Basel vs Real Madrid: Champions League match preview

A look ahead to tonight's clash at St. Jakob’s-Park

(GETTY IMAGES)

Real Madrid travel to Basel knowing that they are already assured of their place in the round of 16. However, they will equal the club’s record winning run with a victory this evening.

Basel – currently on 6 points – will want to get a result out of tonight's fixture rather than having to go into their final game against Liverpool with work still to do.

Last time the two sides met was back in September, when Real Madrid eased passed a struggling Basel team with a comfortable 5-1 victory.

FC Basel will go into the match without the services of Ivorian midfielder Serey Die due to suspension, but Paulo Sousa will be filled with confidence in his defence, which has gone 434 minutes without conceding.

If Basel are to outshine Real Madrid in Switzerland, they will need the likes of Granit Xhaka and Breel Embolo to be on top form to break down Real Madrid's formidable defence.

KICK-OFF: Wednesday, 7:45pm

PAST THREE MEETINGS…

Real Madrid 5 (Suchy OG, Bale, Ronaldo, Rodriguez, Benzema) FC Basel 1 (Gonzalez), Champions League, September 2014

Real Madrid 2 (Aguilair, Santillana) Basel (Urs Siegenthaler), UEFA Cup, 1971

Basel 1 (Hasler) Real Madrid 2 (Aguilar, Santillana), UEFA Cup, 1971

STATS…

Real Madrid have won 6 of their last 7 matches in the Champions League.

FC Basel have won 4 and drawn 1 in their last 5 games in domestic and continental competitions.

Real Madrid have been winning at both half time and full time in 5 of their last 7 matches in the Champions League.

Cristiano Ronaldo has to score four times to equal Leo Messi's new Champions League goalscoring record.

ODDS…

Basel to win: 7.5

Real Madrid to win: 0.4

Draw: 4

TV: Sky Sports 3 at 7:45pm, highlights on Sky Sports 1 at 10.00pm.