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Two of Europe’s greatest clubs ,with 15 European Cup successes between them renew their rivalry at Anfield tomorrow, with Liverpool looking to preserve their unlikely, 100 percent record against Real Madrid, in Europe’s elite competition. While that match evokes past and present glory, Barcelona play Ajax Amsterdam, in another Champions League match between European aristocracy, with eight European Cup wins between them.

The game between AS Roma and Bayern Munich in Rome, another heavyweight affair, gives Francesco Totti another chance to beat his own record, as the oldest man to score in the competition.

Real, the reigning European champions, have lost all three competitive European matches they have played against Liverpool: the 1981 European Cup final, when Liverpool beat them 1-0 in Paris as well as 4-0 and 1-0 defeats in the last 16 of the Champions League in 2009.

But Real arrive for their Group B match in great form, having won their last seven matches in all competitions, following their second successive 5-0 win in La Liga, over Levante on Saturday.

Liverpool meanwhile will need to improve on their somewhat fortunate 3-2 Premier League win, over Queens Park Rangers on Sunday, when they needed the help of two own goals from the struggling London side for a late victory.

Still, coach Brendan Rodgers says he is keen to face Real on Wednesday.
“Real Madrid are playing as well as they have played for the last five to 10 years, the threats they have,” he said after the QPR game. “I’m really looking forward to that.”
Real’s win at Levante featured another two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, who has now scored 15 goals in seven La Liga starts this season.

Real coach Carlos Ancelotti, always keen to do well against Liverpool, after they beat his AC Milan side on penalties in the famous 2005 final in Istanbul, after trailing 3-0 at halftime, has two big games ahead of him this week.

After the trip to Anfield comes the first Clasico of the season, against Barcelona next weekend.
“We’re on a good run but we need to remember that behind the goals there is sacrifice, fight and concentration. You don’t score without sacrifice and concentration. The best players realise that,” Ancelotti said. – Reuters