Madrid coach needs win to lift pressure

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez may have received a public vote of confidence from president Florentino Perez but knows his long-term future at the football club depends on results with the time between now and the New Year crucial towards keeping his job.

The first game Benitez must face is on Wednesday when his side travel to Ukraine to play Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League. The game itself is not important for Real Madrid given that they have already assured their place in the last 16 of the competition as winners of their group, but Benitez needs a convincing display from his players to start to bury memories of Saturday’s 0-4 humiliation against FC Barcelona in La Liga, reports Xinhua.

He will be without the injured left back Marcelo and central defender Sergio Ramos, who needs to rest his injured shoulder and the question is how many first team regulars will he rest ahead of this weekend’s potentially difficult trip to Eibar’s small Ipurua Stadium for La Liga. It is a balance Benitez must get right, because although Madrid can afford to lose to Shakhtar, the current situation means they have to produce a decent performance to reduce the pressure on their embattled coach. Apart from the coach, some players such as Gareth Bale, Isco, Danilo and Cristiano Ronaldo also need a good display after being criticised for their poor performances against Barcelona.

Madrid are not the only Spanish side in action on Wednesday night with Atletico Madrid looking to seal their place in the last 16 at home to Turkish side, Galatasaray, who they have already beaten once this season.