Raul set to work his magic for Real
Ronaldo may partner Raul, the top scorer in Champions League history, as the nine-time winners aim for a record 13th final. Brazilian Ronaldo has been struggling with a calf injury, but was optimistic yesterday of playing some part in the match.
"I feel good and everything is going well. As each hour passes, I feel optimistic and believe I can play," the striker said. "I desperately want to help the squad win this massive game."
On Sunday, Real doctor Alfonso Del Corral said Ronaldo was almost certain not to start against the Italians. Two days of intense physiotherapy have given Real fans a sliver of hope that the Old Trafford hat-trick hero may tog out in the Delle Alpi Stadium.
However, it is the return of Raul which will gladden most Madrid hearts. Michel Salgado believes the man who has scored 43 Champions league goals is the soul of the star-studded team.
"If Raul wasn't to play we would be missing the soul of the team. He is the player who really strikes fear into our opponents and the one who produces the goods when it counts."
Real already have to plan without their midfield grafter Claude Makelele. The tough Frenchman suffered a thigh injury in the disappointing goalless draw with Recreativo Huelva on Saturday that saw Madrid slip from top place in La Liga. The injury worries over Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane have eased, and both are expected to start.
Meanwhile, Marcello Lippi's side will be a much stronger outfit for tonight's game. Juve were robbed of three of their most influential players, Alessio Tacchinardi, Edgar Davids and Paolo Montero, through suspension for the first leg. All will be back tonight.
Montero is without his regular partner in defence, the experienced Ciro Ferrara, who picked up his second yellow card in the Barnebeu. The gaping hole caused by Ferrara's absence will be filled by either Lilliam Thuram or Croatian utility man Igor Tudor.
Another central defender, Mark Iuliano, whose first-leg tackle resulted in Ronaldo's injury, is suspended for the game. Having picked up an away goal in the first leg, a 1-0 win would secure Juve a place in the final in Manchester on May 28. Lippi has warned against such thinking.
"We know we can score against Real, but we must be very careful not to concede a goal, because then we will need to score three," Lippi said.
The manager, who led Juve to their 27th Scudetto on Saturday, has no real injury worries ahead of the game, but knows the enormity of the task.
"We will need heart but also a lot of brains. It will be important to have our fans, all 67,000 of them, on our side but the most important thing is to take charge.
"Real will play as they know how with the ball at their feet but we will make space for ourselves, in our way, as we did in the first game, indeed I hope a little bit more so," Lippi said.
TEAMS (PROBABLE): Juventus: G Buffon; L Thuram, I Tudor , P Montero, G Zambrotta; M Camoranesi, A Tacchinardi, E Davids, P Nedved; A Del Piero, D Trezeguet.
Real Madrid: I Casillas; M Salgado, F Hierro, I Helguera, F Pavon, R Carlos; L Figo, F Conceicao, Z Zidane; Guti , Raul
Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland)
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