Ramos facing baptism of fire in 'El Clasico'

The appointment of Juande Ramos to replace Bernd Schuster as Real Madrid coach on Tuesday gives this year's first "Clasico" between the champions and Barcelona an intriguing twist.

Real trail their arch rivals by nine points with 14 matches played, and with Barcelona having won all but one of their last 12 games, the former Sevilla coach faces a daunting return to Spanish league action at the Nou Camp tonight.

Ramos, a former coach of Barca's B side, moved quickly to shoot down Schuster's claim last weekend that it was impossible to beat the Catalans, insisting that Real have the quality to win in any stadium in the world.

Real's 3-0 Champions League victory over Zenit St Petersburg on Wednesday, his first match in charge, had given the team a confidence boost that would help them today, he said.

"I was pleased with the attitude of the players," he told reporters.

"We have some superb players. They are all internationals and if they play at their best we have a chance to win."

Suspensions for Dutch winger Arjen Robben and left-back Marcelo, and a number of injuries including defenders Gabriel Heinze and Pepe, make the task of putting together a competitive side all the harder for the new coach.

Barcelona, by contrast, have close to a full squad available and coach Pep Guardiola rested eight first-choice players for Tuesday's Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, including Lionel Messi and the league's top scorer Samuel Eto'o.