Playing for a place in the Champions League quarter-finals
Real Madrid face Liverpool at the Bernabéu following their 2-5 win in the first leg (9:00pm CET).
Real Madrid are set to continue the defence of their European champions' crown tonight, as they come back to the Santiago Bernabéu looking to seal a spot in the Champions League quarter finals 9:00pm CET. With the magical nights of last season's knock-out stages still fresh in the mind, Ancelotti's team will now look to their fans to roar them into the next round, following a positive 2-5 result at Anfield.
It won't be easy, though. Real Madrid come up against one of the title contenders in the UK and last season's final opponents, making this a hugely demanding task. The English side's numbers on the road in European competition are a sign of what's in store - Liverpool ran riot in a 0-3 win at the Amsterdam Arena and took a 1-7 victory over Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox in their last two away games on the continent.
It won't be easy, though. Real Madrid come up against one of the title contenders in the UK and last season's final opponents, making this a hugely demanding task. The English side's numbers on the road in European competition are a sign of what's in store - Liverpool ran riot in a 0-3 win at the Amsterdam Arena and took a 1-7 victory over Glasgow Rangers at Ibrox in their last two away games on the continent.
300 Champions League games
“The Bernabéu is different. The fans and the players are incredible in the big games”, underlined Rüdiger pre-match, while Ancelotti reflected: “We won't look at what could happen, we just need to play with the intensity required to win it". The Italian coach has already named his squad for the game and is without Alaba, while Benzema and Mendy both make their returns. The clash will also mark our team's 300th game in the Champions League.
The opposition
Liverpool come into the fixture following two wins Manchester United and Wolverhampton, a draw Cristal Palace and a defeat Bournemouth in the four games they have played since the first leg, conceding a single goal and smashing seven against Manchester United. Salah, on 22, is their leading goal scorer so far. It's a big night at the Bernabéu as last year's two finalists fight it out for a place in this year's quarters.
“The Bernabéu is different. The fans and the players are incredible in the big games”, underlined Rüdiger pre-match, while Ancelotti reflected: “We won't look at what could happen, we just need to play with the intensity required to win it". The Italian coach has already named his squad for the game and is without Alaba, while Benzema and Mendy both make their returns. The clash will also mark our team's 300th game in the Champions League.
The opposition
Liverpool come into the fixture following two wins Manchester United and Wolverhampton, a draw Cristal Palace and a defeat Bournemouth in the four games they have played since the first leg, conceding a single goal and smashing seven against Manchester United. Salah, on 22, is their leading goal scorer so far. It's a big night at the Bernabéu as last year's two finalists fight it out for a place in this year's quarters.