UEFA Champions League

Casillas Set For 100th Champs League Game; Nears Kahn's Record

The 28-year-old could break Kahn's record at next May's final.

Nov 25, 2009 1:23:12 AM

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Iker Casillas

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas will play make his 100th UEFA Champions League appearance for Los Blancos when his side face Swiss outfit FC Zurich at the Bernabeu tonight.

The 28-year-old custodian has already exceeded the 100 mark for his country recently, and also beat Andoni Zubizarreta's clean sheet record for La Furia Roja. Now he has become just the third Real player to complete a century of Champions League appearances, after Raul and Roberto Carlos.

"It's the luck of being in such a great team. It's a spectacular competition, the most spectacular. The most positive thing is in two finals I have won two and hopefully when I reach a third final I can win that also," Casillas told AS.

German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn holds the record at present for most appearances in Europe's premier competition as he has 107 appearances with Bayern Munich, a feat Casillas could potentially surpass, barring injuries or suspensions, at next year's final at the Bernabeu if Madrid go all the way. Kahn believes that Casillas has what it takes to shatter his record over the coming years.

"He is calm and knows how to handle pressure situations. He has an incredible reaction time and is good in the air. I like that Real have always trusted him, and more still a youth team player and not a star bought with money. I ended my career at 38. If all goes well, he can reach 160 or 170 games," he declared.

Paul Madden, Goal.com

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