Real Madrid defender David Alaba is expecting a tough tie in the last 16 of the Champions League against Liverpool despite their struggles this season.
The former Bayern Munich player is into his second campaign at the Bernabeu and played the full 90 minutes against the Reds when Madrid won the Champions League final 1-0 in Paris.
Carlo Ancelotti's side will head into the two-legged tie strong favourites with them second in La Liga, while Liverpool are currently sixth in the Premier League.
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The Reds spent much of the 2022 final on the front foot, but struggled to find a way past Thibaut Courtois in the Madrid goal as he was awarded Man of the Match at the Stade de France.
The Austria international told Bild when asked about his future ambitions: "I want to celebrate successes: personal, with Real Madrid and with the national team. We want to win the league, be at the top. That is my ambition, I do not understand things in any other way.
"We also want to compete well in the other competitions, although we know that the game against Liverpool in the Champions League will be brutally difficult."
Alaba added: "It's going to be a fantastic round of 16. The games against Liverpool are always real fights, they are one of the best teams in the world.
"It will be a difficult task, but we want to go to the next round."
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