Monaco face tough task to reel in Real
Real Madrid, leading 4-2 from the first leg, will start as hot favourites to overcome depleted Monaco and progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday.
Real Madrid, leading 4-2 from the first leg, will start as hot favourites to overcome depleted Monaco and progress to the semi-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday.
The Spanish champions, bidding to win a tenth European Cup, trailed at halftime at the Bernabeu before moving up a gear in the second half to overrun the Ligue 1 side.
Monaco striker Fernando Morientes, on a season-long loan from Real, says the principality team have their work cut out to turn the tie around at the Stade Louis-II.
"We are going to do all we can..., but I have to admit that it will be a great surprise if we manage it," Morientes told Radio Marca.
"If the two teams play to 100 percent of their ability then Real will go through. We have to play at more than 100 percent to make it into the semis."
Monaco, who lead Ligue 1 by a point from Olympique Lyon, have been deprived of their midfield steel with Argentine Lucas Bernardi suspended and Greek Andreas Zikos injured.
Centre back Sebastien Squillaci, who has been outstanding this season, has also been ruled out after picking a leg injury during the first leg.
Coach Didier Deschamps can at least welcome back leftback Patrice Evra from injury while the return to fitness of striker Shabani Nonda is another major boost.
Nonda returned from a seven-month layoff to score one goal and set up another in Monaco's 3-3 draw against AC Ajaccio on Friday.
Real will be missing England midfielder David Beckham through suspension and have fitness worries over defender Ivan Helguera, who scored in the first-leg win.
Either versatile Argentine midfielder Santiago Solari or former youth team player Borja will step in and take Beckham's place alongside Guti.
Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos, who scored twice from trademark thunderbolt free kicks to help his side to a 2-1 victory over Albacete on Saturday, is back after serving a two-match suspension.
Coach Carlos Queiroz's only serious selection worry is in defence with centre-back Helguera facing a late fitness test after missing the Albacete match because of a groin injury.
Should Helguera be forced to drop out Queiroz is likely to bring in former youth team Alvaro Mejia who has impressed every time he has stepped into the senior side this season.
Possible teams:
Monaco: 30-Flavio Roma, 4-Hugo Ibarra, 27-Julien Rodriguez, 32-Gael Givet, 3-Patrice Evra, 14-Edouard Cisse, 6-Jaroslav Plasil, 8-Ludovic Giuly, 25-Jerome Rothen, 9-Dado Prso, 10-Fernando Morientes.
Real Madrid: 1-Iker Casillas, 2-Michel Salgado, 6-Ivan Helguera or 33-Alvaro Mejia, 15-Raul Bravo, 3-Roberto Carlos, 10-Luis Figo, 14-Guti, 5-Zinedine Zidane, 21-Santiago Solari or 26-Borja, 7-Raul, 9-Ronaldo.
Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy).