Article

Karanka: Europe priority for Real

10 February 2013 04:03

Real Madrid assistant coach Aitor Karanka said the Champions League is the club's top priority as they take on Manchester United on Tuesday.

Karanka's side thumped Sevilla 4-1 on Saturday - powered by a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick - and he still insisted they would play to win in La Liga despite the 13-point gap to league-leaders Barcelona.

"We have shown we still want to win every league game," Karanka told reporters after the match.

"However, the Champions League takes centre stage now."

The first leg of Real Madrid's last-16 tie will be at Old Trafford and defender Pepe allayed any fears of Ronaldo's substitution with 20 minutes to go, saying the Portuguese superstar's energy was being preserved for the marquee match-up.

"Ronaldo's fine. He works hard and has to play. He deserves it (the hat-trick)," Pepe said.

"The team works hard every day. Today, we went all out. Every game is special, but on Wednesday we will have to keep (our form) up."

The centre-back was deployed as an unorthodox central midfielder on the night in the wake of Gonzalo Higuain's sending off, and he confirmed his readiness to perform the role again in mid-week.

"I'm happy to be back, and do not think playing in midfield against Sevilla to be an experiment," he said.

Info

Real Madrid

L D W W W

1 - 1

Manchester United

W L D W D

Competition

Half-time: 1 - 1
Full-time: 1 - 1

On aggregate: 3 - 2

Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid)
Attendance: 79429

Goals

	0 - 1	20' D. Welbeck (assist by W. Rooney)
Cristiano Ronaldo 30' (assist by Á. di María)	1 - 1

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
41	Diego López
4	Sergio Ramos
17	Arbeloa
5	Fábio Coentrão
2	R. Varane
14	Xabi Alonso
10	M. Özil
6	S. Khedira
22	Á. di María
7	Cristiano Ronaldo	30'
9	K. Benzema
Coach: José Mourinho

#	Player	Bookings
1	De Gea
5	R. Ferdinand
3	P. Evra
6	J. Evans
2	Rafael	40'
4	P. Jones
16	M. Carrick
20	R. van Persie	5'
10	W. Rooney
26	S. Kagawa
19	D. Welbeck	20'
Coach: A. Ferguson

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
20	G. Higuaín for K. Benzema 60'
19	L. Modrić for Á. di María 75'
3	Pepe for Xabi Alonso 84'
8	Kaká
11	Ricardo Carvalho
13	Adán
15	M. Essien

#	Player	Bookings
11	R. Giggs for S. Kagawa 64'
7	A. Valencia for D. Welbeck 73'	88'
8	Anderson for W. Rooney 84'
12	C. Smalling
13	A. Lindegaard
14	J. Hernández
23	T. Cleverley

Sunday 19 May

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 Shabab stay in running
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

Saturday 18 May

23:50	Allegri: Players should not have to tackle racism
23:11	Ligue 1: Paris Saint-Germain 3 Brest 1
22:57	Serie A: Sampdoria 3 Juventus 2
20:26	Thai Super League Wrap: Muangthong extend their lead at the top
19:15	Vilanova to have more cancer treatment
19:13	SPL Wrap: Hibernian finish with a win
19:05	Mazzarri coy over Napoli future
19:04	Bundesliga Wrap: Hoffenheim make miracle escape
17:59	Parkinson: Bradford fans deserve promotion
17:47	Lambert wants highest possible league finish
17:31	Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund 1 Hoffenheim 2
17:27	Celtic´s Wilson pleads for longer break
17:21	Bundesliga: Borussia Monchengladbach 3 Bayern Munich 4
17:11	McArthur wants Wigan to end on a high
17:05	Cortese to remain executive chairman at Southampton
16:31	English League Two: Northampton Town 0 Bradford City 3
16:18	Rodgers praises Carroll´s West Ham form
16:15	Brighton investigate dressing room incident
16:14	Pardew admits to second season struggle
15:59	Laudrup keen on bringing in Michu assistance
14:43	Hughton insists Holt will stay put
14:34	Jol outlines summer transfer plans
14:08	Colback eyeing Tottenham shock
13:07	Villas-Boas would welcome technical director
13:01	Tiote: Newcastle have not been good enough
12:25	Neville proud to win over Everton fans
12:08	Mancini sacking is ´amazing´, says Ferguson
11:31	Benitez coy on lap of honour
11:08	Wenger: Bayern win was turning point
05:28	Liga MX Wrap: Monterrey share spoils with America
02:47	Simeone: We no longer fear Real Madrid
02:31	Mourinho laments ´horror season´
00:26	Copa del Rey: Real Madrid 1 Atletico Madrid 2 (AET)

