Real Madrid can secure their place in the last 16 of Champions League when they take on Liverpool at the Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday night.
Madrid, who won the competition for the 10th time last season, are on fire at the moment having won their last 11 games in all competitions and moved to the top of La Liga after defeating Granada 4-0 at the weekend.
Brendan Rodgers’ Liverpool are on the other end of the scale in terms of form sitting third in group B and have won just one of their last four games and their latest being a 1-0 defeat to Newcastle on Saturday.
The English side also suffered defeat in the reverse fixture a fortnight ago when they were defeated 3-0 at Anfield with two goals from Karim Benzema and one from Cristiano Ronaldo, as the Spanish side outclassed their English opposition.
Focus will be on striker Mario Ballotelli as he continues to come under scrutiny which escalated in the reverse fixture swapping shirts with defender Pepe at half time, and also due to his lack of goals since joining the club..
Manager Carlo Ancelotti spoke on the issue of the Italian striker.
He said : "They have lost Suarez who scored a lot and they need another solution. But I don’t think all of Livepool’s problems are about Balotelli. He needs to do his work for the side, that’s all that can be asked of him. The coach needs to find the right system with the new players."
Cristiano Ronaldo could make history on Tuesday night as the Portugese star only needs two goals to surpass fellow Madrid Legend Raul as the all time Champions League goalscorer, and with the form that he is few would put it past him.
Ancelotti added: "What can I say? He’s a fantastic player and professional and that’s it. He is working hard for himself and the side, just like other players such as (Karim) Benzema and James (Rodriguez)"
"I don’t think he’s thinking about the record. He has time, it’s not his last game, he is focused on playing for the team."
It could get worse for Liverpool as Gareth Bale is expected to return on Tuesday night after the world’s most expensive player returned to training on Sunday after recovering from a hip injury, Dani Carvajal could be a doubt after he picked up a hamstring injury over the weekend.
Liverpool could have a trick up their sleeve with Daniel Sturridge travelling to Spain with the squad but is likely to miss the clash while he still recovers with a thigh injury, aswell as Mamadou Sakho who is too nursing a thigh injury.