Spanish designate Real match with Arsenal "high risk"

Real Madrid's Champions League last 16 meeting with Arsenal next week has been designated "high risk," Spain's national anti-violence commission, an offshoot of the interior ministry, said.

The February 21 meeting will see the nine-times European champions take on an Arsenal side who have never won Europe's premier club competition in a match which is set to draw a full house to the Bernabeu, prompting the precautionary measure.

The Gunners hope their Spanish forward, Jose Antonio Reyes, will be back in their ranks as the 21-year-old bids to recover from an ankle injury suffered last week in the English Premiership against Bolton.

Real have realistically only the Champions League, which they last won in 2002, to bid for as they are third in the Spanish title race, if they are to avoid a third straight trophyless season.

Midfielder Julio Baptista told sports daily As that Tuesday's loss to Zaragoza in the Spanish Cup semi-final despite a 4-0 second-leg win would fire them up for the Arsenal meeting.

"The crowd were right behind us and that's given us strength for the upcoming league games and meeting Arsenal."

"Playing as we can we can go a long way," said the Brazilian.