Modric urges Real not to get caught up in revenge mission

REAL MADRID V BORUSSIA DORTMUND

Luka Modric says revenge is not on Real Madrid’s mind when they go head to head with Borussia Dortmund tonight.

The German club dumped Los Blancos out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage last season but the former Spurs man says his team must stay focused and be clinical this time around.

He said: “We are the same players and the same team. 

“We are really motivated and have put last season behind us. We have to focus on the match. We can’t lose our heads just because we lost the last matches against them.”

Real were knocked out, 4-3 on aggregate, last year when Robert Lewandowski scored four goals in the first leg but the Polish striker is suspended this time around.

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti said: “They are missing an important player in Lewandowski but they defend well and are dangerous on the counter-attack.

“We have to impose our quality and our ability so as to find positive answers. This will be an important element to the game because their counter-attacks are very dangerous. 

“We will go out to play an attacking game but at the same time being careful at the back for their breaks.”

Ancelotti added: “The team is in good shape. We will look to play a game with a lot of intensity so as to find openings in attack. 

“We need to have the right amount of intensity and speed and make sure that we don’t drop the rhythm. They have players missing but so do we.”