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Wednesday, 25 April 2012

Champions League semi-final: Live Report By Andrew Newby

1819 GMT: However, Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger has promised the Bavarians will score in Madrid as they bid to realise the dream of a home final: "The chance to reach the final in our own stadium is motivation enough for us, but their stadium, with so many spectators and emotions, is sure to influence the game. In the first 20 minutes, it will be very intense, that is when we have to hold our composure and not concede a goal." 1818 GMT: Real's Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo has spoken of the importance of the crowd at the Santiago Bernabeu: "I hope the Bernabeu gets the first goal. The crowd has to be ready from the minute we go on the pitch because we feel their influence. It's a big match and if we have the crowd's support we'll be full of confidence." 1814 GMT: Meanwhile, Bayern also won 2-1 on Saturday as Franck Ribery hit a 90th-minute winner at Werder Bremen, although coach Jupp Heynckes decided to rest a host of stars. 1812 GMT: Real Madrid come into the game on a high after Saturday's 2-1 Clasico victory over perennial rivals Barcelona which put Jose Mourinho's team within a whisker of securing the Spanish League title. 1810 GMT: Only around 400 Bayern fans have made the trip south to the Spanish capital but giant screens have been set up in Munich's bars and beer halls, some of which can accommodate up to 3,000 cheering fans, AFP's Stephane Ghazarian tells me. 1809 GMT: The players will find it hard to match the drama of last night's match at Nou Camp when a superb injury time equaliser by substitute Fernando Torres took 10-man Chelsea through to the final with a 3-2 aggregate victory in the other semi-final after hosts Barcelona had been 2-0 up on the night. 1800 GMT: Welcome to AFP's Live Report on the Champions League semi-final second leg between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium. The winner of tonight's match will take on Chelsea in the final at the Munich Arena on May 19. Bayern Munich won the first leg 2-1 in Germany thanks to goals by Franck Ribery and Mario Gomez but Mezut Ozil's away goal for the Spanish club will count strongly in their favour tonight.

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