REAL Madrid are hoping for another magical Champions League night at the Bernabeu to get themselves out of an unexpectedly large hole against Arsenal in the quarter-finals of European football’s top club competition.
After the 3-0 defeat in the first leg on April 8 in England, Real coach Carlo Ancelotti and players admitted it will be a tough task for the defending champion to overcome the deficit in the return match next week.
But they were keeping their hopes alive thanks to a recent history of comebacks in the Champions League at the Bernabeu.
Ancelotti hasn’t given up.
“We have to do everything we can to try and recover. The chances are pretty slim but we have to try, and we’ll try and do it any way we can,” Ancelotti said.
“Let’s see if we can pull it off. It feels as though there’s no chance ... but things always change in football. It’s very tough, but stranger things have happened at the Bernabeu.”
Real won their 14th Champions League title in 2022 after rallying their way through the knockout rounds.
Their first comeback came against Paris St Germain in the last 16, when Real looked beat after losing the first leg 1-0 and conceding early in the return game in the Spanish capital.
The hosts eventually rallied with a second-half hattrick by Karim Benzema.
It was with another hattrick by Benzema that they won the first leg at Chelsea 3-1 in the quarter-finals. But the team trailed 3-0 at the Bernabeu in the second leg and needed a late goal by Rodrygo in regulation and another by Benzema in extra time.
In the semi-finals against Manchester City, Real lost 4-3 in England, and the deficit increased after conceding in the 73rd of the return game at home.
But Rodrygo scored in the 90th and in stoppage time to force extra time, when Benzema converted a decisive penalty kick to put Real in the final, where they beat Liverpool.
“It’s difficult, but if there’s any team in the world that can turn this situation round, it’s us in front of our home fans at our ground,” Real’s Lucas Vazquez said.
“We’ll see a different game (next) Wednesday and if we all stick together, we’ll come through it.”
Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois said Real’s home-field advantage could make the comeback possible.
“It’s tough at 3-0 but we’re strong at home and people need to have faith in this team because we’ll give it everything we’ve got to turn the result round,” he said.
“It’s possible, but we have to work hard and correct our mistakes.”
Ancelotti was trying to look for answers after the team’s second-half collapse in London.
“It’s hard to explain. There was no collective reaction, we were trying to do things individually. They controlled the ball better and managed the result,” Ancelotti said.
“They showed a better attitude, more quality and impressive fitness levels. They did a lot of things better than us and we have to be honest with ourselves.
“We weren’t too bad for an hour, we played pretty well in the first half.”
Declan Rice converted stunning free-kicks in the 58th and 70th minutes, and Mikel Merino added in the 75th to seal Arsenal’s win.
“Our opponents approached the game really well,” Courtois said.
“In the first half we broke their press well and had possession of the ball but what we wanted to do in the second half didn’t come off. That’s where we have to learn and improve.”
It was Real’s second straight defeat after a 2-1 home loss to Valencia in the Spanish league last weekend.
“We’re not used to losing two games on the bounce,” Vazquez said.
“All we can do is keep working hard, believe in ourselves more than ever, and this team deserves to have everyone’s trust.
“We’ll give it everything we’ve got to turn the tie round.”
Real will be without Eduardo Camavinga for the second leg because of a red card late in the game. — AP
