Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema says the players raise their game in the Champions League and are looking forward to their tie with Atletico de Madrid.
Los Blancos face their cross-city rivals in the quarter-finals next month in a repeat of last year’s final, which Real won 4-1 to secure the 10th Champions League crown.
But since that famous night in Lisbon, Carlo Ancelotti’s men have failed to beat Los Rojiblancos in six attempts this year. They lost both encounters in La Liga, as well as a draw and a loss each in the two legged Spanish Supercopa and Copa del Rey ties.
In Europe this season, Real breezed through the group stages winning all six games. But having defeated Schalke 2-0 in the first leg of their last 16 tie, they almost blew it at the Santiago Bernabeu, going down 4-3 and clinging on by their fingernails for the last seven or eight frantic minutes.
But speaking in an interview with Marca, Benzema said the Real players love playing in European competition and raise their game in the Champions League.
He stated: “It’s going to be tough, it always is, but Real Madrid always raise their game in the Champions League. We’re thrilled to be playing in Europe.”
