Gasperini: Real Madrid were favourites, now even more so, but Atalanta are still alive

Gian Piero Gasperini believes that although Real Madrid are favourites to qualify to the Champions League quarter-finals, Atalanta could still turn the tie around and knock them out of the competition.

Ferland Mendy's goal in the first leg gave Los Blancos a narrow 1-0 victory over La Dea and the two sides will face again each other in the second leg on Tuesday at the Estadio Alfredo di Stefano.

"Real Madrid are favourites, especially after the first game's result, but will are still in the tie," Gasperini told the press.

"We must play a good game. We will play our style [of football] to contain this great team and then work on our virtues."

Casemiro is suspended for the game with Atalanta and Zinedine Zidane could play with three men at the back, but Gasperini stressed that La Dea's tactics do not depend on those of their opponents.

"We are prepared to play in our own way," Gasperini continued.

"I don't know how Real Madrid will play, but our XI does not depend on that.

"They can change during the game several times, but we are prepared to react. [Our] team does not depend on what Zidane will do."

Asked about his frustration following the red card shown to Remo Freuler in the first leg, Gasperini explained that the referee's decision changed the flow of the game.

"It was not frustration, it was the displeasure of not having been able to play a normal game," Gasperini noted.

"It took us out of what we are used to, [as] we could only defend. But that has already happened. Our idea is never to park the bus in front of the goal."