Lionel Messi will be returning to Santiago Bernabeu, home of Real Madrid, for the first time in non-Barcelona colours for the return leg of the Champions League on Wednesday.
His current team, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), beat Real at home with Kylian Mbappe netting in the last minute. However, Mbappe is doubtful because of a left-foot injury, while Real are likely to be without Toni Kroos because of a muscle problem.
PSG must play attacking football while being wary of over-confidence, forward Neymar said.
“We need to take the actions from the beginning and be the aggressor if we want to qualify at Madrid,” Neymar told a news conference on Tuesday.
After missing almost three months with an ankle injury suffered in November, Neymar finally feels fit to help his team.
Managers Carlo Ancelotti and Mauricio Pochettino, both missing some star power, will have tinkering to do for the decisive encounter.
Zinchenko ‘ready’
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said Oleksandr Zinchenko is ready to play in the return leg of their tie against Sporting, and that the Ukraine international could be called upon to fill in a depleted backline.
City were dominant from start to finish in the first leg to all but seal their spot in the quarter finals with a 5-0 win.
However, the Premier League club is short of defensive options with Ruben Dias and Nathan Ake ruled out due to injuries, while Joao Cancelo will miss the game through illness.
Nice to go above Henry: Kane
Everton’s Premier League relegation fears deepened considerably as they collapsed to a 0-5 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur with Harry Kane scoring twice on Monday.
Kane moved to the sixth spot in the all-time Premier League scoring list led by Alan Shearer (260), and above Arsenal great Thierry Henry, when he scored his 176th goal in the competition.
“Thierry was one of the greatest strikers, so it’s nice to go above him in the scorers list,” Kane said.
Michael Keane’s own goal began the rout and Son Heung-min made it 2-0 before Kane slotted home his first of the evening to make it 3-0. Substitute Sergio Reguilon made it 4-0 and Kane’s sumptuous volley completed Everton’s misery.
