Ramos: Real need to progress

Real Madrid coach Juande Ramos believes their clash with Liverpool can help them regain their 'prestige' globally.

The former Spurs boss, who is in charge at the Bernabeu on a short-term contract until the end of the season, will attempt to help his team overcome a 1-0 deficit from the first leg of their last-16 tie with the Reds at Anfield this evening.

The nine-times winners have not even made it to the final of the competition since 2002, and Ramos insists progression to the latter stages is crucial for a club which likes to bill itself as the biggest on the planet.

Real have been knocked out at the last-16 stage for the past three seasons, and Ramos is determined to change that statistic.

He said: "This game requires a fine performance, and if we do turn this result around it will restore some of the club's prestige in this tournament.

"I hope that we can achieve such a result and take the club closer to another final.

"The first leg was a real tactical battle, but we are only halfway through, we are confident we can turn things around and reverse 0-1 deficit. My players are convinced they can do this, we must work, though, as hard as we can."

Ramos believes Madrid's impressive recent domestic run, and their fine away form in La Liga, will help them at Anfield.

He said: "Victories breed confidence. The great run of unbeaten away games does give us confidence for this match.

"This is a delightful, delicious game, and it is sad that one great side will be left by the wayside."

Captain Raul, Madrid's record goalscorer and the leading scorer in the European Cup, hopes the Spanish champions will be inspired and not intimidated by the Anfield atmosphere.

Raul has, in fact, watched matches at Anfield as a fan, invited to the ground by the Spanish contingent in the Liverpool squad.

He said: "I hope the home crowd has an influence on us. I have been here as a fan, and it is a spectacular atmosphere.

"We are looking forward very much to playing on such a stage, and hope we can find that sort of inspiration from the noise and atmosphere."