Real Madrid have already locked in top spot in Champions League Group G but will be looking to boost their morale after a difficult spell by defeating an Auxerre side who can at best manage a place in the Europa League.
Los Blancos are still haunted by memories of their heavy Clasico defeat against Barcelona, but at the weekend they put those to bed to some extent with a victory over Valencia. Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice against the unadventurous and unimpressive Che, keeping the capital side in touch with their Catalan rivals at the summit of the standings.
“We have proven in this game that we have character,” Raul Albiol explained to the media after the weekend win against opponents who were reduced to 10 men midway through the second half. “It was very important to get the points to stay very close in the standings. With an early goal, things would have been easier for us and the fans I personally am very happy to have played. I feel happy.”
Wednesday’s match may be a Champions League fixture, but for los Merengues there are more important matches ahead. Keeping in touch with Barca is of paramount important at this point in time and so it’s likely that Jose Mourinho will reserve many of his best players for the weekend fixture against Zaragoza, allowing the fringe men to stretch their legs in this encounter.
Difficult Times
A trip to the Bernabeu is always a special occasion for any visiting side, but particularly so for Auxerre, who still have aspirations of reaching the Europa League. If the Frenchmen are to achieve that, they will somehow have to pick up maximum points against opponents who will not bow readily.
AJA’s recent form has been largely lamentable too. A 1-1 draw against a Racing Club de Lens side who are in the relegation zone was achieved at the weekend, though it required a late contribution from Jean-Pascal Mignot to save the Burgundy men from slipping to a third successive loss.
“We equalised from a corner that should never have been awarded. We were lucky,” coach Jean Fernandez admitted after the game. “Yet again we’ve conceded a header from a set-piece. That never happened to us last season when we had the best defence in the league and it’s happening far too often this campaign. The draw is precious for our confidence before travelling to Real Madrid on Wednesday.”
Injury problems have a real grip of the Stade Abbe-Deschamps unit, who are missing a number of first team squad members, including Cedric Hengbart and Delvin N’Dinga, both of whom have been ruled out until 2011 over the course of the last fortnight. With few resources, AJA have been unable to acquire a deep squad and are simply muddling along the best as possible at present. If they were to attain even a point on Wednesday, it would be a colossal boost to the team.
TEAM NEWS
Real Madrid
Gonzalo Higuain, Kaka, Fernando Gago, Sergio Canales, Sami Khedira and Angel Di Maria are all out injured. Xabi Alonso and Sergio Ramos are both banned following their controversial red cards against Ajax, while Iker Casillas is rested.
Castilla players Sarabia and Morata are included in the squad.
Auxerre
AJA have a lengthy list of injury problems approaching this fixture. Ireneusz Jelen is still missing from the offence, which should welcome back Anthony Le Tallec, and the midfield is minus Delvin N’Dinga. Jeremy Berthod, who can play a central role but is more commonly found in defence, is absent, along with Cedric Hengbart.
Prediction
Auxerre have been competitive in all of their Champions League fixtures to date, but arguably this is their toughest assignment to date, despite Real Madrid having already qualified. AJA are depleted in numbers, and though los Blancos are unlikely to approach this game in a full blooded manner, the hosts should have enough to comfortably see off the Frenchmen.
Real Madrid 2-0 AJ Auxerre 
