Real within touching distance of Hampden Park

Real have already sen one centenary celebration end in tears, though, when Deportivo Coruna beat them in the King’s Cup final on the 100th anniversary of the club’s foundation at their own stadium in March this year. Captain Fernando Hierro knows his team cannot afford another Bernabeu debacle.

“Beating Barcelona 2-0 at the Nou Camp was a tremendous satisfaction for everyone connected with Real,” Hierro said this week.

“We all enjoyed it but we’re clear in our heads that we’re not guaranteed a place in the final.

“We can’t afford to run out for the second leg just prepared to see what happens. We have to be clear from the start that we’re going out to beat them.”

Real have the advantage of being able to recall Luis Figo, who was suspended for the first leg against his former club, while Barcelona’s trump card, the Brazilian Rivaldo, is ruled out again with a knee injury. Real’s victory in the first leg in Barcelona came on the feast day of Catalunya’s patron, Sant Jordi, and in a curious piece of symmetry the return match will be played as Madrid enjoys a double celebration.

The match itself takes place on May day, a holiday throughout Spain, and on the eve of Madrid’s most important fiesta. On “el dos de Mayo”, the capital celebrates the day in 1808 when its people rose up against Napoleon’s invaders.

Barcelona’s chances of ruining the Madrid holiday season appear slim but they do have some history on their side.

Barca were the first club to knock Real out of the European Cup, ending Real’s five-year winning streak in the 1960-61 season, the last time the two sides were matched up in Europe.

The Catalans have also pulled off some stunning victories in the Bernabeu. They have won by two or more goals on enemy territory eight times, notably a 5-0 success in a league match in 1974 that featured Barca’s current coach Carles Rexach.

“We should be going into the match with optimism,” said Barca captain Sergi. “We do need an early goal, though, and that means we’ll have to take some risks.”

Barca gave themselves a boost on Saturday with a 4-1 win at home to Villarreal just as Real Madrid were being humbled 0-3 at Real Sociedad — a defeat that left their title hopes hanging by a thread.

Real’s defensive frailty in that game will have given Barcelona some additional hope but with Rivaldo absent the odds are so heavily stacked against the Catalans that anything but a Real victory is almost unthinkable.

(Reuters)