not just the strikers who win because they score a goal. I think errors will be committed throughout the team but that’s what we need to be aware of, and for tomorrow we can’t allow ourselves to commit those kind of errors.

At this moment we need all the players. Of course we know that Marco [Verratti] is a fantastic player, and we know he hasn’t played for quite a while now and he is here in Manchester this evening with us. From the goalkeeper through to every single player, we need them all. Ultimately, it’s the coach will pick the team. But we will have people on the bench who may or may not be coming on in the given moment.”

Yaya [Touré] is an excellent player  – you don’t need me to tell you that! He’s shown what a great player he throughout his career particularly when he played at Barcelona and since then Manchester City. They have lots of top level players though and what will count is what we can do a team. We have to defend as a team and attack as a team. Regardless of whether Yaya is playing or not that won’t change what we have to do as a team.

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11/04/201618:17Paris

Laurent Blanc, Paris coach:

We've looked at some of the errors we made in the first leg, particularly defensively: we weren't compact enough. There was too much space for Manchester City and with the players they have going forward they are always going to cause you problems.

We need to perform at the highest possible level, certainly higher than the first game. We didn't have a fantastic game last week and we need to be a bit more efficient but if we create as many chances as we did last week I'm pretty sure we will score more. We need to impose ourselves.

At the end of the first leg the players realised that perhaps we missed out. We could have put ourselves in a better position. When you look at the chances we created I think we had a fair few – we also missed a penalty. It means they have the advantage of away goals and now it's simple: we have to score one more than Manchester City.

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11/04/201618:05Marcos Prieto, Madrid Wolfsburg

Josuha Guilavogui, Wolfsburg midfielder:

We will play how Wolfsburg play and try to produce a surprise. The first leg [victory] was very good for us but tomorrow we will have to do more. We will do what our coach ask us to do to ensure the club makes history [by reaching the semi-finals for the first time].

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11/04/201617:59Paris

Paris coach Laurent Blanc and midfielder Thiago Motta will address the press in Manchester shortly. Stay right here for quotes and the latest team news ...

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11/04/201617:46Wolfsburg

Wolfsburg boss Dieter Hecking is up first:

We knew we would need two magnificent days to advance in the competition: Now we just need one. We know what to expect and I think we can do our bit. Real Madrid have to use their legend to beat Wolfsburg at their stadium; they'll have to work very hard. We know what Real Madrid stand for but we also deserve some respect after the first leg.

We don't care that there will be 80,000 fans supporting Real Madrid; we're here to play football. We surprised them in the first leg but this time it will be more difficult. Madrid will try to score as soon as possible. Maybe [Zinédine] Zidane will surprise me this time!

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11/04/201617:34Wolfsburg

Coming up shortly, Wolfsburg midfielder Josuha Guilavogui and coach Dieter Hecking will share their thoughts ahead of Tuesday's decider in Madrid.

11/04/201616:34Paul Saffer, London

The first leg was chaotic to say the least, but having escaped with a draw and two away goals against Paris, and with the suspensions of David Luiz and Blaise Matuidi, Manchester City undoubtedly have the advantage. Then again their home form has been pretty erratic this term, not only in the Premier League but also in this competition – where, for example, they seemed to be heading for victory against Juventus only to lose 2-1. Neither Zlatan Ibrahimović nor Sergio Agüero fired in Paris, so perhaps they key will be which finds their form on Tuesday.

11/04/201616:22Joseph Walker, Madrid

Zinédine Zidane appears to be in relaxed mood going into this quarter-final second leg, which promises to be a cracker. Real Madrid will need to do something they have not done in 29 years if they are to oust a Wolfsburg side that shocked Europe with their 2-0 victory last week. Dieter Hecking will send his team out to frustrate and hit Madrid on the counterattack. However, playing at the Bernabéu in front of a raucous crowd, the Merengues will still fancy their chances.

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11/04/201616:20Marcos Prieto, MadridReal Madrid

Luka Modrić, Real Madrid midfielder:

We have to be united, that's the team people want. One player can do nothing by himself. We know we didn't play well in the first leg but it's in the past, and now we have to look forward and avoid mistakes.

The atmosphere in the dressing room is really good. We've got a very good team with a lot of talent. We're capable of turning it around tomorrow with the support of our fans, which is very important. I'm sure they are going to be behind us. It's the only thing that we're thinking about. It is going to be difficult, we've got a negative result against a good team [in the first leg] but we're capable of turning it around. We have to show that on the field. We start with the result against us but we need to play our game. We can't allow for mistakes so we have to be focused from the first minute.

Keylor [Navas] has been impressive since the start of the season. Having someone like him gives you a lot of confidence and hopefully he continues like this until the end and that if we need him tomorrow, he can help us. Casemiro is in good form at the moment and he has to continue like this. He is an example of how with work and dedication you can do big things. He contributes a lot to the team and I want it to say that way.

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11/04/201616:14Benfica

Talisca, Benfica forward:

It's great for the club and the players to have these fans. They are marvellous because they always support us and motivate us. The club really benefit from them.

