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Spalletti: There are no favourites

Spalletti: There are no favourites

Luciano Spalletti believes Tuesday's game at the Stadio Olimpico against Real Madrid is evenly balanced between two teams that have an equal possibility of reaching the quarter-finals

"I don't think there are any favourites, both sides have a 50-50 chance of making it through the round," declared the Giallorossi coach. "We want confirmation of the progress we're making and this is the perfect match to understand whether we're on the right track or not.

"I have a lot of trust in my players because I've witnessed how focused they've been recently and I've seen that they are constantly moving forward."

The coach from Tuscany also touched on the confidence that his players need to have in themselves out on the pitch, especially against star players like Cristiano Ronaldo.

"I've heard talk about sticking men on him but I won't tell my players that three of them need to mark Cristiano Ronaldo. I'm not going to say to them that they're worth a third of one Portuguese player, otherwise I would need a team of 33 to face a side of that quality.

"I have to let whoever is playing in the same area as him know that he has the chance to match Cristiano Ronaldo."

Spalletti is viewing the game against Real as an opportunity to show off all the positive things that Roma have done in this period.

"We're on the right track and my players have the opportunity to make another leap forward, even more than what we've achieved recently.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Roma win in the last minute of the second leg to qualify for the next round. I wouldn't be surprised if we're still in the competition at the end of this tie."