Real get draw they did not want

Nine-times European champions Real Madrid were handed the draw they least wanted when they were paired with Juventus in the Champions League last 16 on Friday.

"If we could have chosen our rivals we would have chosen someone else," said Real midfielder Guti. "It would have been better to have been paired with a team that would let us play a little more like Monaco, but we can't do anything about it now."

The tie pits the Spanish side against the Serie A leaders, who beat them in the 2003 Champions League semi-finals and are now coached by former Real coach Fabio Capello.

Real can, however, take comfort from the fact that Juve were the side they beat in the 1998 final to win their seventh European Cup.

"With all the good teams in the draw we had to face one of them and it was Juventus," Guti said.

"We know them well, they have a great coach, a hardened bunch of players who play very well on the break. It's going to be very tough but we all believe we can get through."

"We are Real Madrid and we shouldn't fear anyone. We have respect for all the teams, but nothing more and I think it will be a very evenly balanced tie."

Real's sporting director Emilio Butragueno said he was certain the team would rise to the challenge.

"A number of ties could easily grace a final, including our one," he said.

"Juventus are one of the great teams in Europe and they are in excellent form at the moment, but we have confidence in our players and are sure that Juve will also be worried about the tie."