Roberto Di Matteo: 'Real Madrid are not in crisis'

Schalke 04 manager Roberto Di Matteo has dismissed talk of a crisis at Real Madrid, ahead of his side's visit to the Champions League holders.

Madrid have won just two of their previous five league matches and their title hopes suffered a blow at the weekend following a defeat against Athletic Bilbao.

"I don't believe Real Madrid are in a crisis," Sky Sports News quotes him as saying. "I hope the media is right that the strikers are not in good form. We will need a little bit of luck as well tomorrow night to get a positive result.

"The game on Saturday was different. It was an away game in Bilbao, who are a very strong team, and they didn't allow Real Madrid to get into their flow. Tomorrow they play in front of their home fans and I think it will be different.

"I think three weeks ago they were talking about a crisis as well with the Real Madrid team. I don't expect a team in crisis tomorrow."

Real Madrid are heavy favourites to progress to the quarter-finals after claiming a 2-0 victory over Schalke in last month's first leg.