Dutch duo in final shootout

Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder make a triumphant return to the Bernabeu Stadium tonight less than ten months after being sold off by Real Madrid to make way for Ronaldo and Kaka.

The Dutch duo were flogged to Bayern Munich and Inter respectively within a day of each other as Real sought to recover some cash after the outrageous expenditure to sign the Portuguese and Brazilian ex-World Players of the Year.

Both players have excelled in their new surroundings this season and arrive in Madrid to contest a Champions League final which will see one of their clubs win a treble.

Robben (5/1 joint favourite in Totesport’s Sky Man of the Match market) inspired Bayern’s two incredible knockout victories over Fiorentina and Manchester United, both on the away goals rule.

He scored a penalty and induced a red-card for an Italian opponent in the first-leg of Bayern’s second round clash at home to the Serie A club, but saved a greater impact for the second leg in Florence when he danced around would-be tacklers to fire in an unstoppable 25-yard drive to ensure qualification.

It remains arguably the goal of the competition and could colour the thoughts of Sky’s studio panel when they come to name the Man of the Match tonight if no outstanding candidate emerges from the clash.

Robben’s knockout blow against Manchester United and his instantly-recognisable face from years spent at Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea could also lead the likes of Jamie Redknapp and compatriot Ruud Gullit to nominate him if Bayern take the spoils.

Wesley Sneijder’s Real Madrid career mirrored that of Robben’s almost exactly, they were signed within a fortnight of each other  and disposed of in similar circumstances,  albeit having built different reputations at the club.

While Robben remained the consummate professional, Sneijder was known to have liked the Madrid nightlife.

He was disciplined by Real over his conduct at a time when off the field, his marriage was collapsing.

The former Ajax starlet (5/1 joint favourite in Totesport’s Sky Man of the Match market) has flourished under Mourinho at Inter and been almost equally important to his team’s Champions League fate as Robben – although he probably has had a slightly better supporting cast to work alongside with Diego Milito, Lucio and Samuel Eto’o also contributing to big wins over Chelsea and FC Barcelona.

But Sneijder’s ability to knit the midfield together and provide cunning balls to the frontmen has caught the eye of Sky commentator Andy Gray during Inter’s incredible run and he may cast his vote for the Dutchman if Mourinho’s tactics win out.

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