Real Madrid will look to wrap up Group B when they host Galatasaray in the Champions League on Wednesday.
A draw is all Madrid require to finish Group B as winners, and if the reverse fixture against Galatasaray on Matchday One, when Real romped to a 6-1 victory in Turkey, is anything to go by, then qualification as top dogs looks like a foregone conclusion.
Real lead the group with ten points from four matches, with Galatasaray second on four points, the same as Copenhagen, who travel to take on fourth-placed Juventus, who are on three points.
"Our goal is to be first in group and play as best we can," Real manager Carlo Ancelotti said. "There are two more games to do that and we want to win both. We're not looking at the numbers and we have to give it our all in both matches.
"Tomorrow [Wednesday] will be intense because their qualification is on the line. We're confident, but not because of the result of the match in Istanbul. They played really well against Juventus in Turin. They have defensive and offensive skill."
Galatasaray might be happy to come away with a point against Real on Wednesday, with Roberto Mancini confident of then going onto take all three points in their home game, the final group match, against Juventus.
"If we don't do well tomorrow then Juventus and Copenhagen will have a better chance," Mancini said. "We play the last game at home and we want to win it. Tomorrow will be difficult, but we will do what we can. We can beat Juventus."
Former Manchester City manager Mancini believes Real are now a better team with coach Ancelotti and the arrival of Gareth Bale, who is slowly but surely starting to show his prowess in the white shirt of the Spanish champions. "I think that Madrid were strong last season and they are strong this year," he said. "You could even say they have improved because Bale has arrived and they have changed coach.
"We are talking about the best of the best so to play here is always difficult. I think that Carlo is one of the best coaches in Europe. He has managed the best teams. He is a composed person, a good person, things that are very good in a coach."
Team news: Real Madrid will be without superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who will not be risked by Ancelotti. Ronaldo scored a brilliant hat-trick in the reverse fixture, and Mancini will heave a sigh of relief at not having to think about the possibility of the Portuguese forward ripping his defence apart.
"He can't play tomorrow because he's had a small problem," Ancelotti said of Ronaldo. "He'll start to work on the pitch alone tomorrow [Wednesday] and we'll see if he can be ready for Saturday. It's a strain, but the player is confident he can play on Saturday. If there's a risk of injury he won't play. We're not going to run the risk because he's suspended in the Copa del Rey and can also rest."
Sami Khedira is a long-term injury victim for Real Madrid, with Fabio Coentrao also sidelined.
Galatasaray are expected to be without Wesley Sneijder, Semih Kaya and Hamit Altintop.
Key men: Real Madrid: Gareth Bale will take centre-stage in the absence of Ronaldo and the Welshman will want to continue his recent good run of form.
Galatasaray: Didier Drogba will definitely trouble the Real defence with his physical presence, and if the former Chelsea legend can add a goal or two as well, all the better for the Turkish champions.
Where to Watch Live
The game is scheduled for a 1.15 am IST start on Thursday morning with live coverage on Ten Sports in India. You can catch the action live online by clicking the link HERE. To live stream the action in North Africa and the Middle East, click HERE. To watch the match in the U.S. via Fox Sports click HERE. To catch all the action via live streaming in the U.K., click HERE.
Expected lineups: Real Madrid: Lopez, Carvajal, Pepe, Ramos, Marcelo, Illarramendi, Casemiro, Bale, Isco, Di Maria, Benzema.
Galatasaray: Iscan, Eboue, Zan, Chedjou, Gulselam, Melo, Riera, Inan, Bulut, B Yilmaz, Drogba.
Prediction: 2-1 to Real Madrid
