Ramos eyes Anfield scalp Spanish ace in confident mood

Spanish star Sergio Ramos has told skysports.com that Real Madrid are determined to win at Liverpool.

Ramos and his team-mates travel to Anfield on Tuesday knowing they face a daunting task of trying to overturn a 1-0 defeat from the first leg in the Santiago Bernabeu.

But Ramos insists Real were unlucky in the first leg and that their superior football will see them through.

"I want to play the best match of my career, I have never played at Anfield - it is a magic stadium and any footballer would want to win there," he told skysports.com.

"For us we need to win or win, no other solution exists - it is a match of life or death."

Better team

Ramos insists that Real are the better team and Liverpool got lucky at the Bernabeu.

"The score was unjust, at 0-0 nobody could claim anything but now we have to go and get the maximum in England.

"The goal from Benayoun was a failure in our system, but that could happen to the Reds in the return.

"Sincerely, Liverpool's game is not beautiful - the football is not a good spectacle. Real Madrid plays better football and it will be necessary to demonstrate that at Anfield.

"Liverpool have some absentees, but that is not decisive - their squad is set-up for these types of matches.

"The key will be a goal in the first half and then we can play like we do in La Liga."
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Juventus v Chelsea preview Essien could start for Blues, Sissoko out for Juve

Guus Hiddink aims to continue his record-breaking start as Chelsea boss as Juventus coach Claudio Ranieri plots his old club's downfall.

Since replacing the sacked Luiz Felipe Scolari in February, Hiddink has won all five games in charge and victory over Juventus on Tuesday night would send Chelsea into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for the sixth time in seven attempts.

Hiddink has been credited with lifting the spirit within the Chelsea camp since his appointment and that has been particularly evident in the form of Didier Drogba.

The powerful striker appears to have been rejuvenated by Hiddink and scored the only goal at Stamford Bridge in the first leg at fortnight ago.

Drogba will lead the line for the Blues at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin and Hiddink will make a late decision on who provides the attacking support to the Ivorian.

Anelka decision

Nicolas Anelka has missed the last two games with a foot injury and, if he fails to be passed fit, Salomon Kalou and Florent Malouda will take up the wide positions.

Michael Essien made his comeback as a substitute after six months on the sidelines in Saturday's FA Cup win at Coventry City and is pushing for a start.

If Hiddink gambles on the Ghanaian's fitness, Essien is likely to replace John Obi Mikel in midfield, with Frank Lampard and Michael Ballack providing the forward thrust.

Ricardo Carvalho is also available after injury and will hope to dislodge Alex as John Terry's central defensive partner, while Paulo Ferreira is out for the season.

A late decision will be made on Deco's availability, although the Portuguese playmaker, and rumoured Juve target, will be on the bench at best and Joe Cole, despite being ahead of schedule, will not return from a knee injury this season.

Experienced trio back

Standing in the way of Chelsea's progress to the last eight is former Stamford Bridge chief Ranieri, who insists the only inferiority Italian clubs feel when compared to their English counterparts is when it comes to finances.

Ranieri will be pressed into at least three changes to the team which lost at Stamford Bridge, with Mohamed Sissoko, Mauro Camoranesi and Nicola Legrottaglie injured.

Former Liverpool midfielder Sissoko fractured a metatarsal after coming on as a substitute against Torino at the weekend, so Christian Poulsen will likely partner ex-Chelsea man Tiago.

Camoranesi has a rib injury, and Legrottaglie a knee problem, while Marco Marchionni, Cristiano Zanetti and Paulo De Ceglie are also out.

Zdenek Grygera is available to Ranieri, who is likely to restore Pavel Nedved, Alessandro Del Piero and David Trezeguet to the starting line-up after the trio were on the bench against Torino.
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Liverpool v Real preview Reds wait on trio while Real have no new injuries

Liverpool welcome Real Madrid to Anfield for the first time in their history as they look to defend their one-goal advantage from the first leg.