We have a lot of potential. We work hard every day and are doing well in Europe and the Portuguese league, so we are focused. We know it will be a difficult match but we will carry on doing what we've been doing so far.

Before, I'd only seen matches like these on TV, and today I can play in them, so for me it's a great thrill.

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11/04/201615:35Man. City

Manuel Pellegrini, Manchester City coach:

Vincent Kompany is not 100%. It is not possible [for Kompany to play]. I trust 100% of the players that will play even with our injuries. I am absolutely confident with this defence. We played a lot of games here in the Premier League and in the Champions League. We are at this stage because we have good defenders.

This [City] is a team that is prepared to score goals and a team that is prepared to play. If we think that we need to draw 0-0 then I think we will lose the game because this is not the way we normally play.

Every game is different. It doesn't matter what happened in other competitions here in England. It is important now that we play the second leg against PSG. We played a very equal game in Paris, and we demonstrated that we can continue with the performance in Paris. The media didn't think we had any chance to continue but we have demonstrated there [in the first leg] that we have the same level as Paris.

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11/04/201615:25Real Madrid

Zinédine Zidane will be relying on his three star forwards - Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema - to spark a Real Madrid comeback against Wolfsburg on Tuesday ...

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11/04/201615:20Marcos Prieto, Madrid Real Madrid

Zinédine Zidane, Real Madrid coach:

This is an important match, but you need a cool head to play in it. We are not going to win it in [the first] ten or 15 minutes. It could be more complicated if they score, but that can happen. We must be focused from minute one. We have to score, but we have 90 minutes to do so. We need to be patient. People want to see their team playing well and I'm sure we are going to do that tomorrow. The result of the first leg makes it more exciting and difficult, but also more beautiful. We love our fans because we know how important they are, especially in our stadium. We want them to support us from minute one until the end.

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11/04/201614:43Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid forward:

We can win by playing well, with 11 players on the pitch and the 80,000 people I would love to see fill the stadium supporting the team, because this will give us a tremendous boost. I hope that it will be a magical night and I am very excited. The team are confident, the coach has faith and the fans must also have faith. Tuesday has to be a magical night.

It must be a perfect night. All aspects are important. Those of us on the pitch need to run fight and play with intensity for 90 minutes. Obviously, with the fans helping and supporting us it will be easier for us. It is also important to remain calm in certain situations, we need patience and to know how to suffer for the win. The key objective is getting through to the next round. It is the only option that will allow us players and the fans to leave the stadium happy.

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11/04/201614:30Man. City

Bacary Sagna, Manchester City defender:

First of all we need to stay focused. It is important to stay as focused as we were in the first leg and remain confident that we can qualify. We are very confident that we can achieve this.

We know that PSG are a strong team with good quality. We know they can be dangerous so we have to be careful. We want to focus on our team and if we play our football we can win.

Now we have the opportunity to reach the semi-finals which would be great for the club. As a player it is a pleasure to get this far. To qualify would be amazing. I expect a very difficult tactical game. We have to dictate the game and we have to show more to qualify than they do.

We know that all of them [Ángel Di María, Edinson Cavani and Zlatan Ibrahimović] are dangerous. Ibrahimović can hold the ball really well and is quite strong and dangerous in the box. Di María has the kind of the pace that can give us trouble. We know this already because we have watched them for a long time and I personally watch French football so we know they are dangerous players.

Vincent [Kompany] is our captain and we know that he is a quality player. He is really important for the fans but we know we have quality players to replace him like [Nicolás] Otamendi who is doing really well with [Eliaquim] Mangala. With or without him we have a good team and a good defence.

11/04/201613:41Benfica

Pizzi, Benfica forward:

There is a fantastic atmosphere at the Estádio da Luz. Our fans show all their passion, and obviously everyone at Benfica expects another great European night.

I'm very proud to be part of this fantastic group. To start with, we had a lot of problems but we managed to turn it around together. And I think now we're going through a fantastic period. All of us grew up watching footage of Benfica's great European nights with Eusébio and so on, so it's a dream come true to be on these big stages representing a club like Benfica.

We've been showing our quality in the Champions League. It's not just my dream but the dream of all my team-mates to be in a Champions League semi-final. We're close, we know it will be difficult but we will give everything – we will fight from the first minute to the last to achieve our goal.

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11/04/201613:37Paris

Zlatan Ibrahimović, Paris forward:

Every time [the aim has been] to go further, but so far we haven't gone further. And it's the same thing this year, we will try to go further. The Champions League is like that – you never know, you cannot predict what's going to happen. You can always do your best, but what will happen is difficult to predict. You can always wish, but you need to [put in the performances] in the two games you play. We are a better team this season. And we have more experience this season, so the club – no, not the club, but the new team, let's say, that was reborn a couple of years ago – is more used to the quarter-finals.

I have never been better. The way I feel today is the best I have ever been. I was born old and I will die young. That is how it looks. You are as young and fresh as you think you are. And that is what I have proved this season, by doing the things I am doing. So the age is just a number. You are as young as you think you are in your head. Your head decides how young you are and how old you are. So this year I decided I am very young.

