Man Utd to be tested by European legend
Given that he turns 34 in a few months time, it's impossible to deny that Raul is coming to the end of his career, but in many ways, this season has been one of the Spanish striker's best yet.
Despite consistently delivering for Real Madrid in the Champions League, the Atletico Madrid academy product always had plenty of detractors denying that he was worthy of the opportunities he received and pointing out that any forward could flourish with the service he received.
So the fact that, having been deemed surplus to requirements in the Spanish capital, Raul made the risky decision to head to the Bundesliga with Schalke - determined to remain at Europe's top table - and has performed better than anybody was expecting, has made his star shine brighter than ever.
The 33-year-old has netted five times in the current Champions League campaign, with three of those goals coming in the knockout rounds, so Schalke's latest opponents Manchester United won't be underestimating a player that they allegedly enquired about signing last summer.
Raul has scored four times in three appearances against Sir Alex Ferguson's team in this competition and is [3.35] to haunt them again in the first leg of their semi-final clash in Gelsenkirchen, as he tries to inspire his side through to a potential final with Real Madrid and the fans that still idolise him.
The main goal threat for the visitors is considered to be Wayne Rooney at [3.0], having fired in the away leg of their quarter-final collision with Chelsea and in the second minute of their last trip to Germany against Bayern Munich last year.
Weekend hero Javier Hernandez is available to back at [3.7] to add to his 18 strikes in 11 starts, the surprisingly lengthy odds presumably being a consequence of the uncertainty as to whether he will be on the pitch from kick-off, or begin the match on the bench.
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Published: 26 Apr 2011
AUSTINE LAMBARTH (April 26, 2011 3:19 PM) said:
pls sir dt start nani in todays game let him come from beanch pls