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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Sports Staff

Real Madrid will respond to shock Eibar loss against Roma in the Champions League, insists Santiago Solari

Real Madrid coach Santiago Solari is confident his side will rise to the occasion once again when they return to Champions League action in the wake of their latest La Liga setback.

Club captain Sergio Ramos openly criticised his team-mates after their 3-0 defeat at Eibar which shattered their recent resurgence and left them trailing in sixth place in the table.

Solari is convinced his side have the mettle to bounce back when they travel to face Eusebio Di Francesco's Roma - who like Madrid, are suffering a domestic hangover.

Speaking in a press conference, Solari said: “The defeat [at Eibar] was a major blow of course, but it's in the past. We have analysed it and now we will try to improve.

“Real Madrid have had to come through many tests and the club always recovers after falling. This is why Real Madrid is history's winner.”

Solari refused to speak about the comments by Ramos about some of his team-mates' attitudes, but he is set to shuffle his starting line-up with Casemiro injured and either Dani Ceballos or Marcos Llorente in line to return.

Madrid have enjoyed an upturn in results since Solari replaced Julen Lopetegui (Getty)

Roma have been experiencing similar problems in Serie A this season and head into the game on the back of a dismal defeat at Udinese on Saturday.

To make matters worse for Di Francesco's side, both Lorenzo Pellegrini and Robin Olsen picked up injuries which will require late fitness tests ahead of Tuesday's game.

Roma are already without Daniele De Rossi, Diego Perotti and Javier Pastore, but they have received some much-needed welcome news with the return to fitness of defender Kostas Manolas.

And recent setbacks have not dimmed the bullish mood of defender Aleksandar Kolarov, who insisted there will be no repeat of his side's meek 3-0 defeat at the Bernabeu in September.

“The Roma that played in Madrid were not the Roma that are used to playing in the Champions League,” he said.

“On Tuesday we are at home and we have to show Real that they are the visitors now and we have to go out there and take to the field like men.”

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