Casillas believes Real can still make the final

Skipper Iker Casillas believes Real can still make the final, despite needing to overturn a 2-0 deficit against Barcelona tonight

Real Madrid captain Iker Casillas is confident that they can overturn their 2-0 defeat to Barcelona in the first-leg of their semi-final tie last week and progress to the final of the Champions League.


Iker Casillas

A brace from Lionel Messi in the second-half at the Santiago Bernabeu saw Pep Guardiola's team take a valuable two-goal away advantage to take into the return leg at Camp Nou.

However, Casillas remains optimistic of a turnaround in Barcelona tonight and is quoted by Madrid's official website as saying: "The names of the two teams that will play the final haven't been inscribed yet.

"You never know what may happen. We will play in Barcelona knowing a final is set to take place in a month and that any of the four teams still in the championship may be in it."

Real striker Gonzalo Higuain is as optimistic as his skipper. "We have a great chance in the Champions League and we will fight to the death. What matters is that we stick together to reach the final we are all so excited about.

"We're good enough to win the tie, so we will try our best. We must be proud and humble. The fact that Barca defeated us in Madrid means we can also defeat them in Barcelona," said the Argentine.

This is Madrid's first appearance in the semi-finals of Europe's premier club competition since 2002-03.
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Madrid last played in the Champions League final in 2002 when they won the competition for a record ninth time by beating Bayer Leverkusen 2-1 at Hampden Park in Glasgow.