We have to keep a clean sheet: Raul

Real Madrid striking great Raul, seen here on February 10, 2008, said on Monday that the Spanish champions must keep a clean sheet in their Champions League second round first leg clash against AS Roma on Tuesday.

      ROME, Feb 18, 2008 (AFP) - Real Madrid striking great Raul said on Monday that the Spanish champions must keep a clean sheet in their Champions League second round first leg clash against AS Roma on Tuesday.

      Real play in Italy before taking the Romans back to Spain for the second leg in two weeks time.

      And Raul insisted that it is crucial not to concede a goal in the first leg.

      "It's essential that we don't concede a goal and always try to score one ourselves," he said.

      "If we manage to do this we will be able to say that we have completed our mission."

      Real are flying high, top of La Liga, five points ahead of second-placed Barcelona and they won their Champions League group.

      But Raul is aware that they have achieved nothing yet.

      "Tomorrow (Tuesday) will only be the first test in the Champions League," he added.

      "For now everything is going well, also in the league, but it will be over the next coming months that we will see if this team is capable of going all the way in every competition."

      Raul also had a special word to say about Roma captain Francesco Totti. Both are one-club players who symbolise the teams they play for and many comparisons have been made between the pair.

      "He's a great player, but I don't have to introduce anyone to him, he has all the magic.

      "He's achieved a lot with Roma and with Italy and hence we need to keep him under control, but he's not the only threat for Roma. They are a strong unit."

      Real's German coach Bernd Schuster insisted there was more to Roma than Totti and pointed to Brazilian winger Alessandro Mancini as a potent threat.

      "Roma play with a lot of pace with Totti as the lone striker and two wide men ready to support him, especially Mancini," said Schuster.

      "They are a compact team and it won't be an easy match, but it's not a bad time to be playing them."

      Real lost their last league match on Saturday, going down 2-1 at Real Betis despite taking the lead.

      But they lead their league whereas Roma have lost two of their last three Serie A encounters and trail leaders Inter Milan by a massive 11 points.

      They also seem to be short on confidence and their form has notably dipped since the turn of the year.

      But Real have injury problems, although Argentine defender Gabriel Heinze is due to make his comeback.

      "Unfortunately Heinze did not play a single minute against Betis but I think we're going to have to take a risk with him. It's important to have him back," said Schuster.