Real Madrid are set to welcome their key player Karim Benzema from injury in time to face Wolfsburg in a decisive Champions League quarter-final tie. Los Blancos lost the first leg fixture 2-0 in Germany and will need to score three goals and avoid conceding to proceed to the next stage.
The France international picked up a knee injury in the first leg of the fixture and was unavailable for selection last Saturday when his side cruised to a 4-0 win over Eibar.
Additionally, Gareth Bale and Toni Kross are also expected to return to the starting lineup after missing the Eibar game.
Ahead of the crucial clash, coach Zinedine Zidane insisted that his players should stay composed and focus on winning the game at the final whistle, rather than panicking. He said:
"There are a lot of messages about firing ourselves up but we need the opposite
"It's a hugely important game and we have to use our heads."
"We're not going to win the game in 10 or 15 minutes, and they could really complicate things if they score a goal.
"Anything can happen in football, but we have to be concentrated from the first minute.
"They (Wolfsburg) are going to start with intensity and we need the same intensity and it's going to be decided with the ball, how much we fight and run.
"Everyone is going to do that but the most important thing is we play football."
He then added that his players are psyched up for the game:
"I don't need to say too much to the players because they know exactly what's at stake.
"I've seen the faces of the players, they're very focused on the game and that's the most important thing."
There have been several media reports that the Spanish giants could part ways with the French boss if they fail to proceed to the next round of the competition. However, that may not happen given the fact that the 43-year-old has steered his side to reduce the gap between them and league leader Barcelona in La Liga. Following Barca’s shocking loss to Real Sociedad last weekend and Real Madrid’s win over Eibar, Zidane’s men can dare dream of the title once again.
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