Real Madrid's Diarra and Ramos to miss Bayern clash

Real Madrid's Mahamadou Diarra and Sergio Ramos will both miss the club's Champions League home match against German side Bayern Munich on Tuesday due to injuries, the club said.

Diarra sprained his right ankle joint during Real Madrid's 2-1 win over Real Sociedad on February 10 and has not recovered while Ramos has a bruised right foot, sustained during their 0-0 draw against Real Betis on Saturday.

With the Malian international's erratic form over recent months, the absence of Ramos is likely to be more critical in the Spanish giant's encounter with the four-time European champions.

The Spanish international defender is likely to be replaced at right back by Michel Salgado but Real coach Fabio Capello was keeping his cards close to his chest on Monday about who will start against their familiar foes.

Real have faced Bayern in the Champions League four times in the last seven years.

The Spaniards, who have won Europe's top club competition a record nine times beat Bayern en-route to their two most recent triumphs in 2000 and 2002.

Real also won their most recent meeeting in the last 16 of the 2004 Champions League.

There was better news for Real fans about defenders Roberto Carlos and Fabio Cannavaro who have both been included in Capello's 20-man squad.

"They both trained well, neither has any pain, they are in the squad," confirmed Capello at a press conference on Monday.

Cannavaro suffered back spasms in the wake of the game against Betis while Roberto Carlos has been out of action for five weeks with a hamstring strain.

The indications are that Capello will start with Cannavaro, the 2006 World Player of the Year, in the middle of the back four but left back Roberto Carlos may be on the bench after the impressive form of his 21 year-old replacement Miguel Torres.

Torres is set for just his second Champions League game.

"I still don't know if I'm going to play but I never imagined I would be playing either," said Torres on Monday.

"If I do, then I'm going to take advantage of the opportunities that come my way and I'm going to give everything. As a Madrid man, born and bred, I live for these type of big games," added Torres.

Torres has only played six league games after starting the season in the Real Madrid reserves but has not looked uncomfortable occupying the Brazilian World Cup winner's place on the field.