Legia Warsaw vs Real Madrid. UEFA Champions League Group F.
Pepsi Arena.
Wednesday 2 November 2016 19:47, UK
Real Madrid travel to Poland looking to maintain their unbeaten start to their Champions League campaign.
Los Blancos face Legia Warsaw in the Pepsi Arena in the Polish capital on Wednesday evening and will expect to follow up their comfortable 5-1 victory in the reverse fixture last month with another routine win.
Madrid currently sit joint top of Group F - level on seven points with Borussia Dortmund - and a victory against bottom side Legia would put them in a strong position to qualify for the knock-out stages.
Legia enter the clash after back-to-back victories in the Polish Ekstraklasa but have failed to register a single point in their three Champions League games this season, scoring just once in the process.
Zidane, in his 100th game in charge of Real, has seen an upturn in form from his side after wins against Alaves, Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis.
Team news
Real Madrid might be biog favourites but they will be without a whole host of players in Poland. Centre-backs Sergio Ramos (knee) and Pepe (thigh) are both out with injury, opening the door for Rafael Varane and Nacho to start.
Zidane will also be without midfield pair Casemiro (broken leg) and Luka Modric (knee). Marcelo and out-of-favour James Rodriguez did not make the trip, with Castilla defender Alvaro Tejero the surprise call-up.
Real should nevertheless be able to count upon a front three of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, the latter fresh from scoring a hat-trick against Alaves at the weekend.
Legia should have a fully fit squad to choose from as they look to give a better account of themselves this time around.
Opta stats
Real Madrid have faced Polish clubs on seven occasions in the past, in all competitions. They won all seven of these games.
Real Madrid have failed to score only once in their last 47 Champions League group games (Paris Saint-Germain 0-0 Real Madrid, October 21, 2015).
Legia Warsaw have conceded more goals than any other side this season in the Champions League (13).
However, Real Madrid have won none of their last three away games in the Champions League (D2 L1).
Legia have won only one of their nine games against Spanish opposition, in all competitions (D2 L6): against Atlético Madrid at home in the 1970/71 European Cup quarter finals (2-1 - they were ousted on away goals).
Legia faced 32 shots in the previous matchday against Real Madrid - the most faced by any side in a single Champions League fixture this term, surpassing the 31 attempted by Borussia Dortmund against Legia Warsaw.
Since the start of the 2012/13 Champions League campaign, Cristiano Ronaldo has scored 28 times in his 23 appearances on the road for Real Madrid in the competition.
Follow Legia Warsaw v Real Madrid on SSNHQ's Soccer Special or with our live blog on skysports.com and the Sky Sports apps.
