Champions League Preview: Lokomotiv Moscow v Real Madrid
It's a simple equation: as long as Real Madrid match Borussia Dortmund's result in Milan, they will be through.
It's a simple equation: as long as Real Madrid match Borussia Dortmund's result in Milan, they will be through.
It will be far from easy, though, in tough Russian conditions against a Lokomotiv Moscow side who are out and have nothing to lose. How Yuri Semin's side would like to upset the Real apple cart as they did at the Bernabeu.
They gave the Merengues a hell of a fright. Things looked to be going to the form book when Raul put Real ahead, but goals from James Obiorah and Tkhobo Mnguni turned the match on its head. However, Raul equalised soon after to salvage a point for the home side.
That was the result that put Vicente Del Bosque's team in so much trouble. Were it not for those two dropped points, they would be through to the quarter finals now.
Still, when the Spanish giants need a result, they usually get it. They are playing classy football at the moment, although were a little fortunate not to concede a goal in the 1-0 win over Villarreal on Saturday. They needed a late Ivan Helgeura goal to win that much.
LATEST TEAM NEWS
Lokomotiv: Parks is out after picking up an injury at the weekend, and he joins Obiorah, a scorer in Madrid, on the sidelines. Buznikin, though, could return, and Loskov is available following suspension.
Real Madrid: Roberto Carlos is out suspended and will be replaced in the line-up by Solari who has a knee injury but will nonetheless start. Hierro is not yet fit to start, while Helguera is a doubt after injuring an ankle in training. Ruben could deputise.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
Lokomotiv: Ovchinnikov, Evseev, Nizhegorodov, Ignashevich, Pashinin, Lekgetho, Sennikov, Loskov, Izmaylov, Pimenov, Julio César.
Real Madrid: Casillas, Michel Salgado, Pavón, Helguera, Solari, Makelele, Flavio, Figo, Raúl, Zidane, Ronaldo.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Marat Izmaylov (Lokomotiv): The rising star of the Russian game. Small, but possessed with great dribbling skills and a powerful shot.
Zinedine Zidane (Real Madrid): The man for the big occasion. When Real need a performance from the Frenchman, he rarely fails to deliver.