Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro is hoping that playing behind closed doors against Manchester City could play a favour into Madrid’s path.
The pair will engage each other at the Etihad Stadium on Friday night in the Champions League with a place in the quarter-finals up for grabs.
The Spanish side trail the Premier League side by 1-2 after losing the first-leg at the Santiago Bernabeu back in February.
“Without fans it’s a different game,” Casemiro told Esporte Interactivo. “It will be a very good game and difficult for both sides, but we’re Real Madrid and we know we have a chance to go through.
“They won’t have their fans and that might favour us a little. But the players are the same, the coach is the same and we all know that the difficulty level will be the same because they’re a great team.”
The Brazil international was also quizzed on Gareth Bale, whose future at the club looks unclear after falling out with Zinedine Zidane. But Casemiro claims the Wales international is working hard despite being at the end of massive criticisms.
“He’s working,” the Brazilian said, “he knows it’s not the best time in his career, but he has our support, that of the coach and of the club.
“He’s very important for us, he can spring a surprise at any time and he’s already shown that. He’s a decisive player who scores goals in Champions League finals. We have to be honest and say that he’s not at his best, but when he is he’s incredible and in the top three in the world.
“I have a lot of love for him and that’s why I try to take care of him as much as I can.”
On a new contract with Los Blancos, Casemiro added: “That’s a difficult question… I don’t think now is the right moment to talk about it. We have to think about City and nothing else. The club’s in a delicate moment and when the right time comes along, my agent will discuss it”.
