Real prepared for rough Europe ride

Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano is prepared for a rough ride as the European champions defend their crown in the second phase of this season's Champions League.

"I think this could turn out to be the most difficult moment for us in this season's competition," the former Argentine international told the Spanish sports daily Marca on Sunday.

"It may well prove to be harder to qualify from our group than it will be to get through the next round."

After taking just one point from their first two matches Real lie bottom of group C, five points behind leaders AC Milan who beat the defending champions 1-0 in the opening match at the San Siro.

Real managed a 2-2 draw only at home to the unfancied Lokomotiv Moscow in their second match and now face back-to-back games against second-placed Borussia Dortmund as they attempt to ensure they do not miss out on a place in the quarter-finals of a competition they have dominated in recent years.

"Both the players and the fans are worried," said Valdano. "But the second phase has only just started and we still have plenty of games in which to remedy the situation."

"The squad is fully aware of what is at stake in each game and is capable of turning things round."

Real host Dortmund at the Bernabeu in their next game on February 19, while Milan play Lokomotiv at the San Siro.