A late Yossi Benayoun header secured the Reds that all-important away goal at the Bernabeu two weeks ago but manager Rafa Benitez has injury concerns ahead of the clash.

Meanwhile the nine-time winners have not progressed past the first knockout round for the last four seasons and the current crop of Real stars will be determined to make sure it does not become five.

The Spanish champions were ineffective at home in the first leg and must up their game considerably if they are to worry Liverpool on Tuesday.

Guessing game

Liverpool boss Benitez is not giving his Spanish opponents any hint as to what his starting XI for the match will be.

Striker Fernando Torres has participated in two light training sessions this week after being sidelined since the first encounter between the sides 14 days ago.

The former Atletico Madrid star was withdrawn in the second half after injuring his ankle as early as the first minute.

Fellow Spaniard Alvaro Arbeloa is struggling with a hamstring injury as is match-winner from the first leg Benayoun.

All three will be given as long as possible to prove their fitness although the Israeli international is considered to be the most likely of the trio to be ruled out.

Winger Albert Riera is definitely out through suspension after he picked up his second yellow card of the competition at the Bernabeu.

Patience

Real Madrid defender Fabio Cannavaro has called for his side to be patient at Anfield and the club have been buoyed by the fact that they have no new injuries for the match.

Joint top soccer Gonzalo Higuain was left on the bench for the Madrid derby on Saturday in preparation for Tuesday.

Fellow striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar will step down after scoring the equaliser against Atletico as he is ineligible for the Champions League.

Defender Michel Salgado and midfielder Royston Drenthe have been left at home.

Striker Ruud van Nistelrooy remains a long-term absentee with a knee injury ruling him out for the season.
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Gerrard goes on the attack Reds skipper issues rally call ahead of Anfield clash

Steven Gerrard insists Liverpool will not play a defensive game when they welcome Real Madrid to Anfield on Tuesday night.

The Spanish giants arrive on Merseyside for a UEFA Champions League last 16 clash looking to overturn a one goal deficit, after Yossi Benayoun silenced the Bernabeu faithful in the first leg.

Madrid have seen their season resurrected under Juande Ramos after a difficult first half of the campaign but an assured Liverpool display in the Spanish capital puts them in control of the tie.

Gerrard made only a cameo appearance off the bench in Spain but will lead Liverpool out on Tuesday having fully recovered from a hamstring injury.

The temptation will be for Liverpool to sit on their lead and rely on a tight defensive rearguard but Gerrard believes Rafa Benitez, on the contrary, will set his side up to finish the tie off early.

"I think the next goal in the tie is massive," he told the club's official website.

"If Madrid get it then it's game on, and that's exactly what we don't want to happen.

"We want to make sure we get it and try to kill the game off."
Madrid scalp

Liverpool's recent record in Europe suggests they have nothing to fear going into the game and having seen off the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan, Juventus, Chelsea and Arsenal in recent years, Gerrard is eager to add the name of Real Madrid to a rich roll call.

"We've knocked out all of the best sides over the last few years and we have to make sure we do the same to Real Madrid. I'm sure they're more worried about the tie than us because they know how good we are in Europe.

"When it comes to Europe we've got to be confident. Defensively and tactically we are spot on and we've got match winners in our side, so there is no reason why we shouldn't be confident on Tuesday night.

"We have to be ready to perform to the same level, if not better, at Anfield."
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Ballack - Spirit back under Guus Blues midfielder believes Hiddink has brought back fighting spirit

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack believes the fighting spirit and power that was absent under former manager Luiz Felipe Scolari has returned thanks to Guus Hiddink.

The Dutchman, who will stay on until the end of the season, replaced the former Portugal coach last month and has guided the club to five straight victories.

Ballack was reluctant to dwell on the recent past - the 32-year-old was said to have complained about Scolari to owner Roman Abramovich along with team-mates Petr Cech and Didier Drogba - but is optimistic over the future.

