Football

Playing in an empty Etihad could favour Real Madrid – Casemiro


Real Madrid’s Brazilian midfielder, Casemiro has noted that playing behind closed doors at Manchester City can help the LaLiga holders overturn their Champions League deficit.

Madrid travel to Etihad Stadium for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Pep Guardiola’s City on Friday, having lost the opener 2-1 prior to the coronavirus-enforced break. Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne condemned Madrid – who had captain Sergio Ramos sent off in the Spanish capital – to defeat at the Santiago Bernabeu in February.

Madrid have a mountain to climb in Manchester, but star Casemiro believes Zinedine Zidane’s side can benefit from playing without fans on the road.
“Without fans it’s a different game,” Brazil international Casemiro told Esporte Interactivo.
“It will be a very good game and difficult for both sides, but we’re Real Madrid and we know we have a chance to go through.
“They won’t have their fans and that might favour us a little.
“But the players are the same, the coach is the same and we all know that the difficulty level will be the same because they’re a great team.”

Sammy Wejinya

Recent Posts

Cape Town Marathon 40 day launch

Running royalty is heading to Cape Town next month to race the Sanlam Cape Town…

1 day ago

30th edition of the OUTsurance Gun Run Half Marathon

Lloyd Bosman finally brought the Gun Run to Pacaltsdorp with an emphatic victory in the…

4 days ago

OUTsurance Gun Run

Philani ‘PK’ Sengce defended his OUTsurance Gun Run Trail title in perfect Cape Town spring…

5 days ago

bird TenX: Ten African footballers who have won the most trophies in history

Over the years, African players have been key to the performances of the world's top…

1 week ago

Unexpected trail outcomes as under the radar runners triumph in big weekend of trail racing

Two under-the-radar runners came up trumps in big ultra-trail races at home and abroad, both…

2 weeks ago

Trail racing’s big weekend sees major upsets

Two under-the-radar runners came up trumps in big ultra-trail races internationally and in South Africa…

3 weeks ago