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

W D L D W

4 - 1

Ajax

W W W D W

Competition: UEFA Champions League
Date: 4 December 2012
Game week: 6
Kick-off: 20:45

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 Fernández
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

Thursday 20 June

01:07	Villas-Boas eyes crucial period
00:14	Parma director: Cassano signing would be a gift to the city
00:09	Red Star coach steps down

Wednesday 19 June

23:48	Anzhi home stadium ban upheld
23:43	Newell´s Old Boys crowned Argentine champions
22:59	FIFA Confederations Cup: Brazil 2 Mexico 0
22:18	Shakhtar open to Mkhitaryan offers
20:13	Brazil 2-0 Mexico: Star man Neymar the match-winner again
19:52	Juventus complete Asamoah deal
18:57	Amorebieta relishing Fulham challenge
18:56	Britton: Laudrup issues disrupting squad
18:52	Vitesse set to unveil Bosz
18:49	Zorc: Dortmund displeased with Goetze timing
18:43	Sunderland complete Karlsson signing
18:37	Bowyer coy on Norwich´s Olsson interest
17:57	Bowen excited by Stoke challenge
17:39	Gaitan happy at Benfica, insists agent
17:35	Malaga want big money for Isco
17:33	Mourinho wary of Hull City test
17:25	Sagna committed to Arsenal
17:06	Kirchhoff relishing Bayern challenge
17:04	Lichaj signs on at Forest
16:57	Crystal Palace hope United will allow Zaha back
16:48	Puyol undergoes knee surgery
16:46	Schuster proud to take reins at Malaga
16:32	Carlton Cole spoilt for choice after West Ham release
16:24	Tolstykh: Capello will not join PSG
16:20	Lallana excited by Saints fixtures
16:18	Clarke pleased with Southampton opener
15:52	Prandelli urges Balotelli to change his ways
15:39	Van Geel: Immers to stay at Feyenoord
15:29	West Ham complete Carroll capture
15:28	Hearts placed in administration
15:10	Donati to hold Inter talks
14:53	Mertens close to Napoli move
14:34	Neville: Pre-season is the time to impress Moyes
14:10	Carragher: Liverpool will do business quickly
13:51	Palermo appoint Gattuso
13:49	Martinez: Let´s build on last season
13:37	Fabregas: Real would be foolish to spend £100 million on Bale
13:32	Sunderland make Vydra loan bid
12:29	Baldini appointed as Tottenham technical director
11:52	FA Cup final given end-of-season billing
10:47	Coyle´s Wigan tenure begins at Barnsley
10:16	Celtic to start with Ross County test
10:03	Pique advises Thiago to stay at Barcelona
10:00	Llambias resigns but Pardew vows to stay on
09:54	Lampard targets third World Cup
09:48	Zorc: De Bruyne is interested in Dortmund move
06:32	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: United States stay in charge
05:09	Neill, Schwarzer in the shop window
04:31	Osieck vindicated by super-sub Kennedy
04:06	Puyol set for further surgery
03:46	Ribery, Benzema trial adjourned
03:11	Bielsa, Santos talks fall through
02:55	Vilanova rues easy title run-in
02:36	Del Bosque defends Casillas´ inclusion
00:42	Spain-Tahiti Preview: La Roja seeking big win over Pacific islanders
00:19	Lens leaves PSV for Dynamo Kiev

Tuesday 18 June

23:43	FIFA Confederations Cup Preview: Spain v Tahiti
22:55	FIFA World Cup Qualifying Wrap: Australia, Iran, South Korea qualify
20:58	Carroll passes West Ham medical
20:01	Nigeria-Uruguay Preview: Super Eagles look to land knockout blow
13:08	Maher agent denies Ajax deal
13:05	Newcastle confirm Kinnear appointment
12:49	Taylor ´really happy´ with Kinnear return
12:44	Australia 1-0 Iraq: Kennedy books Brazil place
12:25	Clarke happy with Reid commitment
12:03	Bittencourt signs for Hannover
11:22	Van Dijk keen on Celtic move
11:15	De Gea sets the bar high
10:58	Confederations Cup Preview: Nigeria v Uruguay
10:58	Bacuna keen to get going at Villa
10:47	Hamburg a possibility for Santa Cruz
10:29	Rebelo: Protests will not harm Confederations Cup
10:27	Kinnear: We need another striker
07:48	Brazil-Mexico Preview: Selecao gunning for semi-final berth
03:41	Valcke: Brazil better for football tournaments
01:38	Tahiti trump Nigeria in celebration stakes

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