Bernd Schuster has opted to re-shuffle Real Madrid's defence for their Champions League opener against BATE Borisov.Madrid shipped three goals at home to promoted Numancia on Sunday and of the back four that started that match only left-back Marcelo has been named in an 18-man squad for the visit of BATE.
Christoph Metzelder and Michel Salgado have both been omitted while Pepe is suspended, meaning Sergio Ramos, Fabio Cannavaro and Gabriel Heinze - who all played no part in Sunday's match for various reasons - could start.
Despite that though, Schuster insists he does not have any concerns about his side's defending in general, just from set-pieces.
"Defensively there is not a problem. From dead balls we have to show more attention and aggression. Many teams play games against us in this manner because they do not have sufficient quality," said Schuster.
"Tomorrow could be similar because BATE are a team who are very good from dead balls."
Even though they conceded three goals, Madrid still managed to beat Numancia 4-3 for their first points of the Primera Liga season, and Schuster is hoping they can build on that with a triumph over Belorussian surprise package BATE.
"Without doubt it is of vital importance to win tomorrow, but it's clear that you also have to win your other two home games," said Schuster. "We cannot afford to slip up."
Madrid are looking to be crowned champions of Europe for a record 10th time this season, but to do that they will need to improve massively on their recent campaigns.
Their most recent Champions League success came back in 2002 and they have lost at the first knockout stage in each of the last four years, going down to Juventus, Arsenal, Bayern Munich and then to Roma last term.
Schuster believes he has the squad to do better this time around though, saying: "I have total trust in this team.
"I think that last year we lacked two or three key things against Roma, but it was not a lack of quality. This year I have faith that this team can go much further than last year."
Aside from Pepe, Madrid are also with Ruben de la Red through a suspension picked up while he was with Getafe last season, while Wesley Sneijder is still not fully fit.
BATE are in unchartered territory having become the first Belorussian side to reach the group stages of the Champions League after knocking out Levski Sofia, Anderlecht and Valur Reykjavik in the three qualifying rounds.
Their good form has not been limited to Europe either, and Viktor Goncharenko's side travel to Madrid sitting proudly atop the Vysshaya Liga with 47 points from 21 games.
BATE are also unbeaten in those 21 matches, although in their last five outings they have been held to four draws.
BATE, whose most famous ex-player is probably Barcelona new boy Alexander Hleb, insist they are not travelling to the Bernabeu just to make up the numbers with coach Goncharenko insisting: "We are not going to give up before the game has kicked off.
"We are not even thinking about losing and, of course, we are not considering a heavy defeat. The word 'defeat' is not in our vocabulary," he added.
by espnstar.com
