Real Madrid host Juventus in the second leg of the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League needing to progress and set up the first-ever El Clasico in the final.

Madrid need to overcome a 1-2 first leg deficit they suffered on the hands of the Turin side which will not be an easy task considering the form of Juventus.

Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti will ensure his team does not concede since they have let in two goals in each of their last three games in all competitions now.

The Los Blancos saw their hopes of winning the La Liga title were shuttered after they dropped points at home to Valencia ensuring rivals Barcelona took a four point lead at the top with only two games left.

The onus is on Madrid to beat the Italian side to have chance of winning a trophy this season and they are favorites to win tonight because of their good home record in the Champions League this season.

Real Madrid have been eliminated in their last three European Cup semi-finals against Italian sides. Juventus beat them in 2003, Torino in 1992 and AC Milan in 1989. But the Spanish side have won 21 of their 29 home games against Italian opponents and only lost six times

Madrid will be boosted by the return of their French striker Karin Benzema who recovered from a knee injury whereas Luka Modric is out injured with Toni Kroos still doubtful.

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti did not indicate whether Benzema will start the game or Mexican striker Javier Hernandez and when speaking at the press conference for tonight’s second leg,“Benzema is fine,” Ancelotti said.

“He’s 100 per cent fit. He needed a little more time to recover but he’s ready.

“He could play from the start or he could come later on. Chicarito (Javier Hernandez) gives us different options but Benzema helps the whole team play better.

“In recent games, in the game against Valencia and Sevilla, the team played very well… but lacked concentration in details and this is the type of thing we must avoid doing.

“We must be focused throughout the whole game to avoid these problems. We need to play with greater intensity than in the first leg.”

Meanwhile Juventus welcome back one of the most rated young midfielders in European football Paul Pogba in their starting lineup.

“Pogba is ok and I think he will play from minute one,” Allegri said

Juve manager Massimiliano Allegri will also look at both Alvaro Morata and Carlos Tevez who scored in the first leg to once again lead the attack.

Veteran Italian Midfielder Andres Pirlo and Arturo Vidal will play in midfield alongside Pogba while Kwado Asamoah and Martin Caceras are still out injured.

Juventus captain Gianluigi Buffon warned his team and emphasized how attacking Madrid will be way they can reach the final and not just sitting back.

“Many teams have lost at the Bernabeu and most keepers concede a goal, but it’s inevitable that apart from their stadium and the home-team advantage, Real Madrid has such attacking potential that if we only defend, we’d come out losing.

“It’s inevitable to see since the stats say that Real Madrid always scores at the Bernabeu. We won’t change our way of playing but we have to be smart when playing tomorrow since we have a slight advantage.” He said.

Real Madrid

Probable Starting Line-up (4-3-3):Casillas(Gk); Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo; James, Kroos, Isco; Hernandez, Ronaldo, Bale

Juventus

Probable Starting Line-up (4-3-2-1): Buffon (Gk); Lichtsteiner, Chiellini, Bonucci, Evra; Pirlo, Marchisio, Pogba; Vidal; Morata, Tevez

Barcelona booked their place in Berlin’s final next month with a 5-3 aggregate victory over Bayern Munich in their semi-final.

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