Punch-drunk Real at risk of knockout blow in Europe
Bashed by Barca, Madrid’s final shot at silverware could be ended by Ajax
BARCELONA — Two demoralizing losses to Barcelona have left Real Madrid with just one chance to salvage its season by winning a record-extending fourth consecutive Champions League trophy.
But it must try and do so without the goals of superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who left for Juventus at the end of last season.
Madrid failed to score against Barcelona in two “Clasico” matches at its Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in the past week.
Barcelona eliminated Madrid from the Copa del Rey semifinals with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday, and three days later left Madrid 12 points adrift in La Liga with a 1-0 win.
Madrid could do with rediscovering its scoring touch to avoid another calamity when it hosts Ajax in the return leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday. The Dutch side won 2-1 in Amsterdam thanks to goals from Karim Benzema and Marco Asensio.
“We gave it our all (against Barcelona) but weren’t decisive enough in the box,” defender Dani Carvajal said.
“On Tuesday, we need to lay it all on the line. They (Ajax) have had a good rest and we saw what they can do in the first leg. I hope the fans back us because we want to give them something to cheer.”
Manchester United and Borussia Dortmund also need to overturn defeats by Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham to advance.
Madrid’s biggest threat against Barcelona was the pace and wizardry of Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior. But the 18-year-old failed to take his chances and got little help from the Real’s veterans.
Benzema squandered his opportunities and Gareth Bale was jeered by segments of the crowd when substituted on Saturday.
Aside from his fluctuating form, Welshman Bale has been stung by recent claims from Real goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois that he is something of a social outcast among the squad.
Madrid is without suspended centerback Sergio Ramos, while Ajax has won its past three games by at least three goals.
“Goals come in patches,” said Madrid manager Santiago Solari. “We’ll keep plugging away. We can’t let our teamwork, solidity and commitment slip.”
Here is a look at this week’s other three Champions League matches:
PSG vs Man United
United faces the daunting task on Wednesday of retrieving a 2-0 loss against a Paris Saint-Germain side spearheaded by Kylian Mbappe.
The 20-year-old France forward scored in the first leg at Old Trafford, and bagged a brace on Saturday at Caen.
He has now netted in all five Ligue 1 games since PSG lost Neymar and Edinson Cavani to injury.
“The coach said we had to win this game to prepare well for Manchester’s visit and that’s what we did,” said Mbappe, who took his tally to 24 goals in 21 French league games.
Mbappe will hope to profit from more open spaces as United chases the game without suspended midfielder Paul Pogba.
PSG can also count on Cavani, who has resumed full training.
Dortmund vs Tottenham
After such a promising start under new coach Lucien Favre and an overhaul of the squad, Borussia Dortmund’s season is unraveling.
Its 3-0 first-leg loss at Tottenham came after it was knocked out of the German Cup and held to two draws in the Bundesliga.
Nothing has happened since to suggest Dortmund can recover on Tuesday. It has only one win from seven games across all competitions and has allowed Bayern Munich to draw level on points atop the Bundesliga after surrendering what was once a nine-point lead.
“We’re scoring goals against ourselves,” Marco Reus said after Friday’s 2-1 loss at Augsburg.
Tottenham’s domestic form has also wilted. Saturday’s 1-1 draw in the north London derby against Arsenal appears to have ended Spurs’ title hopes as Tottenham now trails leader Manchester City by 10 points.
Porto vs Roma
Roma and Porto are in crisis ahead of Wednesday’s clash in Portugal, with the Italian visitor holding a slim 2-1 advantage.
Roma fell to a 3-0 derby humiliation against Lazio on Saturday to seriously damage its chances of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
Porto is also reeling after losing 2-1 to Benfica on Saturday to be leapfrogged by its fierce rival at the top of the Portuguese league.