Madrid season on line against Pogba-boosted Juve

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AFP Madrid
Last Updated : May 12 2015 | 9:28 AM IST
Real Madrid must overcome a 2-1 first-leg deficit to keep their season alive when a Juventus side boosted by the return of Paul Pogba visit the Santiago Bernabeu in the return of their Champions League semi-final tomorrow.
Los Blancos' La Liga title hopes are all but over despite coming from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Valencia on Saturday as Barcelona moved four points clear at the top with just two games remaining.
However, Carlo Ancelotti's men recovered from exactly the same result against Valencia that proved an almost fatal blow to their title hopes at the same stage last season to go on and win the club's 10th European Cup in Lisbon a few weeks later.
Defensive lapses have cost Madrid in recent weeks as they have conceded twice in four of their last five matches and right-back Dani Carvajal insists they can't go for a clinical Juventus side from the off and risk being caught on the counter-attack.
"We need to win, that is fundamental. However, above all, we need to have a cool head, be patient and not go crazy," he told the club's website.
"The game is 90 minutes long and we need to make that seem like a long time for Juventus and make them suffer without the ball."
Carvajal gave away the penalty, converted by Carlos Tevez, at the end of a counter-attack which gave the Italian champions the advantage in last week's first leg.
And he believes Madrid will not be so generous in front of a packed house at the Bernabeu.
"They created danger from us giving the ball away or our errors. I think if we stay calm, have patience, move them around, then we will win the game.
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First Published: May 12 2015 | 9:28 AM IST

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