Article

Modric: Real Madrid are Champions League favourites

5 December 2012 14:05

Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric believes his team are favourites to win this season's edition of the Champions League.

The Spanish champions had to settle for second spot in Group D to Borussia Dortmund, but the Croatia international nonetheless feels Real are the team to beat in the knockout stages.

"Whoever we draw in the next round it will be a hard tie, but if we play as we can then we will be favourites to advance," Modric told reporters.

"In fact, I think we are the favourites to win the Champions League."

The 27-year-old impressed in Real's 4-1 win over Ajax on Tuesday, and he is pleased with the way things are going for him at the Liga champions.

"I have been here three months now and I am used to the rest of the players and the coach's demands. I am happy with my progression," he said.

Modric has made 18 official appearances for Real so far this term, scoring once.

Info

Real Madrid

L D W W W

4 - 1

Ajax

W W W D W

Competition

Half-time: 2 - 0
Full-time: 4 - 1

Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid)
Attendance: 57245

Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo 13' (assist by K. Benzema)	1 - 0
José Callejón 28' (assist by L. Modrić)	2 - 0
Kaká 49' (assist by Cristiano Ronaldo)	3 - 0
	3 - 1	59' D. Boerrigter
José Callejón 88' (assist by Álvaro Morata)	4 - 1

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
13	Adán
11	Ricardo Carvalho	77'
5	Fábio Coentrão
24	Nacho
2	R. Varane
8	Kaká	49'
19	L. Modrić
6	S. Khedira
21	José Callejón	28' 88'
7	Cristiano Ronaldo	13' 82'
9	K. Benzema
Coach: José Mourinho

#	Player	Bookings
1	K. Vermeer
4	N. Moisander
17	D. Blind
3	T. Alderweireld
24	R. van Rhijn
5	C. Poulsen
10	S. de Jong
8	C. Eriksen
23	D. Hoesen
21	D. Boerrigter	59'
39	V. Fischer
Coach: F. de Boer

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
3	Pepe for Fábio Coentrão 23'
34	José Rodríguez for Kaká 72'
29	Álvaro Morata for K. Benzema 80'
10	M. Özil
23	D. Cheryshev
25	Jesús Collado
22	Á. di María

#	Player	Bookings
20	L. Schöne for C. Poulsen 40'
6	E. Enoh for D. Hoesen 77'
19	T. Sana for V. Fischer 77'
22	J. Cillessen
27	J. Lukoki
33	J. Veltman
35	M. Dijks

Tuesday 21 May

19:25	West Ham sign Rat
19:10	McAuley eager to keep improving
18:43	Ribery keen to end career at Bayern
18:36	Reina plays down Barcelona speculation
18:20	De Boer agrees new Ajax deal
18:13	Sheffield United make McCall move
18:11	Heldt: Schalke interested in Santana
18:06	Messi urges Barcelona not to change
17:41	Manchester City agree MLS club deal with New York Yankees
16:57	Cech confident Chelsea will attract big names
16:48	Blackman urges Reading to be more ruthless
16:47	Montanier leaves Sociedad for Rennes
15:38	Rodgers pleased with Coutinho impact
15:30	Leonardo: Ibrahimovic and Silva to stay
15:08	Carroll thanks West Hams fans after loan spell
14:31	De Laurentiis confirms Dzeko interest
14:16	Wilshere dreams of England captaincy
14:14	Mourinho a ´scourge´ on Spanish football
14:02	Moratti will not rush decision on Stramaccioni´s future
13:43	Klopp warns Dortmund stars about leaving
12:44	Schneiderlin backs Southampton to improve
12:29	Podolski delighted with fourth spot
12:12	Sigurdsson targets improvement at Tottenham
11:17	Di Canio criticised by PFA chief
10:50	Steaua owner Becali jailed for three years
10:00	Hummels pledges future to Dortmund
09:46	Retiring Ferguson ´overwhelmed´ by recognition
09:31	J.League Preview: Top three expected to win
06:34	Argentine Primera Division Wrap: Tigre earn point at Lanus
06:21	Galtier wants Ancelotti to stay
06:09	Pique, Barca playing for record haul
04:41	Gazidis, Arsenal target silverware
03:17	Juan plots Inter redemption
03:08	Gibbs wants to build on strong finish
02:58	Racism will not drive out Drogba
02:28	Martinez coy on Wigan future
02:17	Fernandinho still seeking City switch
02:01	Roberto Carlos set to coach Sivasspor
00:13	Ferguson named LMA Manager of the Year

