Real Madrid and Manchester United will finally face off at the Old Trafford on Tuesday afternoon in the biggest match of 2013.
"The world will stop to watch this tie," Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho stated on Monday evening. "I doubt expectations can be bigger than for this one . . . nobody knows what will happen because the teams are well-matched."
The teams faced off on Feb. 13 in a game that wound up being a 1-1 draw. Danny Welbeck scored 20 minutes in off a corner kick to give Manchester United a 1-0 lead, but Cristiano Ronaldo, in one of his finest performances of the year, leaded over Patrice Evra and headed in the tying goal at the 30 minute mark.
"I'm sure the United fans would receive me well. If I score against them it would be spectacular, a beautiful sensation," said Ronaldo about returning to the stadium that witnessed his rise to super-stardom. "I can't say what I'll do. It would be something spontaneous, but I'd love to be in that situation."
He added, "In any case, it would be a good sign if we progress and I score. Real Madrid's intention is to win."
Manchester United will be without Phil Jones, the defender who minimized Ronaldo's chances during the first leg. More importantly, Real Madrid enters this after defeating rival Barcelona in two straight matches. Ronaldo scored a brace last Tuesday in a 3-1 romp at the Camp Nou and then Los Blancos defeated Blaugrana 2-1 with most of their starters on the bench.
Manchester is coming off a 4-0 thrashing of Norwich that saw Shinji Kagawa score a hat trick.
Soccer Souls Expects the following to be the starting lineups:
United: De Gea; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Carrick, Giggs; Welbeck, Kagawa, Rooney; Van Persie
Madrid: Lopez; Ramos, Pepe, Varane, Coentrao; Khedira, Alonso; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema
Bleacher Report Projects the following Lineups:
Manchester: De Gea; Rafael, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra; Carrick, Giggs; Welbeck, Kagawa, Rooney; van Persie
Real Madrid:López; Arbeloa, Sergio Ramos, Varane, Coentrão; Xabi Alonso, Khedira; Di Maria, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema
Predictions: Madrid wins 2-1.
Start Time: 2:45 PM EST
TV: Fox Soccer Channel