MADRID, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Fernando Torres will be gunning for Real Madrid, city rivals with his old club Atletico, when Liverpool meet the Primera Liga champions in the last 16 of Champions League, former Anfield defender Phil Thompson said.
Thompson captained Liverpool to a 1-0 win over Real in the 1981 European Cup final and said the Spain striker will be fired up after missing out on the matches against Atletico earlier in the competition through injury.
“Torres didn’t get the opportunity to play against Atletico,” Thompson said on the club’s website (www.liverpoolfc.tv). “So, he’ll be really looking forward to going back there and putting one over Real.”
The tie over two legs in February and March has a special significance for several other members of the Liverpool setup.
Manager and Madrid native Rafael Benitez coached Real reserves early in his career, defender Alvaro Arbeloa joined Real as a 16-year-old and goalkeeper Pepe Reina was born in the Spanish capital.
It’s also a chance for ex-Espanyol midfielder Albert Riera and Xabi Alonso, formerly of Real Sociedad, to take a shot at the nine-times champions of Europe.
However, Real Madrid sporting director Predrag Mijatovic, scorer of the only goal in the 1998 Champions League final against Juventus, noted that the Spanish champions have traditionally done well against English sides.
The lengthy experience in the competition of players like Raul would count in their favour, he added.
“At this level there are no easy teams and if a club wants to get far in the competition the harder the opposition the better,” he said on Real’s website (www.realmadrid.com).
“We are capable of doing it and we are confident of mounting a really good campaign. We have a lot of time to prepare and motivation will not be lacking.”
VERY OPTIMISTIC
Mijatovic said Liverpool had put together some impressive performances in the competition in recent years whereas Real had struggled.
“But I think now is the time for us to go further,” he said. “Our players have a lot of experience in the competition and we have to be very optimistic.”
New Real coach Juande Ramos, who was in charge at Liverpool’s Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur until the end of October, said neither club would be pleased with Friday’s draw but he added that he knew Rafael Benitez and his side “perfectly well”.
“Real Madrid is not afraid of anyone and we have the same chance to get through as them,” he told reporters.
(Editing by Justin Palmer)
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