Real star Cristiano Ronaldo admits opponents Marseille are very good, but says his team just needs to stay focussed in tonight's Champions League game
Real star Cristiano Ronaldo admits opponents Marseille are very good, but says his team just needs to stay focussed in tonight's Champions League game
ADVERTISEMENT
 |
|
Real Madrid striker Cristiano Ronaldo during a training session ahead of their Group C Champions League match against Marseille at the Stade Velodrome yesterday. pic/AFP |
Kaka is still troubled by the groin problem that forced him to miss Saturday's Primera Division match with Almeria and was omitted from Manuel Pellegrini's 20-man squad for the trip to France, along with fellow injury victims Ruud van Nistelrooy, Guti and Christoph Metzelder.
Even without the Brazilian, though, Madrid are firm favourites to progress to the next phase of the competition at the expense of Marseille, as they could even go through with a defeat.
The Spanish giants are two points ahead of second-placed AC Milan at the top of Group C and three in front of Marseille, whom they beat 3-0 at home. They would therefore need to lose by a bigger margin at the Stade Velodrome to face potential elimination.
Striker Gonzalo Higuain said: "We know we have a good chance, something very improbable would have to happen for them to knock us out."
Defender Pepe admits it is unlikely to be a comfortable night on the south coast for Madrid, though, with Marseille having lost just once in six home fixtures in Ligue 1 and having beaten FC Zurich 6-1 in their last European match in front of their own fans.
"It will be a tough game and we have to be well-prepared and very focused. We know that it is a very difficult game but we depend on ourselves," he said.
A confident Cristiano Ronaldo added: "We know that they play very good football but I know what we are going to get through to the next phase. We have to go out to win the game and forget the rest."
Ronaldo goes into the match on the back of an eventful night against Almeria, which saw the world's most expensive player again steal the limelight.
He scored one and created another in a 4-2 win, won and then missed a controversial penalty, did not celebrate when teammate Karim Benzema scored from the follow-up, and was then sent-off late on for two needless bookings.
The first yellow card was for taking his shirt off after scoring, and the second for kicking out at Almeria's Juanma Ortiz.
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
