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Presidential support. But Benitez needs win to lift pressure after Barca fiasco

Xinhua, November 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Real Madrid coach Rafael Benitez may have received a public vote of confidence from club President, Florentino Perez on Monday but he knows as well as anyone that his long-term continuity at the club depends on results and that the time between now and the New Year will be vital if he is to maintain 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 4-0 humiliation against FC Barcelona.

   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?

   It is a balance Benitez must get right, because although logic says Madrid can afford to lose to Shakhtar, the current situation means they have to turn in a decent performance otherwise the pressure on the coach will turn up another notch. Meanwhile some players such as Gareth Bale, Isco, Danilo and Cristiano Ronaldo also need a good display after being criticized for their weekend performances.

   Real 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.

   Diego Simeone's side moved into second in the Spanish League at the weekend and will want to assure their European qualification ahead of a difficult last group game away to Benfica.

   Finallly although Sevilla's Champions League options have all but vanished, Unai Emery's side play Borussia Munchegladbach aiming to assure a place in the Europa League for after Christmas.

   The reigning Europa League Champions will have to play better than at the weekend when they gave a weak display losing 2-0 away to Real Sociedad. Endi