Real Madrid, Dynamo Kiev prepare for clash

Madrid:

Real Madrid coach Mariano Garcia Remon is facing the difficult task of structuring a team to play against in-form Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League on Tuesday without key midfielder David Beckham and, more crucially, minus central defenders Jonathan Woodgate and Walter Samuel. Samuel cannot play due to an accumulation of yellow cards, while Woodgate is recovering from cruciate ligament damage to his left knee. Beckham cracked two ribs in England's World Cup qualifier against Wales nine days ago. Ray of hope One piece of good news for Real is that right back Michel Salgado has recovered from an ankle injury suffered in Spain's match against Lithuania. Real Madrid are anxious to dispel the doubts about their early season form with a convincing win over Group B leaders Dynamo Kiev in the Champions League at the Bernabeu in Madrid. Real dropped into the bottom half of the Spanish league table after a disappointing 1-1 draw away to Real Betis on Saturday and now trail unbeaten leaders Barcelona by nine points after seven matches. Perhaps of even greater concern for the nine-times European champions has been the failure of their much-vaunted forward line to find the back of the net. Weak season Despite the presence of Ronaldo, Raul, Michael Owen and Fernando Morientes, Real have scored just five league goals so far this season, and two of those have come from set pieces. The good news, though, for coach Mariano Garcia Remon is that Ronaldo rediscovered his scoring touch when he grabbed his second goal of the season with the equaliser against Betis. Remon is under no illusions about the size of the task, but is quietly confident. (AP)