Kroos ahead of second leg against Atletico: “I’m expecting us to get through”

The second leg of the Champions League quarter-final tonight (20:45 CEST) between Real and Atletico Madrid is likely to be a fiery encounter. World Champion Toni Kroos is expected to lead his side to the all-important victory they need to get through to the semi-finals, whilst Sami Khedira is hoping to make an appearance for the reigning champions.

The papers in the Spanish capital are going crazy ahead of the derby between the two big rivals. Sparks are expected to fly at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu as the two teams fight for every inch. It won’t be an easy game for referee Felix Brych (Munich), who will try to keep control of the game.

After the highly-contested 0-0 draw in the first leg last Tuesday, there will be a lot of pressure on defending champions Real going into the re-run of last year’s final. No other result but a win will be enough for Real to get through to the semi-finals.

Hopes lie on playmaker Kroos

The Spanish record holders will have a number of players out through injury. Winger Gareth Bale, striker Karim Benzema and midfield maestro Luka Modric will all miss the game through injury, whilst left back Marcelo is out suspended. The hopes of the defending champions will lie on World Footballer of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo and World Champion Toni Kroos. World Cup winner Sami Khedira is also hoping that he will make an appearance.

Real manager Ancelotti doesn’t want the personnel problems to affect his side: “We have to react to having absentees and find a solution,” he said. He is “optimistic that the Bernabeu will inspire us (Real),” said the Italian.

The game is like a cup final for both sides and it is the only thing being spoken about in Spain at the moment. Since winning the final in May 2014 in Lisbon, Real have failed to win any of the last seven meetings between the two sides. And the defending champions have struggled to deal with the aggressive and compact style of their arch-rivals.

Kroos: “They made it tough for us”

“Atletico are strong at the back but I’m convinced that we can beat them,” said Ancelotti. Kroos added that “Atletico have made it tough in the last few games. But now we have the opportunity to make up for those results. We won’t moan about our injuries. I’m expecting us to get through.”

But that will be tough against the side with the best defensive record in the season’s Champions League – Atletico have only conceded one goal in eight games, which came in the 1-0 first leg defeat in the last 16 against Bayer Leverkusen. Nevertheless, midfielder Raul Garcia believes that “we (Atletico) are under less pressure. It’s the quarter-finals and both teams want to get through. Lisbon has been forgotten, we don’t live in the past.”

Conquerors of Dortmund, Juventus, will be hoping that they can build on their 1-0 win from the first leg against AS Monaco to get through to their first semi-final since 2003.