The challenge is an uphill one for Liverpool. The Santiago Bernabeu is a very difficult ground for visiting sides but today, they cannot afford to go down like they did in the first leg of this tie at Anfield. Back in February 2009, retired footballer Jamie Carragher inspired Liverpool to a 1-0 win against Los Blancos in the Spanish capital. Ahead of Matchday 4 in the UEFA Champions League, Carra is full of optimism. He stated:
“There will be some trepidation because of what happened in the first game but the players need to try to relax and enjoy it. It's a fantastic arena, one of the most iconic stadiums in European football. It will be a fantastic experience for this side to play in the Bernabeu.
“People don't expect Liverpool to get anything so the pressure is off a bit but you don't want to go there and get embarrassed.”
With a perfect record in Europe this season, Los Blancos are superior to the Reds – on paper as well as in the Group B standings. If Liverpool do not want to crash out from the UEFA Champions League in the group stages, they must get immediate results now.
“It's a big game, a huge game for us. This week has three big games and it hasn't got off to a good start,” Brendan Rodgers admitted following his team’s 1-0 loss away to Newcastle United last Saturday.
“But we have no time to dwell on it. We've got to look to prepare well for the game on Tuesday, which will be a tough one.”
Real Madrid cannot stop scoring and winning. They demolished Granada 4-0 last Saturday, bring their record to three clean sheets and 19 goals scored in their last five matches across all competitions.
Tonight, they could book their tickets into the UEFA Champions League’s Round of 16. Isco, whose input has been remarkable this season, is hoping to hit 12 points out of 12 in Group B and extend his side’s winning run to 12 matches. He declared:
“We're playing against a very tough and historically very good opponent. We mustn't drop our guard because Liverpool are capable of hurting you on any counter-attack and in any move.
“The key is to keep on doing the same as we have been doing. The attitude we show in every game, be it at Anfield or Cornellà.”
Real Madrid vs Liverpool team sheets
Real Madrid’s lineup: Casillas, Varane, Ramos, Ronaldo, Kroos, Benzema, James Rodríguez, Marcelo, Arbeloa, Modric, Isco.
Liverpool’s lineup: Mignolet, Manquillo, Toure, Skrtel, Moreno, Lucas, Can, Allen, Lallana, Markovic, Borini.
Real Madrid’s bench: Navas, Pepe, Bale, Chicharito, Nacho, Medrán, Lucas Torró.
Liverpool’s bench: Jones, Johnson, Gerrard, Henderson, Coutinho, Sterling, Balotelli.
Match details, result and original broadcast info
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