jeudi 5 novembre 2015
mardi 3 novembre 2015
Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain: Navas wary of PSG threat
The French side are capable of hurting Los Blancos "at any moment" warns goalkeeper the Costa Rican ahead of the sides' Champions League return clash
Real Madrid goalkeeper Keylor Navas believes Paris Saint-Germain represent a major threat to his club's ambitions of Champions League glory.
The teams clash for the second time in two weeks in Group A, having shared a goalless draw at the Parc des Princes.
It was a result that maintained both sides' unbeaten record across all competitions this season and marked the only time PSG have failed to win in their past eight outings at home and abroad.
"They have top-quality players who can make life difficult for you at any moment," Navas said in an interview with UEFA.
"We all want to win the Champions League, it's one of our goals.
"We're trying to prepare as well as possible for every game so as to get to the final and win it, but we have to take it step by step, because we still have to get through important games in the group stage and in the knockout stages.
"We're putting our heart and soul into reaching the final and winning it."
The clean sheet in the French capital was Madrid's ninth in all competitions this term and Navas - retained as first-choice goalkeeper after a deadline-day move for Manchester United's David De Gea collapsed - hailed a collective effort throughout Rafael Benitez's team.
"The team are doing a great job," he said. "We're all doing our bit in terms of defensive work.
"We know that if we all defend together, starting with the attackers, it makes it very difficult for our opponents to create danger.
"So we're following the instructions of the coaching staff and trying to improve in every game."
Benitez is likely to be without Gareth Bale for Tuesday's match despite the Wales international returning to training on Sunday following a calf problem.
Key defensive duo Sergio Ramos and Pepe are back from respective shoulder and leg issues, while midfielder Luka Modric (hip) and striker Karim Benzema (thigh) will be assessed.
PSG remain without Javier Pastore through illness and Marquinhos due to a hamstring problem, but defender David Luiz is back in Laurent Blanc’s squad after missing the past four games with a knee complaint.
Luiz's Brazil international colleague Thiago Silva believes, with the onus on Madrid to force the game in front of their own fans, the attacking talents of his team-mates will have chance to shine.The teams clash for the second time in two weeks in Group A, having shared a goalless draw at the Parc des Princes.
It was a result that maintained both sides' unbeaten record across all competitions this season and marked the only time PSG have failed to win in their past eight outings at home and abroad.
"They have top-quality players who can make life difficult for you at any moment," Navas said in an interview with UEFA.
"We all want to win the Champions League, it's one of our goals.
"We're trying to prepare as well as possible for every game so as to get to the final and win it, but we have to take it step by step, because we still have to get through important games in the group stage and in the knockout stages.
"We're putting our heart and soul into reaching the final and winning it."
The clean sheet in the French capital was Madrid's ninth in all competitions this term and Navas - retained as first-choice goalkeeper after a deadline-day move for Manchester United's David De Gea collapsed - hailed a collective effort throughout Rafael Benitez's team.
"The team are doing a great job," he said. "We're all doing our bit in terms of defensive work.
"We know that if we all defend together, starting with the attackers, it makes it very difficult for our opponents to create danger.
"So we're following the instructions of the coaching staff and trying to improve in every game."
Benitez is likely to be without Gareth Bale for Tuesday's match despite the Wales international returning to training on Sunday following a calf problem.
Key defensive duo Sergio Ramos and Pepe are back from respective shoulder and leg issues, while midfielder Luka Modric (hip) and striker Karim Benzema (thigh) will be assessed.
PSG remain without Javier Pastore through illness and Marquinhos due to a hamstring problem, but defender David Luiz is back in Laurent Blanc’s squad after missing the past four games with a knee complaint.
"We will travel to Madrid looking to play our football and defeat Real," Silva told his club's official website.
"We can still play a good game in Spain, despite the fact that we only drew 0-0 at home. When we play against a very strong side like this, it's 50-50.
"Both sides can win. I think we will play better in Madrid than we did in Paris. At the Parc des Princes, we were obliged to win because we were playing at home.
"Real will feel obliged to win the return, so our attackers can perhaps take advantage of a little more space."
A win for either PSG or Madrid will guarantee their place in the last 16 if Malmo lose to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.
What time is Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League tonight and what TV channel is it on?
When is the match?
Soon. Tuesday night, 3 November. Circle it immediately in your online calendar.
What time is kick off?
Unsurprisingly, it's 19.45 GMT. That tends to be the case, doesn't it? No surprises here. Move along.
What TV channel is it on?
It's been banished from the main BT Sport schedules, and will sit comfortably on BT Sport Extra 2.
Photo: REUTERS
How's the form?
Real Madrid have swept all before them so far in this competition, apart from PSG. They were 2-0 winners at Malmo and secured a comfortable 4-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. They ran out 3-1 winners over the mightly Las Palmas in La Liga at the weekend.
SHOWDOWN ALERT, because PSG are exactly one goal worse off than Real in Group A, they beat Shakhtar away 3-0 and matched Real's 2-0 win over Malmo. They saw off Rennes 1-0 on Friday night in Ligue 1.
What was the result last time?
Disappointingly, it was 0-0, and quite a tiresome game.
What are they saying?
Real Madrid may top La Liga and their Champions League group but coach Rafael Benitez believes there is room for improvement.
"The team are doing well but I am convinced that they will improve. I want to see the best team when we are competing for titles," the Spaniard told a news conference on Monday.
"We've got a great margin of improvement. I hope the best is yet to come."
Under Benitez, Real have turned into a more compact side, playing tight at the back and looking to bring the ball forward as fast possible, giving the impression they are a defensive team, which the former Liverpool manager has been denying.
He has not been able to reunite his attacking trio of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale since the Welshman limped off against Shakhtar Donetsk on Sept. 15.
On Tuesday he will again have to make do without Benzema and Bale but James Rodriguez is back in the squad after injury.
"He's on the list, he's better. That does not mean he starts. He lacks match fitness," said Benitez.
Sergio Ramos also returns to the squad but Raphael Varane and Pepe are expected to start in central defence.
Real are level on seven points from three games with PSG in Group A after a goalless at the Parc des Princes last week.
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