Real Madrid heavyweights returning for PSG clash

Real Madrid coach Rafa Benitez has been relying on second-string players to get the club through a mini injury crisis, but should have several of his heavyweights back when Paris St Germain visit in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Playmaker James Rodriguez, striker Karim Benzema and captain and centre back Sergio Ramos all look likely to be fit for the clash at the Bernabeu as the record 10-times winners look to pull clear of PSG at the top of Group A.

Midfielder Luka Modric may not be available after he was taken off at halftime in Saturday’s 3-1 La Liga win at home to Las Palmas with a sore hip, while it is unclear when forward Gareth Bale might return from a calf injury.

With a string of regulars missing in recent weeks, Benitez has deployed youngsters like Casemiro, Jese, Lucas Vazquez and Nacho — who all graduated from Real’s B team — to keep their season ticking over.

Real remain unbeaten in La Liga and are joint top with champions Barcelona on 24 points after 10 matches. The goal they conceded to Las Palmas on Saturday — a header at a corner — was the first they conceded at home this season.

“I told the players that these are the games they have to make the most of,” Benitez said.

“They are collecting points for us and they are helping us maintain our competitiveness so the team can keep growing.”

PSG coach Laurent Blanc was pleased to come through Friday’s Ligue 1 match at Rennes with a 1-0 win thanks to a goal from former Real midfielder Angel Di Maria and without sustaining any injuries to key players.

Blanc, whose side are also unbeaten this term, has been without centre back David Luiz after he sustained a knee injury on duty with Brazil last month.

Real and PSG drew 0-0 at the Parc des Princes last month in their first competitive game in more than 20 years and are tied on seven points from three of six matches.

A win for either side would earn a place in the last 16 should Malmo lose at Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.

Manchester City ready

Sevilla coach Unai Emery has admitted his side have no chance of winning the Champions League, and says their priority is to perform well in La Liga so they can secure a lucrative berth in the competition again for next season.

As the Europa League holders prepare to host Manchester City on Tuesday, Emery said Sevilla must focus on improving their domestic form after they suffered another setback in Saturday’s 2-1 defeat at Villarreal which left them in ninth after 10 matches.

The Andalusian club qualified for the Champions League after winning a second consecutive Europa League crown last term and are third in Group D on three points after going down 2-1 at City last month.

Managed by former Villarreal, Real Madrid and Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini, City are second on six points, a point behind leaders Juventus, and will qualify for the last 16 with two games to spare if they beat Sevilla and the Italian champions win at Borussia Moenchengladbach.

“The Champions League is a very attractive goal but if we don’t feed ourselves every day in La Liga we will go hungry,” Emery told a news conference after the defeat at Villarreal.

“I am thinking about what gives us our daily bread and that is the domestic league,” he added.

“The Champions League is something to be enjoyed but it is here [in La Liga] that we have to win, that is our reality.

“We are not going to win the Champions League, La Liga is what conditions our present and future.”

City warmed up for the match at the Sanchez Pizjuan with a 2-1 Premier League success at home to Norwich City on Saturday which kept them top ahead of Arsenal on goal difference.

Chilean Pellegrini, who is in his third season in charge at City, has a mixed record against Emery from his time in Spain, winning four, drawing two and losing three.

His record against Sevilla was poor, winning only five of 19 matches and losing nine.

Emery will be without Kevin Gameiro for City’s visit after the French forward was forced off with a muscle injury on Saturday.

He is likely to be replaced up front by former Spain striker Fernando Llorente, who has yet to spark after joining from Juve in the close season.

Dry spell

With two goals in 10 Premier League games, 

Wayne Rooney’s struggles are not just a source of glee for opposing fans. Even the local police are ridiculing the Manchester United striker.

“Missing Person”, Manchester police wrote on one of its Twitter accounts over the weekend. “Wayne Rooney last seen in the Trafford area wearing a red shirt, any sightings please inform colleagues.”

The misfiring Rooney is emblematic of United’s lack of goal threat through three consecutive drab 0-0 draws. Perhaps age is catching up with the 30-year-old captain, but he remains United’s highest paid player.

The only game when Rooney has truly thrived this season was against a weak Bruges, scoring a hat trick in the Champions League play-offs. It should prove far tougher on Tuesday at Old Trafford against CSKA Moscow after Rooney hit the target only twice in the Russian capital in last month’s 1-1 draw. Anthony Martial scored United’s goal that night and the team has failed to find the net in 325 minutes — and counting — since then.

No wonder the fans have taken to chanting “We’re Man United, we want to attack.”

“They can sing that but in the next game maybe they shall sing in another way,” United manager Louis van Gaal said.

At Crystal Palace on Saturday, Rooney managed only one shot on goal.

“We weren’t able to create good chances,” United midfielder Juan Mata said. “We need to get better in that aspect of the game because I think we have the players to do that.”

It’s tight in Group B. Wolfsburg has a two-point lead over United and CSKA, and PSV Eindhoven is a point further back in fourth place.