Tension guaranteed in Camp Nou Stadium's return leg
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Tension is guaranteed on Tuesday night when FC Barcelona entertain Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semifinal in the Camp Nou Stadium.
Barcelona are clear favorites to progress to the final following a 2-0 away to Madrid last Wednesday in a game that is unfortunately remembered more for the unsporting attitude of both sides rather than for the brilliance of Leo Messi who scored both of Barca's goals.
Real Madrid will be without Pepe, who was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Dani Alves, and Sergio Ramos, who picked up a booking which leads to a suspension after a nasty foul on Messi.
Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is also suspended after being sent off for his complaints following Pepe's red card.
Barcelona meanwhile saw their image as the best football playing team in the world damaged after Sergio Busquets and Dani Alves indulged in some play acting to ensure referee Wolfgang Stark took action against Madrid players.
The match ended in accusations of match-fixing from Mourinho and mutual denunciations from both clubs as Barca asked UEFA to act against the Madrid coach for implying they had been helped to recent titles by the governing body of European football, while Madrid responded in a tit for tat manner complaining about the theatrics of certain Barca players.
All of that has ensured that controversy and not football has been the hot topic over the last week and a tense atmosphere is guaranteed in the Camp Nou Stadium to welcome a Madrid side that has gone from being unpopular to hated by the majority of Barca fans.
In sporting terms Barca go into the match with a long injury list, but should recover the services of left back Maxwell Scherrer, who is expected to start alongside Carles Puyol, Gerard Pique and Dani Alves in defense.
Meanwhile midfielder Andres Iniesta looks to have recovered from a calf strain and should start in midfield alongside Xavi Hernandez and Busquets with Messi, David Villa and Pedro Rodriguez in attack.
Without Pepe and Ramos, Mourinho, who will watch the game from the stands, will have to improvise and will probably change tactics from the defensive formation that lost the first leg.
Madrid need to score at least twice to force extra time and Karim Benzema will come into the side as he resorts to a 4-2-3-1 formation.
Benzema will be supported by Angel Di Maria, Cristiano Ronaldo and either Kaka or Mesut Ozil, while Xabi Alonso and Lassana Diarra provide support in front of a dense made up of Alvaro Arbeloa. Ricardo Carvalho, Raul Albiol and Marcelo.
That should give Madrid more punch balance, but there is one problem: Mourinho used that formation in the league game in the Camp Nou earlier this season and his side was beaten 5-0. A repeat of that result on Tuesday night could cost him his job.
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