• Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane leads his team's training session in Kiev ahead of the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. EPA
    Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane leads his team's training session in Kiev ahead of the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. EPA
  • Real Madrid's midfielder Luka Modric and teammates take part in a training session at the Olympiyskiy Stadium in Kiev. AFP
    Real Madrid's midfielder Luka Modric and teammates take part in a training session at the Olympiyskiy Stadium in Kiev. AFP
  • Real Madrid's midfielder Toni Kroos and teammates take part in a training session ahead of the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. AFP
    Real Madrid's midfielder Toni Kroos and teammates take part in a training session ahead of the Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk. AFP
  • Real Madrid players during a training session in Kiev. EPA
    Real Madrid players during a training session in Kiev. EPA
  • Zinedine Zidane oversees a training session in Kiev. EPA
    Zinedine Zidane oversees a training session in Kiev. EPA
  • Real Madrid's players take part in a training session at the Olympiyskiy Stadium in Kiev. AFP
    Real Madrid's players take part in a training session at the Olympiyskiy Stadium in Kiev. AFP
  • Real Madrid players train ahead of their Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk. AFP
    Real Madrid players train ahead of their Champions League clash against Shakhtar Donetsk. AFP
  • Zinedine Zidane leads a training session in Kiev. AFP
    Zinedine Zidane leads a training session in Kiev. AFP

Real Madrid eye qualification as they train for Champions League clash with Shakhtar Donetsk - in pictures


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Mounting injuries are the biggest concern for Real Madrid as they take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Manager Zinedine Zidane had to defend forward Eden Hazard after the forward picked up another injury.

Belgium national team doctor Kris van Crombrugge had suggested Hazard's injury issues since joining Real were down to mental stress. However Zidane refuted those claims.

"He's really strong mentally. It's another injury for him, and it's disappointing for us. These are things that happen in many teams and we need to deal with it," Zidane said.

Hazard joins captain Sergio Ramos, midfielder Federico Valverde, defender Dani Carvajal and forward Luka Jovic on the sidelines.

Real will qualify for the knockout stage with a win over Shakhtar, and will be aiming to avenge their 3-2 defeat by the Ukrainian team in October.

"We know that tomorrow is another final. We've got two left. Tomorrow is almost certainly the most important group stage game because they're three points which could see us qualify. We're fully focused on that."

Real's defensive lapses have seen them ship seven goals in their last three La Liga games and defender Nacho conceded they have to improve.

"We always want to be secure defensively as that's how you win games. The opponents are studying us more and more but you've got to remember that before players we're humans and we try and do the best we can."