Carlo can count on vital duo
CARLO Ancelotti has confirmed Vinicius Jr and Toni Kroos will face Chelsea in the Champions League tomorrow, despite missing Real Madrid’s 2-0 win at Cadiz.
Both players missed out due to minor injuries as second-half goals from Nacho and Marco Asensio secured the victory and brought down the gap on Barcelona to 11 points, with the Catalans drawing 0-0 at Getafe.
The European champions are 2-0 up going to Stamford Bridge this midweek after last Wednesday’s first leg in the Spanish capital.
Meanwhile, Thomas Tuchel criticised his Bayern Munich side after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Hoffenheim ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League return with Manchester City at the Allianz Arena.
Tuchel said: “It is a setback in terms of performance and our missing conviction and self-confidence.”
Bayern remain two points clear at the top of the Bundesliga, however, after Borussia Dortmund conceded a last-gasp equaliser to draw 3-3 at Stuttgart.
Deficit
Napoli host AC Milan tomorrow looking to overturn a one-goal deficit from last week and the runaway Serie A leaders and champions-elect drew 0-0 at home to Verona at the weekend to see their lead at the top trimmed to 14 points.
Stefano Pioli’s champions AC, meanwhile, drew 1-1 at Bologna on Saturday.
Inter Milan are also taking an advantage into their Champions League quarterfinal second leg, with
Benfica on Wednesday, but they were beaten 1-0 at home to Monza in league action at the weekend.
Benfica, meanwhile, who are two goals behind ahead of their trip to San Siro, lost 1-0 at Chaves, their second successive league defeat, and their advantage in the standings over Porto is now down to four points.