Monday 20 May

21:07	Inter, Roma fined for racist abuse
20:15	Mourinho in quotes
20:14	Real Madrid part company with Mourinho
20:03	Rodwell called up by England
19:40	Messi keen on Barca stay
18:39	Atletico Madrid ready to sell Falcao
18:35	Abbiati extends Milan deal
18:32	Terry misses Chelsea tour
18:30	Schwarzer unaware of new contract offer from Fulham
18:19	O´Brien proud of West Ham finish
17:34	Doncaster appoint Dickov as manager
17:07	Hearts avoid SPL points deduction
16:53	Galliani to hold talks with Allegri
16:52	Hill blasts Hughes´ QPR signings
16:36	Lampard: I have not performed at World Cups
16:20	Kacaniklic targets first-team place
16:13	Jardim replaces Ferreira at Sporting Lisbon
16:10	Indonesia fined for crowd trouble
15:57	Mignolet not worried about speculation
15:42	Neville uncertain on future
15:07	Hummels could make Champions League final
15:01	Napoli stars hail departing Mazzarri
14:44	Juninho: Donovan gets advantage with referees
14:32	Harper hails ´incredible´ reception
14:27	Giovinco not leaving Juve
14:21	Lambert ´proud´ of top-flight return
14:21	Torres targets improvement
14:06	Fernandinho wants to join Manchester City
13:49	Galliani relieved with Champions League spot
13:33	Stramaccioni bemoans injury-hit season
13:19	Lewandowski focused on Wembley
12:57	Reading owner confirms Pogrebnyak clause
12:51	Owen thanks Stoke for ´great experience´
12:36	Rizzoli to take charge of UEFA Champions League final
12:18	Raheem Sterling case dismissed
12:14	Schuerrle expects Leverkusen exit
12:03	Howson delighted with Norwich progress
11:53	Milan players targeted in Florence
11:32	Lukaku: Fans inspired my performances
11:24	Williams dismisses Arsenal links
10:52	Scolari: Neymar will be a Barcelona idol
10:45	David Luiz praises ´amazing´ Benitez
10:22	Walcott wants title tilt next term
10:12	Carragher´s final Liverpool appearance full of emotion
10:05	Carrick: United must move on from Ferguson
09:56	Villas-Boas confident Bale with stay at Tottenham
09:13	AFC Champions League Preview: Guangzhou eye last eight
08:26	Ecuador Primera A Wrap: Nahuelpan class buoys Barcelona
07:58	Liga MX Wrap: America, Cruz Azul reach final
07:53	MLS Wrap: Johnson does Dallas, Salt Lake sink Chivas
07:40	Peru Primera Division Wrap: Sporting Cristal shine on top
07:09	Paraguay Division Profesional Wrap: Melgarejo on a winner
06:48	Chile Primera Division Wrap: Top two win again
06:20	Colombia Primera A Wrap: Tolima strike late to go top
05:56	Costa Rica Primera Division: Cartagines v Herediano
05:24	Cahill in top form in New York
04:45	Henry: Galaxy were better than New York
04:35	Fulham plan Schwarzer solution talks
04:13	Vilanova staying, says Roura
04:05	Merrick joins Phoenix as coach
03:53	Juric signs with A-League´s Wanderers
03:14	Mazzarri leaves second-placed Napoli
03:03	Campeonato Paulista: Santos 1 Corinthians 1 (3-2 agg)
00:47	La Liga Wrap: Barcelona, Deportivo notch victories
00:40	Allegri refuses to be drawn on talk of future
00:32	Ibrahimovic, Ancelotti land Ligue 1 honours
00:09	Primeira Liga Wrap: Porto confirm title, Moreirense relegated

Sunday 19 May

23:48	Redknapp laments squad quality
23:46	Pochettino not setting goals yet
23:42	Clarke believes West Brom could have snatched victory against United
23:41	Laudrup rues prolifcacy in Fulham defeat
23:37	Serie A: Siena 1 Milan 2
23:31	Hernandez: Ferguson has changed world football
23:28	Benitez happy with Chelsea spell
23:21	Moyes bemoans wasted chances
23:16	Di Canio´s anger at Sunderland´s ill-discipline
23:06	La Liga: Barcelona 2 Real Valladolid 1
23:03	Serie A: Inter 2 Udinese 5
22:43	Porto clinch Portuguese crown
22:35	Jol pleased to end ´horrendous´ run
22:24	Pardew: We owe debt to fans
22:21	Rodgers: Replacing Carragher difficult
22:03	Turkish Super Lig Wrap: Galatasaray win, Besiktas beaten
21:59	Wenger praises Arsenal belief
21:41	Pulis: Club will deal with pig´s head incident
21:41	Players not to blame after ´emotional´ week, says Kidd
21:33	Martinez refuses to be drawn on future
21:29	Hughton pleased with ´outstanding´ Norwich
21:06	Eredivisie Wrap: Twente, Utrecht advance
20:53	Lambert praises Aston Villa fans
19:52	Russian Premier League Wrap: CSKA Moscow win title, Zenit stay second
19:48	Ancelotti asks to leave PSG
19:22	Premier League: West Ham 4 Reading 2
19:18	Premier League: Swansea 0 Fulham 3
19:16	Premier League: Chelsea 2 Everton 1
19:14	Premier League: Tottenham 1 Sunderland 0
19:13	Premier League: West Brom 5 Manchester United 5
19:05	Premier League: Manchester City 2 Norwich 3
19:03	Premier League: Wigan 2 Aston Villa 2
19:01	Premier League: Newcastle 0 Arsenal 1
19:00	Premier League: Southampton 1 Stoke 1
18:58	Premier League: Liverpool 1 QPR 0
17:31	Nasri denies PSG rumours
16:30	English League One: Brentford 1 Yeovil 2
16:13	Diego confirms Atletico interest
14:07	Leonardo: PSG honoured to have Beckham
13:17	Conte plays down Tevez talks
13:10	Jones apologises to Whelan over incident
12:51	Benitez hails Torres return to form
12:41	Ashley ´offers incentive´ for Magpies win
12:09	CSL Wrap: Guangzhou Evergrande, Shandong Luneng win again
11:56	K-League Wrap: Ulsan upset Pohang
04:59	Badstuber suffers injury blow
04:43	Ranieri eyes Falcao swoop
04:22	Carragher open to coaching role
04:07	Stramaccioni resigned to Inter fate
03:58	Clichy extends City stay
03:39	Vilanova not involved in Neymar talks
03:19	Neymar future up in the air
03:17	Hodgson wants players released
03:00	Conte has big plans for Juve
02:32	UAE Pro-League Wrap: Al Jazira go third, Al Ain lose
01:50	Emotional Beckham thanks PSG
01:27	Home-town club farewells Heynckes in style
00:26	La Liga Wrap: Valencia, Sociedad notch vital wins

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