Today at 2:45 in Spain, Real Madrid will look to improve to 2-0 in UEFA Champions League Group B play when they take on FC Copenhagen, which is in search of its first win of the year. Live stream the action here.
Real Madrid dropped a derby match to Atletico Madrid earlier in the week, and will go up against Copenhagen today without star player Gareth Bale, who is set to undergo tests on an injured thigh. Madrid has not played great soccer so far in 2013, despite some wins, something coach Carlo Ancelotti has taken upon himself to rectify.
"This is my responsibility. I'm going to fix it, it's normal that they are upset," Ancelotti said of restless Madrid fans accustomed to Jose Mourinho's high standards. "It's a motivation for me because I want the public to enjoy Real Madrid."
He continued, "The results were good up until last week. We haven't started to play naturally yet. You need to have more time for the players to use the system in the most natural way possible. We've changed many things."
Madrid will be trying to put their derby loss on the back burner, which left them in a pickle in the Primera division standings, because they are on top of Group B in the Champions League. "It's not good to lose a derby and we need a quick reaction, both in our play and in results," Ancelotti said. "I have confidence in the players and I think they're going to respond well. The game against Copenhagen is a good chance to recover."
Copenhagen coach Stale Solbakken's side fought Juventus to a draw in their Champions League opener, and knows Madrid will be a tall order.
"Our immediate aim is to play a fantastic match here tomorrow and then to get maximum points against Galatasaray in Copenhagen," Solbakken said. "Obviously we need points away from home, too, and it is just possible that we could give Madrid a fright."
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