Champions League: De Boer wants first leg lead

Barcelona defender Frank De Boer has called on his side to establish a lead in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

Real have not beaten the Catalan giants at the Nou Camp since 1983, and the Dutchman feels Barca must make home advantage count tomorrow if they are to progress to the final in May.

He said: ‘‘We’re always favourites in the Nou Camp and I’m confident we’ll do as well here as we have in recent years.

‘‘Tomorrow is very important for us. We need a good result for the Bernabeu. I’m not scared about going there with a 1-0 or a 2-1 lead. I’d be happy with 1-0, but happier with 2-0 or 3-0.’’

De Boer thinks Madrid will adopt a cautious approach for the match, looking to win the tie at the Bernabeu next week.

He added: ‘‘Madrid always respect us here. In the league they played with one striker and packed the midfield. It’s normal they have some respect.’’

Barca will be without the services of Sergi, Carles Puyol, Rivaldo and Patrik Andersson for the clash, but De Boer is confident the squad can cope without the quartet.

He added: ‘‘Injures happen. It’s a long season and it happens in a club like Barca where you play 70 games a season. We have a big squad so someone else can step in who has almost the same quality.

Coach Carles Rexach is also adamant his side can win despite the injuries, but concedes the loss of Brazilian playmaker Rivaldo is a blow.

He said: ‘‘Within a squad, there are always three or four players with extra importance. Madrid have Zidane, Raul and Figo and it’s the same for us with Rivaldo.

‘‘He has played games without being 100%. However, when he plays the other team take him into account.’’

Nevertheless, Rexach wants his players to take control of the tie before the difficult return leg in the capital, and would settle for a 1-0 lead.

‘‘Sometimes a 1-0 is similar to a 3-1. An away goal can complicate things for you. But we have to look for goals.

‘‘There is no doubt tomorrow isn’t definitive, but we want to get the game under control at home because it’s hard in Madrid’s ground.

‘‘Everyone is super-concentrated on the game and now we are two games from the final. If we don’t make mistakes, we can win the competition.’’