I play for trophies; whatever trophy I can win, I will do everything in my power, in my sacrifice, to win it. Absolutely. So if we can win it, we want to win it. The players on the pitch want to win everything. That's why we are here, to train, to focus, to prepare and to do it. So let's see.

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11/04/201612:44UEFA.com German newsdeskBayern

The recovery process of Jérôme Boateng is in its final stages, with the German international defender, out since January with a groin injury, stepping up his training intensity to such an extent that a comeback before the end of April is realistic. Arjen Robben (groin), who last played over a month ago, is still unable to take part in full training, however. Kingsley Coman (thigh), who was not in the squad for the last two Bundesliga matches but came on as a substitute for Bayern against Benfica in the first leg, is expected to be part of Josep Guardiola's plans on Wednesday.

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11/04/201612:37UEFA.com newsdeskMan. City

11/04/201611:18UEFA.com German newsdeskWolfsburg

"We were mentally tired," admitted Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking after his side drew 1-1 against Mainz in what was billed as a crucial match in their  bid to qualify for next season's UEFA Europa League. Three days after their 2-0 home victory against Real Madrid, the Wolves failed to win for a fourth successive Bundesliga match, meaning winning the UEFA Champions League might now be their best chance of earning a European place for next season. Motivation should not be a problem. "We will be 100,000,000% ready on Tuesday," André Schürrle said.

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11/04/201611:02Bayern

Despite winning their last six competitive matches, Bayern's form continues to be scrutinised in the German media. The Süddeutsche Zeitung writes: "Bayern are heading toward the decisive stages in the Alps, and like a Tour de France cyclist, they are trying to take a deep breath before the major climb without losing sight of the opposition. That's why Bayern's football looks the way it does currently. But they are asking themselves: 'Are we really playing in energy-saving mode, or have we lost our grip?'"

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11/04/201610:17Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo's goal against Eibar on Saturday has moved the Real Madrid striker level with the top two in the ESM Golden Shoe rankings. Already the record four-time winner of the prize for Europe's top domestic league scorer, he can become the first player to win the prize in three successive seasons.

ESM Golden Shoe standings: 10 April 2016
1= Gonzalo Higuaín (Napoli) 30 x 2 = 60
1= Jonas (Benfica) 30 x 2 = 60
1= Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) 30 x 2 = 60
4: Luis Suárez (Barcelona) 26 x 2 = 52
5: Robert Lewandowski (Bayern München) 25 x 2 = 50
6= Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund) 23 x 2 = 46
6= Islam Slimani (Sporting CP) 23 x 2 = 46
8: Zlatan Ibrahimović (Paris Saint-Germain) 30 x 1,5 = 45
9= Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur) 22 x 2 = 44
9= Lionel Messi (Barcelona) 22 x 2 = 44

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11/04/20169:30UEFA.com French newsdeskParis

Paris rested most of their potential starters for Saturday's 2-0 win at Guingamp. Goalkeeper Kevin Trapp was taken off in the first half after colliding with team-mate Layvin Kurzawa (who broke his nose during the game, but remains available) but should be back for the decider against Manchester City. The big doubts are over Marco Verratti (groin) and Javier Pastore (calf). Verratti will take a fitness test this morning. Two important players are suspended: Blaise Matuidi and David Luiz.

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11/04/20169:26Man. City

The Manchester Evening News is predicting a Manchester City recall for Martín Demichelis for the Paris decider after Nicolás Otamendi "limped away from the Etihad Stadium with an unspecified injury" following Saturday's 2-1 win against West Brom. With Vincent Kompany "said to be 'touch and go' as he seeks to return from his latest calf injury" the paper reckons the English side are more than a little stretched defensively. It writes: "In the worst-case scenario, neither Kompany nor Otamendi will be fit and the central defensive pairing will be Demichelis and Eliaquim Mangala – their only league games together this season have brought disastrous defensive displays in home defeats by Liverpool and United."

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11/04/20169:17UEFA.com Spanish newsdeskReal Madrid

Diario AS carries a message from Cristiano Ronaldo, who says "it will be a magic and perfect night" as Real Madrid get in the mood to overturn Wolfsburg's lead. Inside, the paper focuses on great Madrid comebacks from the 1970s and 80s, interviewing forward Santillana, who played a part in a number of them. The former Madrid player believes "if Madrid are at 100% they can come back to beat any side". AS also says that Karim Benzema and Raphaël Varane have been declared fit after missing Saturday's 4-0 victory against Eibar, and will start on Tuesday.

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11/04/20169:12Real Madrid

The front cover of Marca declares 'yes we can' as Real Madrid bid to retrieve a 2-0 deficit at home against Wolfsburg. The Madrid-based daily reports that defender Dani Carvajal will come in for Danilo as the only change from the first leg. There is often talk of the 'Spirit of Juanito' surrounding Real Madrid and first-leg deficits in Europe, however it has been 31 years since they last staged an epic 'remontada' to come back from 2-0 down against Inter Milan to win 3-2 at the Bernabéu. A similar result and a re-writing of the history books will be needed if they are to progress tomorrow night.