Monday, March 4, 2013

The boy is back in town: Ronaldo trains at City's ground ahead of Old Trafford return



The boy is back in town: Ronaldo trains at City's ground ahead of Old Trafford return 

All eyes will be on Old Trafford tomorrow and many will be focused on Cristiano Ronaldo, who is making his first appearance back at Manchester United since leaving three-and-a-half years ago for a world record £80million. 
And it was the same today as he, along with the rest of his Real Madrid team-mates, put in a final training shift before the titanic Champions League clash. 
Manager Jose Mourinho has taken the unusual step of choosing to train at the Etihad Stadium, the home of United's rivals City, rather than Old Trafford.

Real have, of course, already been to City's stadium this summer having drawn Roberto Mancini's side in the group stages of the Champions League.
Ronaldo turned out wearing tracksuit bottoms and a woolly hat despite the Manchester sunshine and went through a series of light stretches during the 15 minutes open to the media.



































Speaking in his press conference, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson was well aware of who the danger man will be.
He said: ‘My biggest concern is if Cristiano turns up. What do you expect when you play against a team with Ronaldo in it?'
He added: ‘You expect problems on the night. We have to try and curtail that as best as we can. It won’t be easy as he does it every week.

Such is the significance of the match, currently level at 1-1, Mourinho felt it was necessary to bring his vastly-experienced Spain goalkeeper to England.
In the early part of the open training session Casillas went through a series of stretches with the outfield players while Real's three other goalkeepers, including Diego Lopez who has deputised in the interim, took part in a series of drills.
However, Casillas soon joined his fellow goalkeepers for a work-out, raising the possibility he could make his first appearance since January 23 tomorrow night but he will not play, according to his manager.


Man Utd v Real Madrid Odds

2nd Leg - Tue 5th Mar 2013 - Old Trafford
The standout Champions League last sixteen tie is between Real Madrid and Manchester United. The pair were drawn together and after the first leg result of 1-1 in Madrid, the tie is finely poised going into the second leg on the 5th March.
A Danny Welbeck header was cancelled out by a Cristiano Ronaldo goal against his former club, also with his head as he rose to power in a header at the back post. David De Gea kept his team in it with some excellent saves, but Robin Van Persie also had the chance to snatch a victory for United as Real ran out of ideas in the second half.
The bookmakers make Real Madrid odds on to qualify for the quarter finals, although the Spanish champions were pushed out in the outright betting to third favourites behind Barcelona and Bayern Munich following the first leg draw in Madrid. United are marginal favourites for the second leg.





TUESDAY 5TH MARCH
19:45Man Utd v Real MadridBetting Preview
Tips:Both teams to score @ 4/9
Wayne Rooney to score first @ 13/2
2-2 correct score @ 10/1


Man Utd Form

United qualified from Group H with ease before letting their foot off the gas. Indeed, Sir Alex Ferguson's side won their first four matches to win the group before putting out weakened sides in their last two games, losing both.
DateHome TeamAway Team
19th Sep 12Manchester United1 - 0Galatasaray
2nd Oct 12CFR Cluj1 - 2Manchester United
23rd Oct 12Manchester United3 - 2Sporting Braga
7th Nov 12Sporting Braga1 - 3Manchester United
20th Nov 12Galatasaray1 - 0Manchester United
5th Dec 12Manchester United0 - 1CFR Cluj
13th Feb 13Real Madrid1 - 1Manchester United
5th Mar 13Manchester United19:45Real Madrid





Real Madrid Form

Real Madrid made a bit of a mess of the group stages, losing away in Dortmund before only drawing at home meant they finished the group as runners up behind the Germans and now have this tough match with Manchester United as a result.
DateHome TeamAway Team
18th Sep 12Real Madrid3 - 2Manchester City
3rd Oct 12Ajax1 - 4Real Madrid
24th Oct 12Borussia Dortmund2 - 1Real Madrid
6th Nov 12Real Madrid2 - 2Borussia Dortmund
21st Nov 12Manchester City1 - 1Real Madrid
4th Dec 12Real Madrid4 - 1Ajax
13th Feb 13Real Madrid1 - 1Manchester United
5th Mar 13Manchester United19:45Real Madrid






Man United v Real Madrid Betting

2nd Leg Odds
Visit PaddypowerVisit WilliamhillVisit LadbrokesVisit BetfredVisit Bet365Visit VCBetVisit Coral
Real Madrid13/1013/105/413/1013/105/413/10
Man Utd223/109/515/811/585/4015/8
Draw5/221/105/25/213/513/55/2


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