Real Madrid prepare lion's den for Genk
Genk are facing a night their players will never forget when the Belgians take on mighty Real Madrid at their Bernabeu fortress in Champions League group C.
Genk are facing a night their players will never forget when the Belgians take on mighty Real Madrid at their Bernabeu fortress in Champions League group C.
A small-town team formed only 14 years ago face the wall of noise created by 70,000 baying fans of the most glamorous and successful club in the history of world football when the two sides meet on Wednesday.
While Genk are making their debut in Europe's flagship competition this season -- Real are looking to lift the coveted trophy for a 10th time, backed by the kind of starting line-up that other coaches can only dream of.
Though new signing Ronaldo will be unavailable due to an ankle injury, Real chief Vicente del Bosque should have Raul, Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane available, provided the France playmaker overcomes a knee problem.
Genk coach Sef Vergoossen was succinct in his advice to his players as he prepared for the biggest game of their lives.
"Those who fear, had better stay at home," he said.
Genk's main objective will be to walk off at the end with their heads held high, remembering that the club's stated objective is to beat AEK Athens, with whom they drew 0-0 last week, to the third place finish which brings with it a UEFA Cup berth.
The Greeks are at home to an AS Roma side who were Italian champions in 2001 but are struggling after losing both their Serie A games and getting hammered 3-0 by Real in front of the Olympic Stadium faithful last week.
Roma's Italian rivals Inter Milan are at home to Ajax Amsterdam in the spotlight match in group D.
Italy striker Christian Vieri and Argentine recruit Hernan Crespo, who scored both goals in last week's 2-2 draw with Rosenborg Trondheim, should lead a two-man attack which could become three with the addition of Uruguayan Alvaro Recoba.
Ajax, re-built since they lost the 1996 European Cup final on penalties to Juventus in Rome, are coming off a 2-1 win over Olympique Lyon.
Wednesday's action will also reveal whether Arsenal, betting much of their season on Champions League success, can finally overcome their poor away form in Europe at PSV Eindhoven.
Arsenal earned only one point from six away games in the competition last season, while top striker Thierry Henry has not scored away from home in Europe since February 2001.
Group A rivals Borussia Dortmund, beaten 2-0 by the English champions at Highbury last week, will hope to bounce back against Auxerre.
Liverpool, who take on Basel, also need to shrug off the effects of defeat after they were comprehensively outplayed at Valencia in group B.
The Spanish champions, among the favourites for this season's competition after reaching the final in 2000 and 2001, should pick up three easy points against Spartak Moscow, who slumped to a surprise defeat to Basel last week.