RPT- Soccer-Real Madrid eye record 21st international title in Japan

While fans of soccer will be hoping to see Cristiano Ronaldo on the pitch today, it may not be worth the risk, at least to the Real staff.

“Pain overwhelms our hearts and invades our thinking in mourning”, Nacional wrote on their website.

In tribute, the Copa Libertadores champions successfully lobbied South American football officials to award the Copa Sudamericana to the stricken team.

The victor of the Copa Libertadores was to play Chapecoense in the final of the Copa Sudamericana before the plane crash tragedy.

The French coach said he had got upset on the sideline watching as his team lost concentration after being in control of the game.

“I am satisfied because we have put in enormous efforts to qualify against very important opponents”, said Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli.

In fact, European teams have not conceded a goal between them since Corinthians beat Chelsea 1-0 in the final of the 2012 tournament – the only time since 2006 that the tournament has produced a non-European victor.

Madrid’s main rivals for the title will be Copa Libertadores champions Atletico Nacional, who travel to Japan with a strong team, but are dealing with the trauma of the recent tragedy that caused the cancelation of the Copa Sudamericana final.

“We’re fully focused on the game”.

BVB were the last team to get anything from a group game at the Bernabeu with a 2-2 draw in November 2012 and SkyBet offer another draw at 3/1 (4.00). But bookmakers are firmly backing Spain’s Real.

He is expected to bring an nearly full strength squad, minus the injured Gareth Bale, to Japan as Real target a record 21st global title to take them past Barca and Egyptian side Al-Ahly.

Just before that, in the first clash of the last eight stage, Asian champions Jeonbuk Hyundai will face Club America.

However, finishing in second place might also imply a trip to Italy to visit Juventus in Turin, or an nearly as intimidating one to London to face the most in-shape Arsenal squad in years.

It was a chastening way for the Foxes to suffer their first Champions League defeat, with Andre Silva giving the hosts the lead in only the sixth minute. When asked about a possible transfer for the Colombian global, Zidane replies that “I’m not going to respond because I would have to say nonsense and I don’t want to”.

Real president Florentino Perez has demanded another global treble.

The group phase of the Champions League concludes on Wednesday and there is plenty on the line for the clubs involved.

“We won them in 2014 and we will work towards winning the Club World Cup to do it again”.

James worldwide teammate Radamel Falcao, who plays for Monaco recently said: “When you do not play, you are not happy”.