Raul returns as Real seek 13th final

Raul, who could be partnered by Ronaldo if the Brazilian recovers from a calf injury in time, will be looking to put nine times European champions Real into a record 13th final.

But despite their 2-1 advantage from the first leg, the Spaniards will face a tough challenge from the Italian champions.

Even without their main striker, who was recovering from an appendix operation, Real looked dangerous in attack in Madrid last week.

Defender Michel Salgado believes the return of Raul, who has scored a record 43 goals in the Champions League, is vital to the team.

"If Raul wasn't to play we would be missing the soul of the team," he told Radio Marca, "He is the player who really strikes fear into our opponents and the one who produces the goods when it counts."

Real will be without French midfielder Claude Makelele, who picked up a thigh injury in the disappointing 0-0 draw with Recreativo Huelva on Saturday that cost Real top spot in the Spanish league.

Injury scares over midfielders Luis Figo and former Juve favourite Zinedine Zidane have eased and Vicente del Bosque still has plenty of options as he juggles his midfield in the absence of the hard working Makelele.

TRIO RETURN

Juve coach Marcello Lippi's choices are also eased by the return of a trio of key players who missed the first leg through suspension.

Midfielders Alessio Tacchinardi and Edgar Davids are available again

Just as importantly, tough Uruguayan defender Paolo Montero is also back from suspension although he is robbed of his regular partner, the experienced Ciro Ferrara who is suspended.

Ferrara, who picked up the seventh Italian title of his career on Saturday as Juve retained the 'scudetto' with a 2-2 draw against Perugia on Saturday will be replaced in the heart of defence by either right-back Lilian Thuram, who has played centrally on scores of occassions for France, or by Croatian utility man Igor Tudor.

Another central defender, Mark Iuliano, whose first leg tackle resulted in Ronaldo's injury, misses the game through suspension.

Having picked up an away goal in the first leg, a 1-0 win would be enough for Juve to secure a place in the final in Manchester on May 28. Lippi has warned against such thinking.

"We know we can score against Real but we need to be very careful not to concede a goal because then we will need to score three," he said.

Teams (probable):

Juventus: 1-Gianluigi Buffon; 21-Lilian Thuram, 5-Igor Tudor (or 7-Gianluca Pessotto), 4-Paolo Montero, 19-Gianluca Zambrotta; 16-Mauro Camoranesi, 3-Alessio Tacchinardi, 26-Edgar Davids, 11-Pavel Nedved; 10-Alessandro Del Piero, 17-David Trezeguet.

Real Madrid: 1-Iker Casillas; 2-Michel Salgado, 4-Fernando Hierro, 6-Ivan Helguera, 22-Francisco Pavon, 3-Roberto Carlos; 10-Luis Figo, 16-Flavio Conceicao, 5-Zinedine Zidane; 14-Guti or 11-Ronaldo, 7-Raul.

Referee: Urs Meier (Switzerland)