Real Madrid add to front line ahead of Euro push

Real Madrid have signed Manchester City forward Emmanuel Adebayor on a loan deal until the end of the season. Coach Jose Mourinho had looked short of attacking options after the loss of Argentinean Gonzalo Higuain, who looks set to miss the remainder of the season through injury.

Adebayor had fallen out of favour at Manchester City after the arrivals of Edin Dzeko, Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez, and has now secured a move away from the City of Manchester stadium. Crucially the Togolese born striker is eligible to play in the Champions League game against Lyon next month and will likely play a key role after the loss of Higuain.

With Karim Benzema seemingly unlikely to feature in Mourinho’s plans, Adebayor will be a physical presence to lead a team lacking on strength.

While Christiano Ronaldo bears the burden of scoring most of the sides goals, the Portuguese star is at his best when in a wide role, and the arrival of Adebayor will allow the former Manchester United man to do what he does best in wide positions. Ironically it was Benzema who scored as Real Madrid took a 1-0 advantage from the first leg in the Copa Del Rey Semi-final against Sevilla. Having now scored twice in as many games the Frenchman may yet force himself into the plans of his manager ahead of the clash against his former club next month.

Having emerged from a difficult group containing AC Milan, Ajax and Auxerre, Real Madrid will believe they can go all the way and hold the trophy aloft at Wembley in May. In Lyon they face a tough side with a good record in the Champions League; The French side will look to repeat their humbling of the Spanish giants in the final 16 last year on their way to the Semi-Finals of the competition, while Mourinho will be hoping to guide his side to the Quarter Finals for the first time since 2003/4. The Spanish based club have emerged as favourites to win the tie amongst football betting punters. With Adebayor in the side, Madrid will look to add some muscle to their guile and add to their historic past in the competition. While football betting will see the side as one of the favourite, league rivals Barcelona will likely prove to be an obstacle on their path to the final.

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