Below par Real still above the rest: Solari

REAL Madrid may have been less than impressive in the Champions League, yet they are still strong favourites going into tonight’s clash with Borussia Dortmund, according to midfielder Santiago Solari.

Real were lucky to beat Dortmund 2-1 at the Bernabeu last week when Raul scored a bizarre goal to equalise Jan Koller’s opener and Ronaldo’s weak shot squeezed through the hands of Jens Lehmann for the winner.

Vicente del Bosque’s side then turned in one of their worst home displays of recent seasons yet still managed to beat a woeful Valladolid side 3-1 with goals from Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo and Javier Portillo.