Real Madrid are naturally big, big, big favorites to reach the Champions League quarter-finals, following their 5-2 victory at Anfield in February.
Next week there is a second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu, where Liverpool must win by at least three goals to go into extra time, now that the away goals rule has been scrapped in European cups. The Reds will have to put in a great game for them to have any chance of doing so.
Real Madrid faltered slightly in their performance after their big win at Anfield. They drew against city rivals Atletico Madrid, lost against Barcelona, and drew against Real Betis. On Saturday night, they won their first match since the Anfield game, beating Espanyol 3-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Players warned
Carlo Ancelotti has warned his team not to underestimate Liverpool – and he doesn’t have to go far to find a good reason to.
– Ancelotti said after Saturday’s game, we have this experience from last year with Chelsea According to the Liverpool Echo.
What he aspires to is to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League last year. Then Real Madrid won 3-1 at Stamford Bridge, and it was a great starting point. Chelsea came into the Bernabéu without fear, leading 3-0 after 75 minutes.
The match ends with two late goals from Rodrigo and Karim Benzema, 3-2 against Chelsea, and Real Madrid advances to the semi-finals 5-4 on aggregate.
– We went three goals ahead, that’s why we’re favourites, but the second is that we’ll also play another 90 minutes. In order to do this we must play with the same situation as in the first game. We have the advantage, but we can’t think that we will control the match, and what score we got before. He says: We have to play 90 minutes at the top.
If there’s one manager who’s been at the top with a hat-trick against Liverpool before, it’s Ancelotti – if we’re grasping at straws…
The Real Madrid – Liverpool match will take place on Wednesday at 21.00, shown on TV 2 Sport Premium and TV 2 Play.
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