Adebayor to be rewarded with Real start after securing cup final place

Eurozone

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Jose Mourinho could decide to give Manchester City loanee Emmanuel Adebayor his first start in a Real Madrid shirt tomorrow after he scored as a substitute in midweek to help send them into the Spanish Cup final.

Adebayor's first goal came after just 35 minutes of action for the club, as a substitute against Osasuna last weekend and against Seville on Wednesday. Now Mourinho has the option of pairing the Togolese forward with Karim Benzema against mid-table Real Sociedad.

"I am here to help," said Adebayor yesterday. "I'm here to play 15 or 20 minutes as a substitute if that is what I am asked to do. I'm surrounded by good players. The goal I scored in midweek was a team goal and before it [Mesut] Ozil scored a fantastic goal."

Real Madrid are seven points adrift of Barcelona at the top of La Liga, with the leaders facing Atletico Madrid tonight at the Camp Nou. Former Arsenal and Barcelona youth team player Fran Merida could feature for the visitors, who are hoping to end Barça's run of 15 straight victories.

Merida said: "We know how strong Barça are but we have our own armoury and will go looking for the result." With Mario Suarez and Raul Garcia both out, Merida could start his first game against the club he left to join Arsenal in 2005.

If Barça win they will become the first team in Spain to win 16 consecutive league games, beating Real Madrid's run of 15 in the 1960-61 season. Forward Pedro could also go into the record books. He has scored in his last six games and a goal in his seventh would draw him level with Johan Cruyff and behind only Mariano Martin and Brazilian Ronaldo, who scored in nine and 10 straight games respectively.

In Italy Milan look to maintain their five-point lead at the top of Serie A with a visit to struggling Genoa. Gennaro Gattuso will partner Mark van Bommel in midfield for the first time since the Dutchman signed at the start of the year and Antonio Cassano could start in place of Alexandre Pato in attack. Lazio held Milan to a goalless draw in midweek but second-placed Napoli failed to take advantage losing against Chievo and must now get their title tilt back on track against Cesena.