Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti insists Cristiano Ronaldo is fully focused on the team's requirements and not writing his name into the Uefa Champions League history books.
The Portugal international is one goal away from equalling former Real striker Raul’s tally of 71 in Europe’s elite competition.
Even the return of fellow forward Gareth Bale after a five-match injury absence is unlikely to take any of the spotlight away from Ronaldo, but Ancelotti is not concerned by talk of landmark moments as they prepare for the Group B game against a side they defeated in England 3-0 last month.
“Cristiano is working hard for himself and the side, just like other players,” said the coach of the defending champions.
“I don’t think he’s thinking about the record. He has time – it’s not his last game. He is focused on playing for the team.”
Victory for Real tonight would guarantee they qualify for the knockout stages, despite still having two group games to play, and they will be crowned group winners if they are successful and Basel and Ludogrets, the other two teams in the group, draw their match on Tuesday night.
Bale's comeback after a gluteal leg muscle injury gives Liverpool, who are struggling in the English Premier League and were beaten 1-0 at Newcastle United on Saturday, an even greater headache.
“Gareth Bale is ready to play and is back from injury. I don’t know if he will play from the off or on the bench,” said Ancelotti.
While Real have no problems up front – they won 4-0 against Granada at the weekend to take their goal tally to 37 in 10 matches in the Primera Division – Liverpool have been woefully lacking during the injury-enforced absence of last season’s second-highest scorer Daniel Sturridge.
Much-maligned striker Mario Balotelli has found the net just twice since his £16 million (Dh93.9m) summer move from AC Milan but will be expected to shoulder the burden again at the Bernabeu.
He will hope to last longer than the 45 minutes he did in the game at Anfield, when he caused an outcry among some supporters by swapping shirts with Real defender Pepe as they headed down the tunnel – from which the Italian did not emerge for the restart after manager Brendan Rodgers made a change.
Ancelotti sprang to the striker’s defence on Monday.
“Balotelli is spoken of a lot, maybe too much,” he said.
“He has quality and is at a side where they’re not playing well having lost (Luis) Suarez, who scored a lot. They need another solution but I don’t think all of Liverpool’s problems are Balotelli.
“He needs to do his work for the side, that’s all that can be asked of him – and I don’t have a problem with shirt changing.”
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