Ramos backs Real to go one better than Barca

The Real Madrid captain, Sergio Ramos, believes winning the Champions League would emulate Barcelona’s domestic double.

Barca wrestled the La Liga title back from Real on Sunday with four games to spare, having already lifted the Copa del Rey.

Ramos and his team-mates have endured a difficult league season, although they have the chance to make amends with another European success.

The Madrid club are aiming for a fourth Champions League title in five seasons and, ahead of tonight’s semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, Spain defender Ramos said he believes that achievement would be superior to Barca’s.

“Barca have had a great year, they have won two titles; winning the cup has merit and the league even more,” said Ramos of his club’s great rivals.

“Winning the Champions League is a positive that is equivalent to those two or even more. For me it would be two great seasons, theirs and ours.”

Real, winners of the competition in 2014, 2016 and 2017, are firm favourites to make the Kiev final having won 2-1 in Germany last week.

In addition to the damaging firstleg defeat, Bundesliga champions Bayern also lost key men Jerome Boateng and Arjen Robben to injury. Vice-captain Thomas Muller said: “Now others have to jump in the breach and get ready.”