Being eliminated in the Champions League would be a disaster, but a draw against Borussia could be worse

Prestige and values against 'biscotto'

photo_camera PHOTO/INDIRA/DAX vía ZUMA - Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane appears dejected during the Group B match

The prestige of Real Madrid would be put in question and its history broken without any possibility of recovery.

A defeat of Real Madrid against Borussia on Wednesday 9 December would eliminate them in the Champions League, and Zidane would be left with a foot and a half outside the club. A draw would qualify both teams.

The 'biscotto' is an Italian term used to refer to the situation of agreeing a draw in a match that would result in both teams qualifying.

Former Real Madrid and Inter Milan player Esteban Cambiasso does not believe this can happen. In declarations to Sky Sport he said: "I can assure you that there will be no 'biscotto'. I know Madrid well". Cambiasso grew up and was educated in the Madrid discipline. At home he can't afford a draw and be second in the group. His story tells other things.

Indeed his story tells other things; Real Madrid Club de Fútbol has a firm commitment to values and principles based on ethics, dignity, honour and responsibility.

There have been 'biscottos' that have gone down in football history such as Germany and Austria in the World Cup in Spain to the detriment of Algeria or Denmark and Sweden in the Euro 2004 to the detriment of Italy, which was eliminated.

In Italy, rather the media, fears that the white team does not print the necessary intensity and accommodates itself in case the match is tied and they do not want to take risks. I don't think the Italian team thinks the same way. Both Inter and Real Madrid would not tarnish their image with a "minor team" label.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, Real Madrid have a very difficult match against Julen Lopetegui's Sevilla FC. A coach who will be keen to defeat the Blancos, remembering his bad experience with them.

Zidane's team has a lot at stake as they are six points behind Atlético and seven points behind the leader, Real Sociedad. It is an important advantage, but, with more than half of the League to play, it is recoverable.

Atalayar_ Real Madrid

On Wednesday, with the Germans of Borussia Moenchengladbach, their continuity in the Champions League is at stake. We do not know if Zidane will reserve players. He should, above all after seeing the result that the substitutes like Marcelo, Isco, Asensio, Jovic, Mariano or Vinicius are giving.

In the event of a possible injury to a regular player or simply a slight load of matches, the team falls apart.

Zidane has to prevail. Ramos, in spite of the fact that it is the match against "his Sevilla", must rest and recover completely for the match with the Germans. The same goes for Benzema, Modric, Casemiro, Kroos and, strangely enough, Lucas Vazquez. The Galician striker, who has been converted into a full-back, has no spare parts as Carvajal and Odriozola are injured.

On Saturday in Seville, Zidane should give the umpteenth opportunity to the substitutes. Let them prove that they can be regulars. Or to show that they have no level for Real Madrid and that their time at the Bernabeu has expired.

Two defeats, on Saturday against Sevilla and on Wednesday against Borussia, would put the French coach in a very, very complicated situation. Losing on Saturday, but saving the classification in Champions with a victory against the Germans would give a little margin to the technician.

To win the two games would not be of surprising being Madrid the protagonist. It would bring a lot of tranquility to the white team. Winning on Saturday and achieving the classification with a draw against the Germans would open the debate of the 'biscotto' and as we said above would stain the image of the, for many, best team in the world.

We do not know if Zinedine Zidane will use the best, although they are not in the best conditions, on Saturday against Sevilla. If this is the case, he would run the risk of facing the Champions League match without Ramos, without Casemiro and other pillars of the team.

Ramos has to be in full condition for the Champions match on Wednesday, fully recovered from his muscle injury. If he plays three days earlier he will not be. The white captain is indispensable right now. He gives security to the defence and if the match gets complicated he assumes responsibility and gives character to the team.

Having to play a very important match with substitutes, who have not given a proper result so far this year to be players of Real Madrid CF, would be very risky.

What is clear is that the white team on Wednesday has to win, a draw is not worth it. Because of sportsmanship, because of manners and because of history.

More in Sports