Champions League: Mickaël Poté wants to bring something back from the Bernabéu

Mickaël Poté Prepares for a Historic Clash Against Real Madrid

This Wednesday at the Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid, two-time defending Champions League winners, will kick off their title defense against APOEL Nicosia. For the Cypriot side, the aim is clear: avoid a repeat of the 2012/2013 campaign, when Real Madrid dominated them with scores of 5-2 and 3-0.

For Mickaël Poté and his teammates, the match represents one of the biggest challenges of their careers. The Benin international striker is determined to approach the game with focus and professionalism.

“Yes, it’s true, I’m going to play against the best team at the moment. It’s a great source of pride, but it’s not an end in itself,” Poté told Football365 Africa. “It’s the culmination of many years of hard work and sacrifice. It’s enriching and projects a positive image as a Beninese and African player. We are ambassadors in football, and today, that comes through in matches like this one.”

Poté emphasized the importance of treating the match like any other, while acknowledging the special circumstances: “We feel a positive pressure. We know the probability of success is low, but in football, you never know. We’re going there to try and bring something back.”

For APOEL, the task is monumental, but with players like Poté leading the charge, they hope to make a statement on one of football’s biggest stages.