Article

Sneijder ready for ´emotional´ Real return

16 March 2013 13:52

Galatasaray midfielder Wesley Sneijder is eagerly anticipating the Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid.

The Netherlands international wore the Real jersey from 2007 to 2009 before leaving the club for Inter Milan, and he still has fond memories of his time at the Santiago Bernabeu.

"This is a tough draw, but it's a great one on an emotional level," Sneijder told De Telegraaf.

"I was fortunate enough to win the Liga title in my first season with Real Madrid, and I still have warm feelings for Jose Mourinho, with whom I'm still in regular touch.

"Mourinho is very important to me, because I won the Champions League thanks to him.

"Real Madrid are obviously the favourites, but we will try to make life as difficult as possible for them. We might be able to spring a surprise."

The first leg of the quarter-final between Gala and Real takes place at the Santiago Bernabeu on April 3.

Info

Real Madrid

L D W W W

3 - 0

Galatasaray

W L W W W

Competition

Half-time: 2 - 0
Full-time: 3 - 0

On aggregate: 5 - 3

Venue: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (Madrid)
Attendance: 76462

Goals

Cristiano Ronaldo 9' (assist by M. Özil)	1 - 0
K. Benzema 29' (assist by M. Essien)	2 - 0
G. Higuaín 73' (assist by Xabi Alonso)	3 - 0

Lineups

#	Player	Bookings
41	Diego López
4	Sergio Ramos	90'
5	Fábio Coentrão
2	R. Varane
14	Xabi Alonso	84'
15	M. Essien	84'
10	M. Özil
6	S. Khedira
22	Á. di María
7	Cristiano Ronaldo	9'
9	K. Benzema	29'
Coach: José Mourinho

#	Player	Bookings
25	F. Muslera
27	E. Eboué
26	S. Kaya
13	D. Nounkeu	41'
14	W. Sneijder
4	Hamit Altıntop
10	Felipe Melo	71'
11	Riera
8	S. İnan
12	D. Drogba	74'
17	B. Yılmaz	78'
Coach: F. Terim

Substitutes

#	Player	Bookings
20	G. Higuaín for K. Benzema 65'	73'
19	L. Modrić for M. Özil 80'	90+2'
3	Pepe for Á. di María 86'
8	Kaká
12	Marcelo
13	Adán
17	Arbeloa

#	Player	Bookings
5	G. Zan for W. Sneijder 46'
19	U. Bulut for Hamit Altıntop 78'
53	N. Amrabat for Riera 83'
22	H. Balta
35	Y. Kurtuluş
55	S. Sarıoğlu
67	E. Iscan

Wednesday 22 May

01:22

Droll: Dortmund are not underdogs

Tuesday 21 May

23:08	AFC Champions League Wrap: Seoul, Buriram, Al Ahli, Al Shabab advance
22:27	Pulis leaves Stoke
21:08	Sanogo relishing Arsenal move
21:05	Galtier signs extension at Saint-Etienne
20:32	Baines explains appearance record
20:28	Pulis future in doubt amid exit rumours
20:12	Swansea coach Tucker praises goalkeepers
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

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