Football: Real Madrid look to seal semi-final berth

Spanish side likely to meet Bayern in Champions League last-four.

MADRID: Real Madrid go into the second-leg of their Champions League quarter-final against Apoel Nicosia tonight knowing that the hard work has already been done, but full of respect for their opponents, according to Brazilian full-back Marcelo.

After the 3-0 victory in Nicosia last week, Madrid can, barring a miracle, almost certainly look forward to a semi-final place against the winner of the tie between Bayern Munich and Marseille.

“I think for Apoel to reach the quarters they can’t be a weak team, they have beaten Lyon to get this far and we have great respect for them,” said Marcelo.

“All players want to win the Champions League and I am no different, but there are many games ahead of us still.

“Madrid is always favourite to win any competition in which it competes, but we still have a lot of work if we are to be champions this season.”

Cristiano Ronaldo was key in the league match on Saturday, scoring a double and creating two more for his side, in a stadium in which he had failed to win or score on his previous two visits.

The Portuguese star has also spoken of the club being on the right track for a Champions and La Liga double.

Apoel eyeing upset win

Meanwhile, Apoel, the first Cypriot team to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League, started this season’s journey back in July in the second qualifying round with a 2-0 victory at Albanian side Skenderbeu, and since then have produced some incredible performances.

Bayern are set to defend a 2-0 lead over the French side in Munich and look to be favourites to meet Madrid in the semis.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4^th, 2012.