Real Madrid battle for survival

EUROPEAN champions Real Madrid need victory against a Lokomotiv Moscow side with nothing but pride to play for, if they are to progress to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

The Russians held Real to a 2-2 draw in Madrid in December and coach Yuri Syomin has promised not to go out quietly on home ground.

“The team's pride is at stake here,” he said. “Besides, the more points we get, the better Russia's UEFA ratings will be in future, so we also must play for the national honour as well.”

The Russian champions welcome back their captain and top scorer in European competition Dmitry Loskov, who was sorely missed in last week's crushing 3-0 defeat by Borussia Dortmund. Real will have to find a replacement for their inspirational full-back Roberto Carlos, who is suspended.

Argentine winger Santiago Solari injured an ankle in Real's final training session before flying out to Moscow, but the club insist he will be fit for tonight's game and he could be asked to cover for the Brazilian.

Probable teams:

LOKOMOTIV: S Ovchinnikov; G Nizhegorodov, J Lekgetho, S Ignashevich, O Pashinin, V Yevseyev, M Izmailov, V Maminov, D Loskov, J Cesar, R Pimenov.

REAL: I Casillas; M Salgado, F Pavon, I Helguera, S Solari; L Figo, C Makelele, F Conceicao, Z Zidane; Raul, Ronaldo

Referee: Claude Colombo (France).