Champions League preview: Real Madrid v CSKA Moscow

Real Madrid enter their Champions League round-of-16 second-leg against CSKA Moscow in prime position to advance to the last eight.

The La Liga leaders are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competitions and enter the clash at Santiago Bernabeu on Wednesday having secured a 1-1 draw in Russia.

It looked like Jose Mourinho’s men would clinch a deserved away win on February 21, but Pontus Wernbloom struck a late equaliser for the hosts.

Having revealed he intends to sign a new deal with the club, Mourinho will be eager for his team to go deep into the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored in the first leg, has netted a stunning 32 league goals and four in the Champions League this season, and has been supported by the likes of Mesut Oezil and Xabi Alonso.

Stopping the likes of Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuain from scoring will be almost impossible for CSKA, and coach Leonid Slutsky said as much in the lead-up to the second leg.

“Real scores a lot of goals even they play without key players. To play against them at their home will be a spectacle,” Slutsky said.

“They have very quick players. So, we need to be very sharp in defence and try not to give them enough space.”

“It’s way too difficult to stop them from scoring but we will try to get an away goal. A few teams can perform at a high level with a variety of tactical manoeuvres. Moreover, they have some of the best players. However, I still believe in miracles.”

Slutsky is still without injured goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, and his team enter the second leg after three consecutive draws in all competitions.

Ivory Coast forward Seydou Doumbia will play a crucial role up front with his side needing at least one goal in Madrid.

But Real Madrid, highly fancied to win the competition, go into their home leg as hot favourites to advance.