Real Madrid official Emilio Butragueno has told Marca that he is looking forward to playing against Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool will lock horns with Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League this campaign.
The first leg of the tie will be held at Anfield.
The second leg will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Madrid won the UEFA Champions League final against Liverpool last season.
Butragueno, who is the Institutional Relations director and CEO of Real Madrid Graduate School Universidad Europea, is looking forward to the tie.
The Madrid legend is wary of the threat that Liverpool pose, but he believes that the fans at the Santiago Bernabeu in the second leg could be decisive.
Emilio Butragueno on Real Madrid v Liverpool
The Madrid official said: “They are two historic teams.It’s going to be an electric and fascinating playoff for fans. We are going to try to defend our status as champions knowing who we are facing.
“The World Cup will condition the whole season. Let’s see how the players come back. Hopefully we will be able to arrive in perfect condition.
“It is a champion team, with a stadium that pushes a lot. Liverpool is going to be a very difficult rival, but we are Real Madrid. Second leg at the Bernabeu, with the support of our fans.”
In our view, Real Madrid will head into the UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Liverpool as favourites.
Madrid won the title last season and are playing well at the moment.
Liverpool have done well in Europe this season, but in the Premier League, they have struggled, especially defensively.
We think that Los Blancos will fancy their chances of winning the tie against the Reds, but the defending La Liga champions need to be careful about losing at Anfield in the second leg.
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