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Before Xabi Alonso's Bayern Munich beat Benfica 1-0 in the Champions League he sat down with the Spanish paper AS. The conversation steered towards Real Madrid and Xabi had nothing but high praise for his former club. He thinks that Real Madrid have a good chance at lifting another Champions League Trophy.
"Everything can change in the Champions League. The title is a massive priority for the club and the league title is a bridge too far for them. Real Madrid with the squad they have can beat another team over two legs. They are a team capable of creating numerous occasions to score in any game and they are certainly one of my favorites to win the trophy".
On Bayern Munich's chances in the Champions League:
"When we have the full squad available we are a better unit than last season. The final few months of last season were terrible for us and we were unable to compete at the level expected of us by the fans and the coach [Guardiola]".
And with this being AS and Xabi being a former player, they had to ask about Barcelona.
"I wouldn't say they have an advantage but they are playing well and at the same level they were last season when they won the title"
He is truly one of my favorite Madrid players. And he's also a fellow ginger. So he's got that going for him.