Friday 17 May

23:49	Stoke to investigate pig´s head incident
22:42	Beckham could still have PSG role
21:02	Lennon fears Hearts relegation
20:52	Dante out to defeat Gladbach
20:35	Second year of Malaga ban waived
19:45	Villas-Boas confident of keeping Bale
19:13	Balotelli warned against walk-off protest
18:58	Premier League reveal third-place play-off plans
18:43	Navas ´excited´ by Manchester City link
18:39	Ancelotti denies Real contact
18:08	DIS confirm Neymar to Barcelona talks
18:04	Serie A Preview: Siena v Milan
17:48	Premier League Preview: Wigan v Aston Villa
17:37	Bassong crowned Norwich´s player of the season
17:28	Laudrup: Finishing eighth would be like winning the title
17:18	Premier League Preview: Southampton v Stoke City
17:12	Rodgers wants lengthy Liverpool stay
16:57	De Vrij pens new Feyenoord deal
16:43	Bale named Barclays Player of the Year
16:36	Ward-Prowse: I´ll keep improving
16:28	Jol calls for strong finish
16:28	Del Bosque: Casillas has my support
16:15	Coloccini: French recruits will blossom with time
16:04	Clarke has learned a lot in first year at West Brom
15:24	Di Canio backs Fletcher to shine
15:19	Icardi flattered by Inter rumours
14:48	Walters aiming to end season on a goalscoring high
14:26	Premier League Preview: Manchester City v Norwich
14:24	La Liga Preview: Barcelona v Valladolid
14:09	Lambert keen to secure future of Christian Benteke
13:29	Pirlo hoping for Juventus improvement
13:27	Roberts criticises new FA racism ruling
13:25	Serie A Preview: Inter Milan v Udinese
13:19	Serie A Preview: Sampdoria v Juventus
13:16	Premier League Preview: Swansea v Fulham
13:09	Moyes praises Everton squad
13:04	MLS stars pay tribute to retiring Beckham
12:50	Villas-Boas still battling for fourth place
12:35	League One play-off final Preview: Yeovil meet Brentford at Wembley
12:23	Ferguson raring to go in his final Manchester United match
11:59	Premier League Preview: West Ham v Reading
11:48	Premier League preview: West Brom v Manchester United
11:40	Wenger: Destiny in our own hands
11:28	Premier League Preview: Newcastle v Arsenal
11:19	Podolski focused on UEFA Champions League qualification
11:13	McManaman ruled out for three months
11:11	Premier League Preview: Tottenham v Sunderland
11:03	Premier League Preview: Liverpool v QPR
10:42	Manchester City appoint Patrick Vieira as new Head of Elite Development Squad
10:37	Lampard: Return of Mourinho would be a huge lift
10:35	Cesar does not expect QPR stay
09:07	Ligue 1 Preview: Top versus bottom, Lyon aim for Europe
08:34	Lewandowski coy on next move
05:39	Copa Libertadores Wrap: Olimpia, Santa Fe progress
04:33	Loew rues missing stars
03:48	Deschamps talks up Nasri recall
03:00	Simeone: Atletico happy to be Copa underdogs
01:52	Beckham retirement shocks May
01:45	Stramaccioni focused on Udinese
01:07	Keller calls for late Schalke surge

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