The turnaround in the club's fortunes, particularly in the Premier League where they have moved into second ahead of Liverpool, has meant that a title race between themselves and Manchester United could still be on the cards.

"I don't want to speak too much about the past," he said.

"We had a lot of good games under Luiz Felipe Scolari as well but, in the end we were struggling a little bit.

"We weren't having the success everyone expected so the club made a change. The players have to accept we have a new coach.
Difficult

"It's always difficult to change a coach in the middle of the season but we've come back to winning in the last five games, which is fantastic.

"He (Hiddink) has had great success in the past. He has a lot of experience and great charisma, and he's shown that in this short time with Chelsea.

"We are back winning. Even in a few weeks we came back to one of our biggest strengths which is the power, the fighting spirit of Chelsea.

"We can still play better, but we're on the way up. Everyone can see this and that's important."

Ballack reveals that when Hiddink took over the squad's more experienced players knew that they had to step up to the plate especially in the UEFA Champions League.

The Blues take a one-goal lead to Turin where they face Juventus in the second leg of their first knockout round tie on Tuesday.

"If you come to difficult games and situations in a season, it's always about the experienced players who go in front and handle those situations," he added.

"The young players have to play their part as well, I think they do it here. There's a good balance in the team. In previous seasons we did it well in this competition.

Future

"That's our target now as well. Our target is to win tomorrow, but also to reach the final. It's a long way, a hard way. But we have this balance in the team and we've shown it in the past. I hope we can show it in the future as well."

After a tight and tense affair at Stamford Bridge two weeks ago, with both sides squandering chances, the Germany skipper is expecting more of the same on Tuesday.

"It was tight in the first leg and that is what we expect tonight as well. We started well at Stamford Bridge and scored that early goal, but more important was the fact we didn't concede," he explained.

"We were very happy with the result but we know we've got another tough 90 minutes ahead of us. We're well prepared.

"You could see their strength after the goal. They have a lot of very good players in their team, so we expect another tight game tonight as well."
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Laporta - Cesc has Barca at heart Barca supremo would relish seeing midfielder back at the club

Barcelona president Joan Laporta believes Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas would be a 'big player' for the club.

Fabregas has repeatedly been linked with a return to Barcelona, having originally left the Catalan giants as a 16-year-old to join Arsenal.

Reports have claimed that Barca will launch a big-money bid to bring the midfielder back to Camp Nou at the end of the season.

Though Laporta would not be drawn on any imminent attempt to sign Fabregas, he expressed his admiration for the 21-year-old

Praise

"Although he is with another club, I have always praised Fabregas," Laporta told Spanish radio station Punto Radio.

"He was born in Catalonia and has become a better player since leaving the club.

"But I feel he has this club at his heart and understands the type of passing football we like to play.

"The technical staff will decide on any movement for him, but there is no doubt he would be a big player for us."

Fabregas is currently sidelined with a knee injury suffered against Liverpool in December, but the Spain international is targeting a comeback early next month.
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Cicinho worry for Roma Full-back set to miss Arsenal clash with knee injury

Roma full-back Cicinho looks likely to miss the UEFA Champions League tie with Arsenal and could be out for the rest of the season.

Cicinho suffered a knee injury during training on Sunday as Roma continued their preparations for Wednesday's second leg against Arsenal.

The Brazilian will undergo scans on Monday to determine the severity of the injury, but reports suggest he has damaged knee ligaments.

A club statement read: "The player sprained his right knee during training and on Monday he will undergo tests to determine the extent of the damage."

Cicinho's injury has merely added to Roma coach Luciano Spalletti's problems ahead of Arsenal's visit, with the Italians looking to overturn a one-goal deficit.

Daniele De Rossi is suspended, while Simone Perrotta and Marco Cassetti are injured, and captain Francesco Totti is a major doubt.

However, David Pizarro may be available for the game despite suffering a thigh strain during Saturday's 1-1 draw with Udinese.

Speaking after tests on the injury, the midfielder said. "I feel better than I did yesterday. We'll see."
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